Nicole Caldwell Photo

A couple embracing on a stairway inside a building with a door labeled 'MEN' in the background old county courthouse santa ana wedding 35mm film nicole caldwell

How a 35mm Courthouse Wedding in Black & White Feels Like 1955

September 10, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

This was a small wedding at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana. Just the couple, a few people, and the building. I photographed it on 35mm black and white film with an on-camera strobe beyond that, the building did most of the work. Black and white kept everything straightforward. The grain is contrast. It looks like a courthouse wedding from another decade because that’s how the place already feels. Highly recommend.

Categories: film, Weddings • Tags: 35mm film, film, wedding, weddings

Drone Work | Chateau on Sunset

August 21, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Drone work under Eric Stoner for Anthony James Studio at the Chateau Marmont On Sunset.

Categories: drone • Tags: drone

Newlywed couple walking down a garden path, holding a bouquet and champagne 235mm film nicole caldwell rancho las lomas wedding

Rancho Las Lomas wedding | 35mm film

August 18, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Rancho Las Lomas is a tropical gem in the heart of Silverado Canyon, great backdrop for the color of portrat 800 35mm film.

Categories: personal projects

35mm film black and white wedding photographer nicole cadlwell Couple in formal attire dancing indoors near table with flowers and cake

Cake. Film. Delish.

July 29, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Final shots of the night on 35mm film. Cake and the couple. Handprocessed in the darkroom, and processed in Rodinal for contrast grain delishness ( just like the cake). More and more couples are loving film, and so am I. Digital is beautiful and so is the physical touch of prints. Shot at Rancho Las Lomas

Categories: film, Weddings • Tags: 35mm film, film, wedding, weddings

Equestrian on film | the Making of a Print

July 20, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

In the Darkroom with Italian film Ferriana of Equestrian Pascal and her horse, Sir Maldini. 35mm film has that vintage look and feel, I just love it!

Categories: film, personal projects • Tags: film

Irvine Annual Art Exhibition

July 12, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

RVINE, CA… Opening day at the races- Irvine Annual Art exhibit- thank you to the city for hosting a place for artists to show their work, and for the people who came to fill the seats, thank you!

Categories: film, personal projects • Tags: film

On Location with Lori Okimura for Harker Magazine

July 7, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

LOS ANGELES, CA… On location at LA84 with Lori Okimura. My job gets me to see and meet rad new places and people! I got to see the 84 olympics torch ( glorious 80’s glass)

Categories: editorial, Headshots

South Swellers | 35mm film The Wedge

June 16, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Among 1000 people, helicopters, Channel 5 news crew, 20 foot waves, 35mm film and minolta and hand here are some favorite shots from my 90’s film camera. processed in the darkroom, chemistry, grain is good.

Categories: film • Tags: 35mm film

High Contrast Skies: Aerobatics on Ferrania 35mm Film, Handprocessed in the Darkroom

May 12, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

BORREGO SPRINGS, CA… I loaded my favorite 35MM FILM Italian stock — Ferrania — and pointed it straight into the Desert sky for the Hammerhead Roundup Airshow. Shot on 35mm. Handprocessed by me in the darkroom for heavy grain and that deep, punchy contrast I love. The Propeller Bar hosts the annual International Aerobatic Club, event at the Borrego Springs Airport- viewing platform above covered, have yourself a warm glass of Chardonnay. Next show is in October- See you in […]

Categories: film • Tags: 35mm, 35mm film, desert, film

Two people standing in shallow water with a third person further behind them, under a vast sky 35mm film photographer nicole caldwell orange county

Wanna Be Wes, 35mm film Day at the Beach

April 25, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Call it Wessy in the Wild.
My wanna-be Wes Anderson interpretation at Bombay Beach.
A swing swaying in the wind.
A door half-open.
Boots in the Salton Sea.
Vignettes from the shoot.
I love my clients who are up for this kind of thing.
I love the desert.

Categories: personal projects

Dominating the Wedge with my Minolta film camera

April 9, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Newport Beach, CA. Sunrise. One of the biggest swells I’ve seen at the Wedge.
I brought the Minolta and two rolls of Ferrania ISO 80.
I’m not gonna lie — I’m a little obsessed with this Italian film right now. It’s a dream. The way it renders light and shadow… it’s ridiculous.
I shot everything on the jetty as the sun came up. Then I took the film straight into the darkroom and did stand development. That grain? That contrast? I’m still drooling over the negatives.
This is what I live for — simple setup, real light, and film that actually feels like something.
Slow looking encouraged.

Categories: film • Tags: film, film 35mm film

The Moment Your Baby Bump Becomes Pure Sunset Magic | Laguna Beach

March 25, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

This maternity session was pure fun from start to finish. Chased that warm golden hour light along the coast, got in the water with her bump glowing, and everything stayed relaxed. Fun memories and immortalized in photographs.

Categories: personal projects

The Maternity Shoot Where the Dog Upstaged the Bump (And There Was Cake)

March 2, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Ever wonder how a classic black and white maternity photoshoot turns unforgettable? Add one excited dog named Scotch making a cameo on a seamless white backdrop, plus a pink cake smash for the gender reveal. Simple setup, massive charm.

Categories: maternity

Captured Spirits?

February 24, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Haunted Bayou- ghost trails? Shutter Drag? You decide.

Categories: couples • Tags: engagements

From Charred Airbnb to Borrego Walls: Art Heist

February 18, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

“Sorry, Dad — I accidentally burned down the Airbnb.” One of my film darkroom prints, sold to a new collector through the Borrego Art Institute before the ashes cooled. It landed in a good home. Two other pieces made it into their January–February photography exhibit: Anthophila X and In The Between — both darkroom double exposures and collages.

Categories: personal projects • Tags: exhibitions

Nature’s Confetti: Almond Blossoms Photoshoot in Central California-

February 16, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

An orchard transforms into something magical and timeless like a fairytale. The scent of the trees and the floating petals really are a sight to see. I’ll be heading up to the Central Valley orchards for just a short window this season—typically late February to early March, with the absolute peak bloom lasting only about four days. If you’re dreaming of photos amid nature’s confetti, now’s the sweet spot to lock in the date.

Categories: Destination Weddings, engagements • Tags: engaged, engagement

Haunted Bayou: Liquid Spirits & a 35mm film Apparition Chaser

February 3, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Here’s the thing about random conversations—they can turn into your best shoots without warning. During a photoshoot, we started swapping stories about favorite drinks and secret escapes. They casually mentioned they were building a speakeasy. Fast-forward a few months, I asked if I could photograph them right there in their own masterpiece. We shot everything on 35mm with my old Minolta. After the third cocktail kicked in, I was thanking autofocus for saving the day.

Categories: editorial, film • Tags: film

Skates & a Camera – Concrete Therapy Session – Newport Beach

January 24, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

ertain spots have a weird gravitational pull… like Newport Beach.

She’s roller skated almost every day for years. Newport Beach is her favorite place to skate on earth, and for her birthday she asked me to capture her there — in her element.

This is why I love what I do: document people where they feel most like themselves. And Boy was Meg feelin’ it!

It was rad. Her in her element. Me in mine. Shot with my favorite camera, off-camera strobe, and the sun doing the rest. Multiple exposures too!

Excited to get in the darkroom and process the film shot!

Behind the scenes photos shot by Kip Roof

Categories: editorial

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