The main advantage of film is that the result is not immediately visible. Why is this a plus? Because when you see the result immediately, you look for flaws. Apparently our brain is designed that way. And the model begins to examine themselves as if under a microscope, worrying about every pimple, and I start to overthink things, maybe moving the lighting, or adjusting the power.
Although in fact, everything is fine. The final image after development and scanning will show that all the worries are in vain. And the so-called flaws are leveled out by graininess, soft blur or defocus of the lens.
The second point is the aesthetics of the image: precisely this imperfection. Amateur films and simple photographic equipment hide the flaws of both the image and its surroundings due to low detail. In a portrait, this is especially important. Skin imperfections, for example, do not require retouching. They are simply not visible.
Thirdly, there is the process of obtaining the frames. It’s slow. First, you load the film, then you measure the light, focus, press the shutter release… these are very smooth, meditative processes. There’s no rush, everything is relaxed. And it’s convenient for the model; you don’t have to change your pose every two seconds.
Fourth, film makes you think. You should already have an approximate result in your head. And this, in turn, reduces stress. When you know what you’re doing, the process again becomes smooth. Everything is essentially ready—you just need to shoot.