Photo Retro offers basic and advanced classes in film and analog photography.  These include basic half-day or full-day classes in shooting and developing black and white film, color film, working in a darkroom to print black and white and color.  Advanced classes include learning large format photography, dry plate photography, and special course sessions with guest photographers.

Use the CONTACT page to reach out to us for more info.
Workshops Available
Basic Black and White Photography
Printing Black and White in the Darkroom
Shooting and Developing Color Negative Film

See below for Dates and Times

Basic Black and White Photography:  $100 / person
Classes available during normal business hours

  • 3 spots available per workshop
  • Class includes one roll of black and white film, photo chemicals, darkroom time and a 35mm camera if needed
During Basic Black and White Photography you'll learn a bit about the history of photography, composition, exposure and how to use your camera to capture good images. After that we'll go out and shoot photos to use your new skills. Once we're done with a roll of film we'll develop it in our darkroom. We'll provide the film and photo chemicals and a 35mm camera if you don't have one. 
Printing Black and White in the Darkroom:  $100 / person
Classes available during normal business hours

  • 3 spots available per workshop
  • Class includes photographic paper and a roll of film to select a negative to print from (or bring your own!)
Once you have a roll of negatives, how do you get a print?  For over a hundred years, photographers printed from the developed piece of film onto photographic paper in the dim red light of a darkroom.  Watching the print form in the developer tray is where science and art combine to make magic.  That is a moment you'll never grow tired of.  Learn how to create a traditional silver gelatin print from a black and white negative:  The basics of using an enlarger and its tools, reading a negative to compose a print, how to determine exposure, adjusting for contrast, and developing the print itself.
Shooting and Developing Color Negative Film:  $100 / person
Classes available during normal business hours

  • 6 slots available per workshop
  • Class includes a roll of film and equipment needed to shoot and develop the film during the class.
Learn to shoot and develop color negative film.  Color photography is familiar to us all, however for most of us that experience has been limited to digital photography.  Color film photography handles shadows and highlights differently than digital and adds its own characteristics of color response, grain, and contrast.  Get a rundown on the different commonly-available color film types and their intended purposes.  Shoot a roll of color film and then get hands-on experience with Process C-41.  The result is a roll of negatives ready for scanning or for color printing in the darkroom!

If you don't have a camera, don't worry, we will provide you a 35mm camera to use during the class.  If you have a 35mm or a 120 (medium format) camera, bring it with you even if you don't know how to use it.  This is where you learn how.