EBPCO Workshops Program

The East Bay Photo Collective workshop program offers a variety of hands-on workshops in alternative process, digital, darkroom, experimental photography, and more.

Our workshops are offered in-person from one of our two locations: Oakland Photo Workshop or the EBPCO Community Darkroom. Check out our upcoming workshops calendar below to learn more or register!

Image by AJ Gubser

Summer 2025 Schedule

SEPTEMBER Registration Open!

Featured
Intro to 35mm Film Photography
Sep 6
Intro to 35mm Film Photography

WITH NAJEE TOBIN AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

For those who are new to film photography and looking to get started. In this course, an instructor will guide you through the basics of manual camera function and making images with black & white 35mm film, including ISO, aperture, shutter speed, light metering, focus, and more. This workshop will get you making images that can be sent out for processing or prepare you for your own processing work in the darkroom. Participants must bring their own 35mm SLR camera. All other supplies are provided by EBPCO!

Class Full! JOIN WAITLIST | ENROLLMENT FEE: $50* | MATERIALS FEE: $15

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Intro to Portrait Photography
Sep 14
Intro to Portrait Photography

WITH VINCE DONOVAN AT OAKLAND PHOTO WORKSHOP

This one-day workshop will cover the basics of good portrait photography, including lighting, posing, hair, and makeup. Participants will work with a model and basic studio lighting set-ups to create a variety of portraits. This workshop is intended for photographers of all stripes, formats, and experience levels, including digital, film, and phone. Participants should bring their own digital camera, film camera, or camera phone, as well as memory cards, chargers, or film if applicable. All other equipment and materials will be provided by EBPCO!

Class Full! JOIN WAITLIST | ENROLLMENT FEE: $50* | MATERIALS FEE: $20

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Advanced Cyanotype: Textiles & Botanicals
Sep 27
Advanced Cyanotype: Textiles & Botanicals

WITH CHRISSY HUHN AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

Join us for World Cyanotype Day 2025! Delve deeper into the world of cyanotype by making prints on fabric and toning with botanicals. You’ll have the option to bring some of your own textiles, botanicals, photogram materials, and negatives to experiment with and/or choose from a selection that we’ll provide. All other materials for this workshop are provided by EBPCO. This advanced workshop is reserved for those who have their own previous experience with cyanotype or have taken one of our cyanotype workshops.

Class Full! JOIN WAITLIST | ENROLLMENT FEE: $65* | MATERIALS FEE: $15

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

SUMMER CRITIQUE SESSION Registration Open!

Featured
Group Critique Session
Sep 4
Group Critique Session

WITH GUEST LEADER JESSICA CHEN AND FACILITATOR BOB SHONKOFF AT OAKLAND PHOTO WORKSHOP

This session is open to EBPCO members only. If you don’t have a membership, you can start one HERE. Join us at Oakland Photo Workshop to discuss your photo projects and works in progress. The goals of these in-person sessions are to create a supportive space to give and receive constructive feedback on projects in all areas of photography currently being developed. Participants will also practice speaking about their art as well as the art of others. We also encourage participants in our workshops to attend and share what you made and are working on!

Session Full! JOIN WAITLIST | This is a FREE event, but advance registration is required.

FALL 2025 Schedule

OCTOBER Registration Open!

Featured
Intro to Darkroom (4-Week)
Oct 1
Intro to Darkroom (4-Week)

WITH JYOTI LIGGIN AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

This 4 week course is for those who are comfortable shooting 35mm film but have no previous experience in a black & white darkroom. Throughout the course, an instructor will guide you through the basics of darkroom processes, including processing black & white film, contact printing, and enlargement printing. Participants must bring an exposed but unprocessed roll of film to work with for the first class. All other materials for this course are provided by EBPCO!

Class Full! JOIN WAITLIST | ENROLLMENT FEE: $220* | MATERIALS FEE: $30

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Brew Your Own “Beerol” Developer
Oct 4
Brew Your Own “Beerol” Developer

WITH BEATRICE THORNTON AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

We’re partnering with Bay Area brewers Laughing Monk to source some tasty beer for participants in this workshop to enjoy both as a refreshing beverage AND as a developer base for black & white film processing! In this one-day workshop, participants will learn the basics of film processing with homemade “Beerol” developer. Participants must bring two rolls of exposed 35mm black & white film to process during the workshop. All other materials are provided, including a glass of Laughing Monk beer to drink! This workshop is open only to those 21+ years of age.

REGISTER HERE | ENROLLMENT FEE: $60* | MATERIALS FEE: $15

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Wet Plate Collodion
Oct 11
Wet Plate Collodion

WITH JENNY SAMPSON AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

Wet Plate Collodion is a photographic process dating back to the 1800’s that involves hand-coating a metal or glass plate with a viscous, salted collodion then submerging it in silver nitrate. While still wet, the sensitized plate is put in the camera, exposed, and processed immediately following exposure. In this one-day workshop, participants will learn the basics of this historical process, using metal plates to create their own one-of-a-kind tintypes. Participants should be familiar with the basics of large format camera operation before registering. All materials for this workshop are provided by EBPCO.

Class Full! JOIN WAITLIST | ENROLLMENT FEE: $150* | MATERIALS FEE: $30

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Darkroom Refresher
Oct 18
Darkroom Refresher

WITH BRENNA HANSEN AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

This one-day session is designed for those who have had some previous experience in black & white photography, processing, and printing but have been away from it for some time. We will go through the process of black & white film processing and darkroom printing together as a refresher to these hands-on procedures. Participants must bring an exposed but unprocessed roll of film to work with for the class. All other materials for this course are provided by EBPCO!

Class Full! JOIN WAITLIST | ENROLLMENT FEE: $120* | MATERIALS FEE: $15

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Intro to Digital Photography
Oct 19
Intro to Digital Photography

WITH KELLY SULLIVAN AT OAKLAND PHOTO WORKSHOP

For those who own a digital camera and want to learn how to get the most out of it. In this workshop, an instructor will guide you through the basics of digital camera function and making images in manual. This workshop will give you a deeper understanding of your camera's modes and functions as well as a greater sense of control over your image making. Participants must bring their own DSLR or mirrorless camera, batteries, and memory card for file storage.

REGISTER HERE | ENROLLMENT FEE: $50* | MATERIALS FEE: $5

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

NOVEMBER Registration Opens October 1st!

Featured
Dr Philm Camera Repair
Nov 1
Dr Philm Camera Repair

WITH PHILIP KRAYNA AT OAKLAND PHOTO WORKSHOP

Do you have a film camera collecting dust in an attic, inherited from a relative, or recently purchased at a yard sale or on eBay? Bring your cameras and questions to this informal workshop where we will share with others and with EPBCO member and film camera obsessive Philip Krayna (aka “Dr. Philm). Philip will test and assess your camera, if possible help with minor repairs, and explain how to use it, so you can start enjoying the magic of film photography.

REGISTER HERE Starting October 1st | This workshop is FREE and open to all, though advanced sign up is required.

Intro to Darkroom (4-Week)
Nov 3
Intro to Darkroom (4-Week)

WITH JYOTI LIGGIN AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

This 4 week course is for those who are comfortable shooting 35mm film but have no previous experience in a black & white darkroom. Throughout the course, an instructor will guide you through the basics of darkroom processes, including processing black & white film, contact printing, and enlargement printing. Participants must bring an exposed but unprocessed roll of film to work with for the first class. All other materials for this course are provided by EBPCO!

REGISTER HERE Starting October 1st | ENROLLMENT FEE: $220* | MATERIALS FEE: $30

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Printing with Liquid Emulsion
Nov 8
Printing with Liquid Emulsion

WITH BRENNA HANSEN AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

Push your photographic work into the realm of sculpture! Liquid emulsion is a bottled version of the light sensitive coating normally found on darkroom photo paper. It can be applied to a variety of materials, allowing images to be made on the surface of just about any object. In this workshop, learn the fundamentals by printing enlarged black & white film negatives onto wood, fabric, ceramic, and more. Participants must have previous experience with traditional darkroom enlargement printing and bring their own 35mm black & white negatives to print. All other materials are provided by EBPCO!

REGISTER HERE Starting October 1st | ENROLLMENT FEE: $85* | MATERIALS FEE: $20

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Simple Bookbinding for Photographers
Nov 9
Simple Bookbinding for Photographers

WITH JULIAYN COLEMAN AT OAKLAND PHOTO WORKSHOP

In this workshop, participants will make 4 different bookbinding structures and a wrap to house them all. The structures include a one-sheet book, a pamphlet, an accordion, and a stab binding. This workshop is open to all, regardless of prior bookbinding experience, and we'll talk about ways to adapt the structures to include your images! Participants are invited to bring some of their own paper or other potential binding materials to experiment with, though a set of materials will be provided for each participant to work with. All other materials for this workshop will be provided by EBPCO!

REGISTER HERE Starting October 1st | ENROLLMENT FEE: $60* | MATERIALS FEE: $15

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

Intro to 35mm Film Photography
Nov 15
Intro to 35mm Film Photography

WITH NAJEE TOBIN AT THE EBPCO COMMUNITY DARKROOM

For those who are new to film photography and looking to get started. In this course, an instructor will guide you through the basics of manual camera function and making images with black & white 35mm film, including ISO, aperture, shutter speed, light metering, focus, and more. This workshop will get you making images that can be sent out for processing or prepare you for your own processing work in the darkroom. Participants must bring their own 35mm camera.

REGISTER HERE Starting October 1st | ENROLLMENT FEE: $50* | MATERIALS FEE: $15

*Current EBPCO members may receive enrollment fee discounts with valid code entered at checkout

END OF YEAR CRITIQUE SESSION Registration Opens November 1st!

Featured
Group Critique Session
Dec 11
Group Critique Session

WITH GUEST LEADER (TBD) AND FACILITATOR BOB SHONKOFF AT OAKLAND PHOTO WORKSHOP

This session is open to EBPCO members only. If you don’t have a membership, you can start one HERE. Join us at Oakland Photo Workshop to discuss your photo projects and works in progress. The goals of these in-person sessions are to create a supportive space to give and receive constructive feedback on projects in all areas of photography currently being developed. Participants will also practice speaking about their art as well as the art of others. We also encourage participants in our workshops to attend and share what you made and are working on!

REGISTER HERE STARTING NOVEMBER 1st | This is a FREE event, but advance registration is required.

Want to give the gift of an EBPCO workshop?

You can now purchase gift certificates for EBPCO workshops in the amount of $25, $50, $100, or $200! These are valid only on EBPCO Workshops. Certificate, redemption codes, and instructions will be emailed within 48 hours. Gift certificates must be redeemed before 12/31/2025. No refunds or exchanges. Other restrictions may apply.

Workshop Cancellation Policy

Participants may cancel their own registration up to 7 days prior to the workshop date for a PARTIAL refund WITH A $10 CANCELLATION FEE WITHHELD.

Participants who cancel with fewer than 7 day’s notice WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND OF ANY KIND.

EBPCO reserves the right to cancel any workshop due to low enrollment. If a workshop is canceled by EBPCO, participants will be notified and receive a complete refund of all workshop fees.

We are not able to credit or transfer enrollment from one workshop to another.

For more info check out our Workshops FAQ page or send us an email!

Interested in Teaching a Workshop with EBPCO? 

We're accepting proposals for photo related workshops in Alt-Process, Experimental, Digital, and MUCH more for upcoming terms in 2025. Submit your proposal online via the form linked below. 

Workshops Supply Wishlist

We’ve created a wishlist of supplies and materials used by participants in our workshops. Purchases made from this registry are sent to us and help supplement materials costs for our workshops, helping us keep fees affordable and accessible to those who want to learn! If you want to support EBPCO’s workshops program, please check out the list and consider donating an item.

ebpco education wishlist preview

Submit Your Workshop Creations

If you’ve taken an EBPCO workshop and you'd like to share some of the work you made in class, you can submit it here for a chance to be featured! We'll share these images with your instructor as well as on our social media (with your permission and credit to you, of course!)