Nicole Caldwell Photo

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

Shooting 35mm Film on the Beach: Black and White, Nostalgia, and Letting Go of Perfection

January 11, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

LAGUNA BEACH, CA… Grain—sand—and 35mm film. More and more engaged couples are looking for the nostalgia of film photography, and I am here for it. For this engagement shoot, I chose Ilford XP2, my favorite black and white film. One of my wedding couples gifted me their Dad’s old camera, a Nikon FG with a 50mm lens, manual focus only. Manual focus slows down the moment, makes images a bit soft, and has a certain feeling- difficult to describe. This […]

Categories: engagements • Tags: engaged, engagements

A San Francisco City Hall Wedding on 35mm Film

January 8, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

There are places that never lose their magic, no matter how many times you visit them.San Francisco City Hall is one of those places for me. This couple asked for their wedding to be photographed on 35mm film. That alone made the trip worth it. At the end of the day, the couple requested this H&M pose and a Balenciaga pose—a nod to their favorite movie, Triangle of Sadness. Like I could love them anymore! Below are some of my […]

Categories: Destination Weddings, film, personal projects, Weddings • Tags: weddings. wedding

Where Pajamas, Wine, and Gravity Took the Photoshoot

January 2, 2026 by Nicole Caldwell

Victoria is a maximalist, and what better location than a photoshoot in her home—where every piece of décor tells a story. Things got even better with a wardrobe change into pajamas, a glass of wine, and a kitchen photoshoot centered around her vintage stove. We danced through beautiful wood doors and ended up on the floor. Success! And the wine was delish- Orange from Trader Joes!

Categories: personal projects

35mm film engagement photographs zine

December 2, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

SANTA BARBARA, CA… I LOVE MY COUPLES Spaceman meets decorator crab, an astronaut falls from the skies Diplomatic Relations, 7:14 a.m. He smelled of Ozone, she of Kelp Creative use of engagement photos shot on 35mm film by my rad couple for their meeting and wedding – a zine! . What a treat to get this in the mail.

Categories: engagements • Tags: engaged, engagements

Because Who Doesn’t Love Family Fun, Crazy Hair, and Jumping in Photos?

November 28, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

YOU- that’s who. silly time fun, imperfections and life. Fun experience with the photos to prove it. Kids natural born actors, the world is our stage, places please, and the red velvet curtains open…

Categories: families, personal projects • Tags: familes

Family Photos in the Forest-Bubbles, Backflips, and Family Antics: Nature’s Playground Awaits!

November 2, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

LAKE FOREST, CA… Fun on location family photos in the great outdoors! Bubbles, snuggles, upside down, family fun day, letting your hair down and encouraging your kids to be kids- showcasing that they are natural born actors! They will learn to fake smile- let’s get their true reactions and who they are right now in their lives.

Categories: families, personal projects • Tags: family

Tourmoween Party Wave: 35mm film Waves and Wicked Costumes at Tourmaline!

October 29, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

SAN DIEGO, CA… Over 100 surfers paddled out to celebrate spooky season and party waves including, Batman, Robin, Posiedon, Cacti, and even Space Trucker! Decided a manual focus 35mm film camera for action shots would be a sweet treat -woops- but gave the out of focus party wave that added flair!

Categories: personal projects

Veiled Anthrophila on exhibition at Decode Gallery

October 28, 2025 by Nicole Caldwell

TUCSON AZ… Decode Gallery exhibit, Darkness. My film black and white print collage Veiled Anthrophilia is on exhibit- good news is you can order it directly from the gallery, wouldn’t this look great on your wall? Thank you Decode, for having me!

Categories: film • Tags: exhibitions, film

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Nicole Caldwell Photo

Private analog film & digital sessions. Location & private rented studio.

Riding the wave of impermanence- analog film · darkroom truth · real moments

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

Wanna Be Wes, 35mm film Day at the Beach

Dominating the Wedge with my Minolta film camera

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

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

Captured Spirits?

From Charred Airbnb to Borrego Walls: Art Heist

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

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

Skates & a Camera – Concrete Therapy Session – Newport Beach

Shooting 35mm Film on the Beach: Black and White, Nostalgia, and Letting Go of Perfection

A San Francisco City Hall Wedding on 35mm Film

Where Pajamas, Wine, and Gravity Took the Photoshoot

35mm film engagement photographs zine

Because Who Doesn’t Love Family Fun, Crazy Hair, and Jumping in Photos?

Family Photos in the Forest-Bubbles, Backflips, and Family Antics: Nature’s Playground Awaits!

Tourmoween Party Wave: 35mm film Waves and Wicked Costumes at Tourmaline!

Veiled Anthrophila on exhibition at Decode Gallery