Shoot. Develop. Print.

Not at all. We’ll show you the basics and guide you through the entire process.

Absolutely — this is a great experience for families or groups who want to try something creative together.

Sessions are designed for small groups of up to 4 people, which is the max we can comfortably fit in the space and still give everyone the attention they need.

That said — if you’re a family or group of 5, we might be able to make it work with a bit of tweaking. Just get in touch before booking and we’ll see what’s possible.

Due to the technical nature of film handling, chemicals, and the equipment involved, this experience is best suited to high school aged children and up (approx. 13+).
Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a supervising adult throughout the session.

Please Note: This workshop isn’t suitable for very young children or anyone uncomfortable in low light or darkness.

Film loves texture. Embrace the weather – rain or shine.

The class will go ahead, but come dressed for the conditions. We will be outdoors taking pictures for part of the course so warm layers and wet weather options are sensible. We have space to store your outdoor coats and hats in the darkroom.

Food and drink are not included as part of this experience — but you’ll have time during the session to grab something nearby.

The darkroom is located within easy walking distance of several excellent cafés and lunch spots in Queenstown. There’s a natural break between shooting and developing where you’ll have time to refuel and we should be all done in time for you to get lunch once the session is complete.

You’re welcome to bring your own snacks or drinks though, especially if you have dietary needs or prefer something quick and familiar.

Please note: we kindly ask that no food or open drinks be brought into the darkroom itself — we’ll have a safe space nearby for storing your things.

Yes, absolutely! If you have your own 35mm film camera, you're welcome to bring it along and use it for the experience. We’ll still supply the roll of film and walk you through the process of loading and shooting — whether you're using one of our cameras or your own.

Just a heads-up: this experience is currently designed around 35mm black & white film only. That means we’re not set up to process medium format, large format, or colour film at this time.

The price stays the same whether you use our camera or yours, since all materials, chemistry, guidance and development are included.

If you're unsure whether your camera takes 35mm film, flick us a message and we’ll happily confirm it with you.

Everything you need for a complete start-to-finish analogue photography session is included in your booking:

You’ll receive:

• Use of a 35mm manual film camera (or bring your own)

• 1 roll of black & white 35mm film (20 exposures)

• A guided intro to using the camera

• A self-paced photo walk around the local Arthurs Point area of Queenstown

• Access to the Queenstown Darkroom

• All chemistry and materials for developing your film

• Help and guidance while you develop your own negatives

• A hand-made 8×10" contact sheet of your full roll to take home

• Your original negatives

We provide all the gear, film, chemistry, equipment, and know-how — just bring your curiosity and a sense of adventure.

Yes, if you’re open to slowing down and reconnecting with the basics.

This is a beginner-friendly experience with no advanced techniques — but it’s a great way to remember why you fell in love with photography in the first place. Shooting film, developing it yourself, and seeing your frames come to life is a creative reset — not a technical deep-dive.

For more advanced or private sessions, see the next FAQ.

Not just yet — but we’re working on it.

For now, we’re focused on our core sessions. In future, we’re planning to offer private darkroom time, advanced workshops, and creative printing sessions for those wanting to go deeper.

If that sounds like you, let us know when you book — or join the mailing list to hear when new options launch.

Short answer: no. Queenstown Darkroom is not a film lab, and we don’t offer drop-off processing.

Developing film here happens as part of a guided analogue photography experience, where participants process their own black & white negatives by hand during a booked session.

If you’re specifically looking for a film lab or C-41 processing, this won’t be the right fit.