New Year, New Rolls: Setting Film Photography Resolutions for 2025

A new year is like a fresh roll of film - full of potential, waiting to be exposed. And what better way to set your New Year’s Resolutions than with a fun, creative twist? Say hello to the latest trend - 2025 bingo cards! It’s a gamified way to turn your goals into something you can actually see and feel motivated to achieve.

Just like composing the perfect shot takes time, as does planning your goals. Keeping your resolutions in sight, whether pinned near your camera gear or tucked in your film journal, is the perfect reminder to develop (pun intended!) your skills throughout the year. From trying new emulsions, to honing your darkroom skills, and sharing your work online, we’ve broken down some inspiring ideas across five key categories to help you level up your film photography game. Get ready for twenty-twenty-thrive! 💪

Reflect on 2024

Now, you may be thinking: where do I even start?! But, I’ll let you into a secret: shooting film is all about taking your time. It’s a mindful, creative process, not meant to cause stress. That said, we’ve all had our stressful moments…😅 like when I “shot” an entire roll of Kodak Tri-X on a She Hearts Film photowalk, only to realise it wasn’t loaded properly and I’d actually shot nothing! Heartbreaking, yes, but every mistake is a chance to learn and grow.

The best way to plan for 2025 is to reflect on what you achieved - and didn’t achieve - in 2024. Look back, before you look forward. Ask yourself:

• What did you enjoy?
• What did you do a lot of?
• What didn’t you do enough of?
• What new things would you like to try?
• What small steps could help you reach a bigger goal?

Here’s my example: I shot 38 rolls of film (a win!), but didn’t share my images enough on social media or truly appreciate them. This year, I want to continue to try new emulsions, explore experimental analogue photography methods (such as film soup using Hanalogital's book!), make it a habit to share my scans on Instagram within a month, and try to print and frame them!

Once you’ve identified your goals, you can create a visual reminder, like a bingo card or vision board, to keep you inspired throughout the year. That leads us nicely onto ideas for templates…

Visualise your goals

Right, now it’s time for the fun part! You’ve listed your goals - now let’s bring them to life! The key is creating a visually appealing template you’ll love to look at and refer to regularly. If your goals are hidden in a drawer, they’re out of sight, out of mind. Display them proudly where you’ll see them often, not just stored in your head!

To make it easier, we’ve created a bingo card template to kick things off. Plus, we’ve included a few ideas to inspire you if you’re feeling stuck. Here’s how you can customise the template to work best for you:

• Editable Canva template: Create your own design, remove (or tweak) our suggestions, add your goals, and print it out. Instant inspiration, ready to display!
• Blank PDF template: Customise it digitally in Adobe Acrobat (or another PDF editor), or print it out and jot down your goals by hand.
• Create your own template: Use our template as inspiration and design something that reflects your personal style. The more it resonates with you, the better!

Use our 2025 Bingo Card template for inspiration on design and layout, and of course, outlining your film photography goals for 2025.

If you’re not into bingo cards, try one of these alternatives:

• Vision board: Fill it with images, words, and affirmations that reflect your goals.
• Sticky notes: Post them where you’ll see them often - on your fridge, mirror, or near your camera kit.
• Digital tracker: Use a phone app or notes to list and tick off goals as you achieve them.
• Journaling: Reflect on your goals and progress regularly.
• Affirmations: Repeat positive statements to reinforce your intentions, like: “I embrace growth and learn from mistakes.” or “I’m a talented photographer capable of amazing things.”

The format doesn’t matter as much as making it yours. The goal? Keep your aspirations visible, engaging, and inspiring - that way they’ll feel more achievable! As promised, here are some ideas to get you started, broken down into five categories…

Try new cameras and films

The most obvious goal for many is to shoot more film and experiment with new cameras and emulsions. Maybe you didn’t get out with your camera as much as you’d hoped, or you stuck to familiar film stocks and gear last year. That’s okay - if you’ve found a setup that works for you, congrats! Keep it going 👏

If you’re unsure what to try next, our Wall of Inspiration - featuring 18K+ community reviews and sample photos - can help. There’s nothing worse than buying a film you’re unfamiliar with and feeling unprepared, but thanks to our amazing community, you can learn from others’ experiences and take the leap confidently.

A quick overview of our Wall of Inspiration stats - 18,680+ reviews from the film community 🤯

Or, if you’re new to film and not sure where to start, don’t panic! Check out our Beginners Hub, packed with guides on camera types, film formats, and processing (with the lab and at home). It’s a great way to find your feet and set exciting goals for the year ahead.

Remember, it’s not about chasing numbers - quality beats quantity every time. Shoot more film or buy more cameras because it excites you and aligns with your goals, not because it’s what others are doing. Maybe you want to try pushing Ilford HP5 35mm film to test its versatility or experiment with multiple exposures so you need to shoot a couple of rolls before you’re satisfied with the results. It’s all about learning and growing at your own pace.

Don’t compare yourself to others; your journey is uniquely yours. Stepping outside your comfort zone can often reap great rewards - and is hugely satisfying! Take my first time shooting Kodak Ektachrome E100 in Turkey, for example - I accidentally pushed it to ISO 200, not realising you cannot push slide film when processing it. While the results were mixed, I learnt a lot from the experiment.

Trying new things is fun, and mistakes are part of the process. Film photography is beautifully imperfect, and that’s exactly why we love it!

Organise like a BOSS!

Let’s face it - amongst the passion of shooting film, it can quickly turn into disorganised chaos. One day, you’re buying your first few rolls, and before you know it, your fridge is packed with 20+ films, and you’re still adding to the collection. (Shout out to our ambassador Emerzy who's in the hundreds 👀) But, the good news is, there are ways to calm the chaos.

• Store your film smartly: If you’re not planning to shoot your film anytime soon, store it in the fridge to keep it fresh and avoid unwanted surprises. A cool, dry place works too - just don’t leave it sitting in the sun!
• Shoot what you have: Before splurging on more film, work through the stash you already have. It’ll save you money and give you a chance to fully enjoy your collection.
• Consider a camera clear out: Got a camera you haven’t touched in five years? Maybe it’s time to let it go (unless using it is on your goals list!). Selling unused gear frees up space, funds future purchases, and helps someone else find joy in shooting film - which we’re all for!
• Organise your negatives: Properly archiving your negatives might feel like a ball-ache, but your future self will thank you. I learned this the hard way when my collection started to get out of hand. I opted for the premium archival ring binder, but we also stock budget-friendly options like the Adox binder. Pair it with negative sleeves and labels will keep your collection tidy and easy to navigate. Find a system that works for you!
• Take notes during shoots: If you want to shoot with more intention or have specific projects lined up, keeping notes can make all the difference. A small notebook or your phone’s notes app can help you track your progress and refine your process. Tools like this Photoshoot Planner or Rachel Brewster-Wright’s (aka Little Vintage Photography) Ultimate Film & Darkroom Workbook offer fantastic resources for shoot planning and inspiration.

Develop at home and teach yourself

While most of us began our film journeys in the darkroom, others have yet to experience the magic. (If that’s you, check out all these reasons why you should give it a go! 🤩) Thankfully, there are plenty of resources and tools available to help you set up a home darkroom - such as our developing equipment collection! If going solo feels overwhelming, consider exploring local facilities like the Shoreditch Academy of Image Making (SAIM), where you can learn from experienced professionals. Here from the team - Adrian and Jacko - in the video below, when we caught up with them for one of our Click & Chat sessions.

The film process has two main parts: developing and scanning. Developing your own film (whether C41 or B&W) in a darkroom can be both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Don’t worry about having a fancy setup, though - our Lab Technician Will recently developed Expired Film Club’s rolls in an NFL Stadium bathroom during a trip to New York! If that’s not proof you can develop film almost anywhere, we don’t know what is. Plus, experimenting with alternative processes like developing film in coffee, wine, or beer (sacrilegious, maybe) adds an extra layer of creativity and fun to the experience.

Then comes scanning, which requires a fair bit of skill. Finding the right equipment and editing tools can be tricky at first, but once you’ve got the hang of it, scanning your film at home saves time and gives you full creative control over the final look. Whether it’s cropping, colours, or exposure adjustments, the possibilities are endless. To help you get started, we offer a range of scanning masks designed for home use. Or, you can entrust our expert lab team to get the job done (yes, just like Bob the Builder 👷‍♂️).

The VALOI Easy35 Film Scanner is designed to simplify the camera scanning process and deliver high-quality image results with minimal setup. Highly recommend!

There’s something so special about being in control of every step of the process - it truly shows just how tangible film photography is and reminds us why we keep coming back for more.

Get exposure for your photography

One thing many photographers don’t do enough of is self-promotion. You put in the hard work during your shoots, so it’s only fair to invest just as much energy into showcasing your photography and getting it the attention it deserves. In today’s digital-first world, the opportunities to share your work online are endless.

Of course, being a photographer often means wearing many hats - editor, curator, social media manager, videographer, events coordinator, customer service, printer…the list goes on. After a long day of creating for others, it’s easy to feel too drained to market yourself. But promoting your work doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Here are a few ideas to get started:

• Share your work online: Upload your images to your social media channels or website regularly. Set reminders to post your scans shortly after receiving them to stay consistent and keep your portfolio up-to-date. This helps maintain visibility and showcases your latest work.
• Create a photo book or zine: Seeing your work in print is incredibly rewarding. Consider creating a zine or photo book from one of your projects or a collection of images that work well together. These can be sold, gifted, or kept as a personal milestone - either way, it’s a great reminder of the brilliant work you are capable of making.
• Enter photo competitions: There are countless free photography competitions out there waiting for your submissions, offering prizes and exposure. For instance, we’ve partnered with Kodak for seasonal competitions, including our Winter Competition, which is open for submissions until 28th February 2025.
• Sell your work online: Consider uploading your photos to stock image websites like Alamy or Shutterstock or selling prints. Platforms like FRONT, launched by photographers Jamie and Luke, make it easy to sell, print, and ship your images - all in one place.
• Submit to exhibitions: Ever dreamed of seeing your work displayed in large print? Exhibitions are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your photos. Look for calls for submissions - many events have specific themes that your work might fit perfectly. You can even shoot a project tailored to a particular exhibition. For example, Dark Peak Photo recently called for submissions for ‘Lost & Found’ as part of their annual festival, where we proudly sponsored prizes.

Entries to our Kodak Winter Competition are open, encouraging film photographers to submit their shots taken on Kodak UltraMax 400 35mm film.

Promoting yourself as a photographer doesn’t have to be intimidating. By taking small, consistent steps, you can share your hard work, gain recognition, and maybe even create new opportunities along the way. You’ve done the work - now it’s time to make sure the world sees it!

Stay connected with the community

Last but certainly not least, connecting with like-minded film photographers can do wonders for your skills, confidence, and motivation. You’re in the perfect place for this! At Analogue Wonderland, we’re passionate about making film photography as fun and accessible as possible, and are committed to putting the soul back into photography. A huge part of that is staying connected with YOU, our amazing community, to ensure you have the best possible experience with film.

Here are some ways to connect with us and others in the film community:

• Join a photowalk: We host ~10 photowalks a year, and they are truly some of our favourite moments with the community. (Although we often find ourselves shooting less film because we’re too busy chatting! It’s a photowalk tradition 😅) Keep an eye on your favourite film shop, lab, or community initiative’s social media for updates, or check out photowalk.me, where we list all of ours.
• Engage online: Making film friends is easier than you think - sometimes all it takes is a few likes or comments! Follow photographers who inspire you, join forums like Discord (we have our own server - message us for an invite), and ask questions. There’s so much to learn from others on the same journey as you.
• Attend workshops: Looking to master a specific skill this year? Workshops are an excellent way to learn alongside others. From developing film with caffenol, to creating your own cyanotypes, film souping, and learning large-format photography, there’s always something new to try. Plus, the shared experience makes it even more memorable.
• Explore industry events: Events like Analogue Spotlight or The Photography Show (coming up on 8th - 11th March 2025) are fantastic opportunities to learn, meet fellow photographers, and discover the products. Breaking out of the digital world can be tough, so your support at these events means the world!
• Find your crowd: Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. The film community is overwhelmingly welcoming! We aim to create safe spaces for women, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ photographers, through photowalks, WhatsApp groups, and Discord.

Throwback to our Big Film Photowalk along Southbank on Saturday 29th June 2024, joined by Pentax and Kodak!

Film photography’s mindful and intentional nature fosters patience and creativity, and the community reflects that. Most film photographers are generous with their tips and tricks, with no gatekeeping - just love and support.

Your year, your journey

Now that you’ve explored our suggestions, we hope you’re feeling inspired and ready to tackle your film photography goals for 2025! Whether that means trying new emulsions, pushing your creative boundaries, or sharing your work with the world, we’re here to support you every step of the way. What goals are you setting for the new year? Drop a comment below and share your plans 👇