How to travel with film

Film photography is back in fashion, thanks in part to social media. It may be tempting to bring an old Olympus Mju II or one of our best film cameras or a roll of Kodak Gold 200 with you on your next vacation, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Photo films are light sensitive until they are fixed and developed, which is why we develop films in the dark. However, it is also sensitive to waves that we cannot see. The most obvious and potentially harmful are X-rays. If you’re traveling worldwide, your luggage will likely be put through an X-ray machine at least twice, on the way there and back. Therefore, there are some things you need to keep in mind when traveling with films.

1. Before you leave

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When traveling with movies, there are a few basic things you can do before you get to the airport. The first is your choice of film. The more sensitive the film and its ISO value, the greater the risk that an X-ray machine can damage it. Shooting with ISO 100 or 200 film is a better choice than shooting with ISO 400 and higher. The higher the ISO sensitivity, the more precautions you need to take when traveling. So get the lowest sensitivity film that you enjoy shooting with.

I would advise against loading the film into the camera before leaving. Instead, keep it in the box or at least in a plastic container. Then label your film “Unexposed Film” in a clear sandwich bag.

You can buy special lead-lined film storage bags that block X-rays, but on an airport X-ray machine this will show up as a large block of metal and you will be pulled aside for inspection. In this case, it’s probably better to have the film checked by hand first.

Finally, make sure your film is in your carry-on baggage and not your checked baggage; Checked baggage X-ray machines are generally more powerful because larger items pass through them. So keep your film with you and not in your check-in bag.

2. Buy and develop on the go

A traditional storefront for a photo lab

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The safest option is to sort the film at the destination. It may even be possible to purchase your film from the duty free shops at the airport after security. With a little research beforehand, you should find out if a camera store in your location sells film or if you can hire Amazon to deliver a few rolls to your hotel. Of course, this may not work if you are in a remote corner of the world, but otherwise it should be a consideration.

To take it a step further, you could reduce the likelihood of X-ray fog by having the film developed while traveling. You don’t need to make prints or have the film scanned (although that would be a good idea); Just ask to develop the film and then you can make the prints when you get home. Depending on where you live and where you travel, you may even be able to save by having the films developed abroad.

3. At the airport

Travelers load items into security trays at the airport in front of the X-ray machine

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If you have decided to travel with your film, then the good news is that most modern airport X-ray machines emit a very small amount of X-ray radiation, which should not damage films below ISO 800, even with a few passes. I would like to caveat this by noting that developing countries, smaller/local airports, and countries with high security risks may use older or more powerful X-ray baggage scanners.

Again, take your film in carry-on luggage rather than checked/checked luggage as this may expose you to much more powerful scanning equipment that can obscure your film in a single scan.

I recently traveled from London Gatwick to Palma, Spain, with ISO 200 film in my carry-on luggage, which went through an X-ray machine twice and showed no damage. However, if you don’t want to take any risks, you can request a manual search of your film.

If you want to inspect the film manually, you should allow sufficient time. Politely approach a member of the security team and explain that you have unexposed film and would like a manual inspection.

X-ray image of a bag at airport security

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If the film is professional, it may be helpful to have documentation proving you are a professional photographer or information about the film or project. A letter explaining what kind of film it is, how it should be handled, and why it is important can also be helpful. And don’t forget to have one in the native language of the country you are in. Google Translate or AI can help you make such a letter possible.

Storing it in a clear, labeled plastic bag can save you time at this point. If it is packaged and in a plastic container, the security guard will probably ask you to open it for inspection. They will wipe down the film leader, the canister, or both to check for explosive substances or narcotics. They may also shake or rattle the film canister to check that everything is as it seems.

Security guards should be trained to satisfactorily inspect films without damaging or exposing them. As with all things related to airport security, be polite to security staff to make everyone’s life easier. You have a job to do and have the right to refuse a manual inspection and simply put your film through the scanner.

4. Heat and humidity

Aerial view of a lush rainforest with scattered fog

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As important as it is to protect your camera and lenses from heat and moisture, it is also important to protect your film. Modern consumer films are relatively stable, but it is always best to avoid sudden temperature changes that could cause moisture in the film container. The best advice is to store your exposed and unexposed film in its plastic container to create your own microclimate. Store the pots in a relatively stable environment, such as the inside pocket of a jacket or bag. If you are traveling to a place where it is very humid, it may be a good idea to store the film in a plastic ziplock bag containing a few silica gel bags and allow the bag time to warm up to air temperature before opening to balance.

Finally, perhaps the most obvious tip is to avoid exposing the film to direct sunlight.

Close-up of an analog camera in hand, sunny weather

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By following these tips, you will give your rolls of film the best chance of being developed with the greatest clarity and contrast possible.

1. Before you leave

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