Discover the pleasure of working with film, from making your first photographs to developing your negatives and bringing them into the digital world.
This practical, one-to-one analogue photography workshop is designed for anyone interested in learning how to use a film camera, understand the photographic process and develop their own black-and-white film.
Whether you’ve recently discovered an old camera, are returning to film after many years or simply want to explore photography beyond the digital screen, the workshop is tailored to your experience and interests.
You don’t have to learn the entire process from camera to digital image. Every workshop is tailored to what you’d like to achieve.
Perhaps you’ve inherited a film camera and simply want to understand how to use it. We can spend a half-day exploring the camera, loading film, understanding exposure and making photographs.
Alternatively, you might already be comfortable shooting film but want to learn how to develop your own black-and-white negatives, without needing a darkroom.
Or you may want to explore the complete process, from taking photographs through to developing and digitising your negatives.
There’s no fixed programme. You choose what you’d like to learn, and we’ll build the workshop around you.
Best of all, you don’t need a darkroom to develop your own film.
Using simple, accessible equipment, I’ll show you how the process can be carried out at home.
Working with film encourages a different relationship with photography.
With a limited number of exposures, you begin to slow down, consider your photographs more carefully and develop a greater understanding of light, exposure and composition.
We’ll explore how your camera works, how to load and handle film, and how aperture, shutter speed and film sensitivity influence the photographs you make.
If you’re already comfortable using a film camera, we can spend more time concentrating on developing and digitising your negatives.
Depending on your experience and the length of your workshop, we can explore:
Understanding and using your analogue camera.
Loading, exposing and handling photographic film.
Aperture, shutter speed, focusing and exposure.
Working with natural light and composition.
Developing black-and-white film using a developing tank and changing bag.
Understanding photographic chemistry, development times and temperatures.
Washing, drying and safely handling your negatives.
Digitising film using a digital camera and suitable scanning equipment.
Preparing your digital files for editing, sharing or printing.
The emphasis is on learning practical skills that you can confidently continue using independently.
One of the most rewarding parts of analogue photography is developing your own negatives.
And it’s much easier to get started than you might imagine.
Using a light-tight changing bag, developing tank and photographic chemistry, you can process black-and-white film without building a darkroom or investing in expensive equipment.
I’ll demonstrate each stage, explain how the chemistry works and guide you through the process.
We’ll also discuss the equipment and materials you’ll need if you’d like to continue developing film at home.
Once your film has been developed and dried, the next stage is bringing those photographs into the digital world.
Using a digital camera and a simple film-copying setup, I’ll demonstrate how photographic negatives can be digitised and converted into positive images.
We’ll explore the basic principles of obtaining good-quality digital files, making tonal adjustments and preparing photographs for printing or sharing.
This approach gives you the freedom to enjoy traditional film photography while taking advantage of modern digital tools.
Every workshop is individually tailored.
If you’re a complete beginner, we can start with the fundamentals of using your camera and making photographs.
If you’ve already been shooting film but rely on a laboratory for processing, we can concentrate on developing your own negatives and understanding the equipment involved.
For those wanting to explore the complete process, a full-day workshop offers more time to work through the different stages.
I’ll bring the necessary film-processing equipment and chemistry, so we can work together in a suitable space without requiring a traditional darkroom.
I offer bespoke, one-to-one analogue photography workshops across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Kent and surrounding areas, generally within approximately two hours of Thaxted.
I can travel to your home or another suitable location, bringing the equipment and chemistry needed for film development and digitising.
You don’t need a traditional darkroom, just a suitable space where we can work comfortably.
Before booking, we’ll discuss your location, available facilities and what you’d like to learn, so I can plan the workshop around you.
Location: Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Kent and surrounding areas. One-to-one tuition at your home or another agreed location.
Duration: Half-day or full-day workshops available.
Experience: Beginners and photographers returning to analogue photography.
Equipment: Bring your own film camera if you have one. Film, processing materials and any additional requirements can be discussed before the workshop.
Format: Practical, individual tuition tailored to your interests.
Workshop content will depend on the time available. Film development, drying and digitising may require a full-day session or separate stages, depending on the film and process used.
Half-Day One-to-One Workshop — £280
Ideal for beginners wanting to understand their film camera, learn about exposure, loading film and making photographs. Approximately 3 hours.
Full-Day One-to-One Workshop — £495
A more comprehensive day tailored to your interests. This might include camera skills, black-and-white film development, digitising negatives or a combination of these. Approximately 10am–4.30pm.
Travel & Materials
Workshops are available across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Kent and surrounding areas. Any additional travel costs or specialist materials will be discussed and agreed before booking.
Booking
A £100 deposit secures your workshop date, with the remaining balance due five days beforehand.
Looking for a gift for someone who’s discovered film photography or has an old camera they’d love to use again?
A one-to-one analogue photography workshop makes a thoughtful and practical gift.
Gift vouchers are available, and the recipient can arrange a suitable date and discuss what they’d most like to learn.
If you’d like to learn film photography, develop your own negatives or discover how to digitise your photographs, please get in touch.
We can discuss your camera, experience and interests before planning a workshop around you.
From camera to negative to digital image — discover the complete photographic journey.