I Tried Analog Photography: Learning to Love the Process
Fountain Place des Jacobins, Lyon, 2024
The past couple months have been marked by a strong shift towards a more analog lifestyle for me. I have been drastically reducing my iPhone time by replacing a lot of its functions with dedicated devices. It also got me interested in analog photography again.
This post is an opportunity to share some of the pictures I have been taking, and my experience getting into analog photography as a pure amateur.
How I First Got Into Analog Photography
Growing up in the late 90s and early 2000s, most of my family pictures were taken analog, but digital had become more common by the time I started playing with a camera as a teen.
I wouldn’t describe myself as a photographer, as I never invested the time to really understand that craft. I have been taking photos for blogs, for fun or artistic purposes, for my online store, to capture memories, and of course YouTube. All of this was made possible by the convenience of digital cameras.
From Instant to Analog Photography
My Instax with some of the photos I took in London, Eastbourne and Brighton (digital photo)
My interest for analog started in 2023 with an Instax Mini I received as a birthday gift. I took it to the UK where I went for the first time that summer, and loved capturing moments with it.
As carrying an instant camera got my interest in analog photography noticed, a few months later, I was given an unused Olympus AZ 200. I bought a few rolls of Kodak 200 and started playing with it. I hadn’t used an analog camera since that one disposable one I had as a kid on a school trip, and it was a fun experience; but it didn’t last.
Experiencing the Downsides of Analog
Here’s my Olympus AZ-200 Superzoom from 1992 (digital photo)
After less than a month, I put this camera aside to resort to taking most of my pictures outside with my phone. The thing was that I am not into photography enough to carry a camera everywhere with me. The only times when I would get outside with the specific purpose to take photos is when I am shooting references for drawing, and this is something I prefer do with a digital camera.
The other downside of analog I didn’t anticipate was the lack of immediate feedback. Being able to see my pictures immediately after taking them is something I always took for granted; even my Instax would give me quick feedback and an opportunity to shoot a second time if needed. I was scared to let go of that certainty. What if the photo wasn’t right? With a digital camera, I would shoot another one; with analog, I wouldn’t know and the moment would be lost.
“Crayon” tower in Lyon, 2025
On top of that, I had no idea about how any of the pictures I was taking would turn out, or if the camera was even working properly. I had chosen my film based on what seemed to be a versatile and popular option online, knowing just enough about ISO to understand that light matters and wrong conditions make bad photos.
In my first outings with the Olympus, every photo I was taking felt like a gamble. I would back them up with photos taken with my phone, but the hassle led me to leave the Olympus in a drawer before I even finished that first roll of film.
Learning to Love the Process
As I started aggressively reducing my smartphone use last year and looking for alternatives, Youtube suggested me more and more videos having to do with decentralising one’s smartphone. The idea is to separate all of its functions with dedicated objects: watches, music players, notebooks… And cameras.
Many people wanting to rethink their relationship with modern technologies share an attraction for vintage ones, including analog cameras. Falling into that Youtube rabbit hole, I was reminded about my neglected Olympus.
The Magic of Tangible Technology
There is something fascinating about watching an instant photography slowly appearing. Smartphones, despite being a far more advanced technology, don’t evoke that kind of wonder. When I first got interested in analog photography, learning how film is developed got me amazed at this process.
As I started using objects instead of apps, I realised how grounding and satisfying using physical buttons can be. Beyond all other pitfalls of heavy smartphone use, touching a screen always feels the same, no matter what you’re doing: but checking time on your wristwatch, twisting a mechanical timer, increasing volume on your iPod with the touch wheel, and shooting with a camera all feel distinct.
Associating different activities with distinct sensations is something I didn’t anticipate, but started to love. From the moment I reach out for my camera and turn it on, to the moment I click the shooting button, I know that I am taking a photo, and nothing else.
Using my analog camera again made me feel more present because there is nothing else this object can do, but also because of some of the drawbacks of analog: its cost, and having to wait to see my photos.
Embracing the Process
Bakery storefront in Colmar, December 2025
In December, I visited a friend in Colmar, a French city in the Alsace region, known for its beautiful architecture and Christmas markets. Since I have already gone a couple times and taken photos and videos there, I decided to bring my Olympus, and went on a mission to finish that roll of film I had started in 2024.
Instead of trying to take perfect pictures, I embraced the uncertainty and tried to experiment as much as possible. I tried taking photos in different lighting conditions, with and without flash, to see how they would come out, and learn.
One thing I like to say about drawing is that you can’t learn to draw without using paper; it is true of any craft. The fear of wasting materials often holds us back, but the only way to waste material is to let it sit unused. Every bad photo is a learning opportunity.
I didn’t just finish my first roll, but also filled a second one during this trip. Back in Lyon, I was excited to find a local shop specialising in analog photo development: Photolix. The service was outstanding, leaving my rolls and receiving my scans a few days later was an absolute joy and I couldn’t be more pleased.
With this first attempt, about one photo out of three turned out well, which I would consider a good score! I took a lot of them with the sole purpose of trying things out with lighting, focus and flash, and never expected these experiments to come out any good.
Adding Analog Photography to My Life
View of the Rhône, Lyon, 2024
Getting my best photos printed got me hooked. I am very sensitive to the charm of these photos, and the physical aspect of a printed photo. I have been wanting to create more physical photo albums for some time, and while the process of sorting and printing my huge digital library is daunting, I can start shooting my memories with analog from now on.
This Olympus is now staying permanently in my bag to capture random pretty moments and memories, and I’m planning on taking advantage of the reward program of my photo shop!
