Make Your Own Darkroom Portrait Workshop

Experience the magic of photography as a hands-on art form using a vintage mid-20th-century camera and traditional techniques. In this workshop you'll create a black-and-white portrait to take home.

With expert guidance from artist, photographer and educator Dan Burwood, you will learn how to light your subject, focus, and compose an image with a 1940s large format field camera!

You will then use the high-quality facilities of a darkroom to process and print your portrait with expert help along the way.

This experience is ideal for anyone interested in photography, digital or analogue, and as an introduction to analogue photography and darkroom craft.

It would also make a great gift to a couple or a group marking a special occasion, or an unusual start to a night out. Darkroom Birmingham is conveniently situated near the diverse food and nightlife offers of Balsall Heath, Moseley and Kings Heath.

Please note, the duration of the experience is reduced for fewer than the maximum number of participants.

About Darkroom Birmingham

Darkroom Birmingham was founded in 2012 as a home for the analogue photography communities of the West Midlands and beyond. They run courses, projects, exhibitions and events, and the darkroom and facilities are available to use by photographers and students.

The Old Print Works is a vibrant community charity, providing spaces for creative local designer makers, and opportunities for everyone to learn something new.

Age restrictions: 8+

Adult (18+) £35
Child (8-18) £25
Couple £59
Group 4-6 participants £95

Available dates

Sorry, there are currently no dates available

The good news is that we’re expecting more to be added really soon!

Want to be the first to find out when new dates are released? Register below to notify the host of your interest

What people are saying

★★★★★
Zara Preece
May 2023

We had a great time learning about the process of shooting and developing film, the host was very...

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How to get there

Yuup extras

  • Free photo frame

Facilities

  • Family friendly
  • Parking
  • Toilets
  • WiFi

On the day

  • Participants will be met at the street entrance to the building beneath The Old Print Works sign on Moseley Road. Dress as you'd like to be photographed!
  • Darkroom Birmingham is at The Old Print Works, opposite Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath, South Birmingham. It's easily accessible from Birmingham city centre via the 50 bus. There is limited parking on site, in the courtyard to the right of the building, but plenty of on street parking nearby. There are bike racks available.

Changes happen, don't worry

How to change dates
Change of plans? You can easily rebook the next available slot up to 7 days before your experience.
How to get a refund
Can't make it? We understand things happen! You can cancel and get a full refund up to 7 days before your experience.
Please note that this refund policy does not apply to gift bookings. You may reschedule your gift if outside the time period stated above. However, all gifts are non-refundable and expire exactly 1 year after the date of purchase.

You'll be hosted by

Darkroom Birmingham

Darkroom Birmingham is a community photography space based at The Old Print Works in Balsall Heath, South Birmingham. As well as hosting exhibitions and community projects, they offer a range of photography courses and training to welcome people into the world of photography.

Some of the things you can learn with Darkroom Birmingham: analogue photography, how to develop film into negatives, how to print enlargements, cyanotype printing and more!

Dan Burwood (He/Him)

Dan has over 20 years experience as a photographer, artist and educator. As well as setting up Darkroom Birmingham as a community photography resource in 2012, he's worked on projects, exhibitions and commissions in the UK and in Cuba, Brazil, Syria and Lebanon.

Any questions?

Ask your question directly to Darkroom Birmingham.

Available dates

Sorry, there are currently no dates available

The good news is that we’re expecting more to be added really soon!

Want to be the first to find out when new dates are released? Register below to notify the host of your interest