Film is Not Dead, 4151 West Red Clover Drive, Lehi, UT (2026)

09/01/2026

July might have been the best month of my life.

I’ve been holding off sharing these.

Over Pie & Beer day weekend AKA Pioneer Day here in Utah I hosted Provo in the 2000s where 14 bands played over 2 days.

These bands were the scene of Provo back in 2000-2003. They were incredible then and mind-blowing now. They came in from all over as far as Astonia (thanks Dirk Lloyd).

Most of us hadn’t been back to Provo in quite some time especially in this iteration. Back in 00-03, Provo Police & BYU were cracking down on gatherings, parties, & house shows. They’d shut us down & said it was illegal to gather unless it was religious.

So with that Mormon ingenuity, Gian Pierotti became an online pastor & we continued throwing parties because now we legally could.

But this time around it was different. No one was here to tell us no. No one was here telling us to stop, or we were too loud, or too anything.

I’ve done a lot of things in my life & this event is the one I’m most proud of. I created a safe space where anyone could come, feel accepted, & reclaim a space regardless of your belief system, as the person you are now. We are all wildly different from 23-26 years ago. To be able to come together without egos or drama & reclaim this space meant more to me & a lot of the peeps shown in this post than we’ll ever know.

I saw more grown men cry that weekend, myself included, than I have in a long time. I saw in real time kids who thought their dads were lame instantly change their mind as soon as their faces melted from the sonic walls of sound coming from their dad’s guitars.

The space in the back was perfect for the show with just under 4k sq ft to host this event. As soon as the show was over the back got converted to our production area for theFINDlab — Official.

But after that weekend wrapped I made the commitment to continue to provide a safe space for events like this. We’re hoping to expand upstairs to the upstairs so we can host again next year. Or for any other events that allow people to know not only do we believe in them, but support them & will continue to provide a safe space to gather & connect.

Big shout out to Tim Koide & the Lasuer siblings for making this happen.

08/31/2026

We did a photo walk with our friends up in Ogden at Lucky Slice Pizza.

A couple months ago we installed the only film vending machine in the state of Utah and hopefully not the last.

If you’re ever in Ogden, go check it out. We are stocked with every film stock you’d ever want along with some disposable cameras, instax film, and even some cameras like the Kodak Ektar Half Frame!

It also doubles as a drop box and we pick up every Tuesday & Friday.

There just aren’t options north of Salt Lake if someone wants to buy film let alone get it processed.

Plus the pizza these guys are making is incredible!

Thanks to everyone who came out and let me shoot them in the face.

08/30/2026

I’ve been saying for decades, photographers, whether they know it or not, you’re always saying something in your images. We all have a voice & there are 3 themes/emotions that show up consistently. The first 2 are you at your core. The 3rd thing/message/voice is your side that changes over time as you get older, wiser, or go through significant change as a human.

Right before I got on a plane home from Mexico last month I decided to getting to commemorate the 6 incredible days I spent there with ink. I didn’t research much. Jillian Mitchell suggested her friend Nicté who she’s known since she was 7, she’s 26 now. So I leaned in & trusted. She shared her work but I knew I’d just get there & know what I was about to put on my chest.

I already have a pretty significant piece on my chest regarding killing my anger. So to add to it was pretty bold. I got there, flipped through her flash book & chose 3 Mexican masks.

As I was getting inked she brought up how it was funny that she felt like she didn’t have a voice. I was pretty taken a back as it was clear she did to me.

Then she says “ya know everyone does & they’re saying 3 things always, whether they know it or not, & that third one is always changing”.

I had her stop & stood straight up & told her to expand as I’d never heard anyone else articulate this except me at my workshops.

She said her voice is grounded, open, & sarcastic. EXACTLY like the 3 masks I had picked out without knowing.

What are my 3 things I’m constantly saying in my work? 1 - connection, it is everything to me. I know people are curious how I get people to look at me the way they do and the answer is I connect with them even if for 1/1000th of a second. 2 - FOMO, this rules my life. I live like everyday is my birthday or Christmas, if you’re into that kind of thing. Fun is a close second to connection & I want my viewers to feel it. 3 - I used to think it was quiet strength & while that might be true the third thing is actually feeling safe. I’ve created safe spaces in my life, my work, my circles. That quiet strength is actually just the power people can step into because they feel safe.

Photography is just therapy guys.

08/29/2026

Just out here flashing peeps. Taken by my good friend and colleague Duston Todd at FILMISNOTDEAD 2.0 last month out at the great Saltair.

We’re finalizing dates for the next FILMISNOTDEAD 2.0 workshop which will be at the Analog Community Center in Provo and since Orem has fully moved all production to Provo as well it is going to make it easier than ever to dev/scan your rolls after we shoot every day.

Helper, Kyve Point, Utah Lake are a handful of places we will be out shooting and making sure you know how to shoot film in any lighting situations.

Announcement for all dates & FILM SCHOOL ROAD TRIP for 2027 coming next week.

08/28/2026

So what are the point of these FILM SCHOOL ROAD TRIP trips?

1- to combat burnout and relight that fire under you that makes you want to pick up your camera. One of the things I love about shooting film is that it never feels like work. I know a lot of burnout follows peeps who shoot weddings/families/events. There’s no bride, mom, or anyone telling you what to do or what to shoot. Hell, you could come and shoot 1 roll of film if that is the level of presence you want to engage with. Either way, the itinerary is jam packed with things that should get you back to that space of loving shooting.

2- you don’t want to have to plan anything AND not feel guilty for bringing your camera along and shooting. All you gotta do is get to the Airbnb and we take care of the rest. All meals, lodging, and transportation is lined up by us. And as much as we love cool@locations we love good meals even more.

3- you want to be surrounded by like-minded folks. Time and time again it seems the feedback is folks are surprised to be going home with some new best friends from all over the world. Egos are checked at the door, everyone is there for the same thing on the same level.

4- leaning how to shoot film in any lighting situation in any location minus the classroom. The last thing we’d want to do is drag you to a location and throw you in a class room. Our classrooms are the actual locations and all questions are covered over meals, train rides, or during random convos on rooftops at the end of the day.

So if you’re looking to get inspired, not have to plan a damn thing, and do it with people who could potentially be your new bffs, FILM SCHOOL ROAD TRIP is right up your alley.

We’re headed to Tokyo this November 6th-9th and San Juan Puerto Rico in January (15th-18th).

Details or how to snag a spot in the link in profile.

08/27/2026

It may seem so wild one can fall asleep on a train when there are hundreds of other people all around you.

It’s totally doable. Swipe to see. I was dead asleep standing up. I mean my facial expression matches this gentleman’s exactly.

Not shown here was another photo, or series of photos actually, of me dead asleep on a train ride home after a long day at FILM SCHOOL ROAD TRIP Tokyo surrounded by all the attendees.

I don’t sleep much and sleep even less when I’m on this trip. I think there was a day where I was up for almost 40 hours straight. I’ve got a plan (and some drugs) that’ll help with that this next time around.

Though the itinerary does have a couple versions. The “we are normal people and need at least 8 hours of sleep” version and the “I’ll sleep when I die version”, which is totally optional :). All depends on your relationship with FOMO. Just know you can go as hard as you want.

Want to join us in Tokyo this Nov 6th-9th? Link in profile for all the seats or slide in my DMs and I’ll tell you all the ways I intend to passenger princess you.

08/26/2026

All I’m doing is daydreaming of shooting 35mm and not settling because I’m not shooting Ultramax. Yes, shooting Gold in 120 is settling compared to shooting Uktramax in 35mm. Or not having to pack 100 rolls of 120 but instead only have 28 rolls of 35mm. Or having a camera that isn’t going to make my neck, back, or feet regret walking around everyday with a massive medium format camera. Will I miss the 105mm 2.4? Maybe, but a 50/85 1.2 or even a 35mm 1.4 will surely make that longing a lot less heavy, in more ways than one.

This morning I went in and developed 3 rolls of 35mm film which equated to 108 images. That would be almost 11 rolls of 120.

Again all of this is speculation as I haven’t received said lenses or started to shoot outside of my Contax G2 but I know myself, my ability, and how much tighter and intentional my shooting is going to be coming from a range finder.

What’s next? Me exclaiming how I love zoom lenses?! 👀 That 16-35 2.8 USM III look tempting AF especially since it’s rectilinear.

Taken at FILM SCHOOL ROAD TRIP Tokyo in the basement of a train station headed to Tsukiji Market.

We’re down to 3 spots left for Tokyo this November 6th-9th. Details & how to snag one of said 3 spots in the link in profile or splattered in stories.

08/25/2026

I think it’s time to start making books of these portfolios I’m sitting on of Japan.

I went back for the first time since leaving in 1996 in 2016. And I’ve been back every year. Even right before Covid. I was in Tokyo March 2020 and came home on the 14th the day before the whole world shut down.

I know I’ll be going this time with new eyes mostly because I’m forcing myself to shoot nothing but a Canon 1V with MAYBE 3 lenses (28/35/85).

I really like forcing myself to be minimalist. As I’ve been on the other end of that spectrum for sure packing a Pentax 67ii with 2-3 lenses, a Contax G2 with 2-3 lenses, a Rolleiflex 6001 with 2-3 lenses and over a 100 rolls of film.

This time it’ll be one body with a back up Canon EOS-3 body and maybe 50 rolls of both Ultramax and some Kentmere 400. The sheer amount of space I’ll be saving is wild. And the images will be wildly different from most of the work I’ve shot here.

I have shot a lot of 35mm through the G2 but this will be different especially if I’m treating it like the Pentax 67ii. I’m rambling but the point is I’m excited to round out this portfolio of work and then make some kind of coffee table book.

FILM SCHOOL ROAD TRIP is headed to Tokyo this November 6th-9th, right at the height of fall leaves which we will see in Tokyo and especially Kamakura. We’ve got 3 spots left!

Details and how to snag a spot in the link in profile.

08/24/2026

My whole start with my ties to Japan & photography was back in 1995-1996 when I was a Mormon missionary. I’m no longer in said religion in anyway but it still was one of the best experiences of my life. Mostly because those 2 years were spent loving on the local people wherever I lived. I was in Kunitachi, Senzoku Ike, Hiratsuka, Fuji, Kawasaki, and Atsugi. By the time I came home in Dec of 1996 I could read a newspaper. I’d fall asleep every night listening to some form of Japanese NPR or the local army base radio. When I got to BYU Provo I tested out through 350 level Japanese classes and had maybe 7 classes left as a Japanese major & I could graduate as a true freshman. The language came soooo easy to me. I used it quite a bit working at Nuskin (now my landlords in Provo). And every time I go back, I’m super rusty except for the last day and then somehow it all comes rushing back to me. Every time I go back I run into some kind of iteration of these 2 guys here. If I do stumble upon them, I take them promptly to some place to eat. I remember living off curry and spaghetti noodles because I was so broke back then. I think a lot of things have changed as they get to talk to family weekly & a long list of things I was never allowed to do. I got into photography while I was living there as my Kodak flip point and shoot camera from K-Mart got wet & stopped working. A dear friend Erico Aoya lent me her Canon AE-1 with the 50mm 1.4 and it was game over. I fell in love with bokeh & shot & shot & shot. I’m 💯 positive I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now without that single act of kindness. And you wouldn’t be reading this post. Nor would I be headed to Tokyo for FILM SCHOOL ROAD TRIP Nov 6th-9th. Here’s to putting it out there I run into a set of these guys a day there. There’s bread to be broken and convos to be had. And hopefully through said convos & acts of kindness it effects them in some small way.

Details or how to snag a spot in the link in profile. Taken in 2016 which was the first time I went back since 1996 at the Senzoku Ike ward building.

08/23/2026

One of the best parts and usually most unexpected parts about FILM SCHOOL ROAD TRIP isn’t the location, it’s the group of people that gather from all over and all walks of life.

I always bring 2 peeps from the lab and then everything else is kind of a crap shoot. You don’t know who is going to sign up but it always seems to be such a perfect storm of personalities.

Traveling with like minded creatives who bring so many different perspectives, skill sets, personalities, and backgrounds is pretty incredible.

We’ve got 5 spots left (at time of writing this post a week before posting) if you want to join us in Tokyo this Nov 6-9th. There’s a 20% discount if ya bring a friend because ya know, FOMO and besties go hand in hand.

Details in the link in profile or scattered in stories. Want the full itinerary? Slide in those dms.

Film is Not Dead

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

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08/24/2026

08/23/2026

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