These film photography workshops, classes, and one-to-one mentoring sessions in London take place in my Hackney studio (E2), offering a hands-on introduction to analogue photography — from loading your camera to producing finished darkroom prints.
Whether you’re working with 35mm, medium format (120), or large format (5×4), sessions cover the full analogue workflow: exposure, film development, darkroom printing, toning, and creative control. Teaching is available as one-to-one tuition or in small, focused group workshops.
For those interested in industry-facing techniques or portfolio development, sessions can also draw on my long-standing commercial photography practice.
Half-Day Analogue Photography Session — £250
A focused session (around 3–3.5 hours, typically starting from late morning onwards), tailored to what you’d like to explore.
Ideal for learning camera basics, exposure, metering, or developing your first roll of film.
A complete immersive day (10am–5pm).
Covers exposure (including the Zone System), shooting, black and white film development, contact sheets, and making a finished print.
Small, hands-on workshops (2–4 people).
A more cost-effective way to learn the full analogue process in a collaborative environment.
A £100 deposit secures your place, with the balance due 5 days prior to the session.
Analogue photography is a physical, hands-on practice that rewards attention, patience, and experimentation. These sessions focus on building confidence with materials and process, rather than rushing toward perfection.
Whether you’re new to film or returning after time away, the emphasis is on understanding why things work — so you can adapt the process to your own way of seeing.
No prior darkroom experience is required.
All equipment, chemistry, and materials are provided — just bring your film.
One-to-One: £450 per day
Small Groups: £290 per participant per day
Deposit: £100 per participant to secure your place
With over 35 years of professional experience — including editorial work for publications such as GQ, The Sunday Times Magazine, Arena, and Q Magazine — and as a BA and MA photography lecturer at London Metropolitan University and Cambridge School of Art, Ian combines classical darkroom craft with contemporary photographic thinking.
His fine art work has been featured in Studies in Photography, The Lancashire Times, and AlternativePhotography.com, and his teaching is grounded in both academic rigour and real-world studio practice.
Deposit
A £100 deposit secures your place; the balance is due 5 days before the session.
Cancellations
• 14+ days: full refund or reschedule
• 7–13 days: transferable, non-refundable
• Under 7 days: non-refundable unless you find a replacement
Materials
All materials and darkroom facilities are provided apart from film.
Copyright
All images you create remain entirely yours.
Spaces are limited to keep sessions focused and hands-on.
Email: ian@ianphillipsmclaren.com
Sessions are primarily based in Hackney, London, but I can also arrange one-to-one workshops in Cambridge and Essex by request.
Some of my own images below that were shot on photographic film.
Enquire About a Workshop
Workshops are arranged personally and tailored to experience level, interests, and process.