See the world
through film.
A week-long summer camp where kids aged 8–14 develop real film in a darkroom, build pinhole cameras from shoeboxes, and shoot golden-hour portraits in wildflower meadows.
12
Campers per session
5
Prints to take home
4
Sessions this summer
$75 deposit holds the spot · Full refund until June 1
Find their week.
Four sessions, three age groups. Hover each card to see work from a past camper.
First Light
June 23–27, 2026
- Build a shoebox pinhole camera on Day 1
- Shoot wildflower meadow at golden hour
- Develop your first print in the darkroom
- Take home 5 finished 8×10 prints
"I didn't know I could make something this beautiful with a shoebox."
— Photo by a past Shutter camper
Shadow & Light
June 30–July 4, 2026
- Portrait sessions: photograph each other
- Darkroom printing from 35mm negatives
- Cyanotype printing with sunlight
- End-of-week gallery show for families
"The darkroom smells like magic. I want to live in there."
— Photo by a past Shutter camper
The Long Exposure
July 7–11, 2026
- Tripod work: still life + architecture
- Night sky photography (dusk session)
- Double exposure in-camera techniques
- Critique circle: talk about your work
"My photo of the oak tree took 45 seconds. I held my breath the whole time."
— Photo by a past Shutter camper
Documentary Eye
July 14–18, 2026
- Storytelling through photo sequences
- Interview & portrait: photograph a farmer
- Edit a 10-photo zine, print + bind it
- Advanced darkroom: dodging & burning
"I made a zine about my grandma. She cried when I gave it to her."
— Photo by a past Shutter camper
Not sure which week? Email us — we'll match your camper to the right session.
hello@shuttercamp.comThe darkroom moment.
Every camper gets this exact moment — watching an image appear from nothing. It never gets old. Not once.
Watch the Image Appear
Drag to develop — just like your kid will in the darkroom
First shadows appearing…
Your camper will use Ilford Multigrade paper · Kodak Dektol developer · actual red safelights
Real Chemistry
Dektol developer, stop bath, fixer. Kids learn what each chemical does and why timing matters.
Safelight Science
Why red light doesn't expose paper. Why white light ruins a print. The physics of photosensitivity.
The Contact Sheet
Every camper makes a contact sheet first — reading your negatives is a skill they'll use forever.
Still warm from the line.
Every photo below was taken by a camper aged 8–14. Unretouched. Slightly imperfect. Completely theirs.
Week 2, Age 11
Week 1, Age 13
Week 3, Age 9
Week 2, Age 12
Week 4, Age 14
What parents say.
"She came home with five prints and a look in her eyes I'd never seen before. She said, "I made these, Mom. With my hands.""
Jennifer Walsh
Parent of Lily, Age 11
"As a homeschool family we're always hunting for something real. Shutter Camp is the most real thing we've found."
David Park
Homeschool parent of Sam, Age 13
"My students talk about this camp all school year. It rewires how they see. That's not hyperbole — I've watched it happen."
Ms. Rosa Delgado
After-school art teacher
The packing list.
Almost everything is provided. Here's the full breakdown — click each category to see details.
Ilford Multigrade IV RC Paper
8×10, 25 sheets — provided
Kodak Dektol Developer
Mixed 1:2 in developing trays — provided
Stop Bath + Fixer
All chemistry supplied by camp
Red safelight goggles
For extra atmosphere (optional, bring your own)
Shoebox (any size)
Bring from home — the older the better
Aluminum foil
For the pinhole aperture — provided
Black electrical tape
Provided
Scissors + craft knife
Provided — supervised use
Disposable film camera
Kodak Ultramax 400 — one per camper, provided
Comfortable walking shoes
We hike to the wildflower meadow daily
Sun hat + sunscreen
Golden hour shoots run 6–7:30pm
Field journal + pencil
Provided — campers log every shot
5 developed prints (8×10)
Dried and matted, ready to hang
Your pinhole camera
Fully functional — keep shooting!
Roll of exposed film
We develop it; you keep the negatives
Shutter Camp field journal
Filled with your notes and contact sheets
Gift a week
of real making.
Give the kid in your life something they'll talk about for years. A Shutter Camp gift certificate covers one full session — the recipient's family chooses the week and registers when ready.
- Delivered instantly by email
- Redeemable for any 2026 session
- No expiry until December 31, 2026
- Printed gift card PDF included
One Week of Real Film
Darkroom · Pinhole · Portraits · Prints
Summer fills fast. Sessions cap at 12.
Their spot is waiting.
A week from now they could be holding a print they made with their own hands, still warm from the drying line. You just have to save the spot.
$75 deposit · Full refund until June 1 · Questions? hello@shuttercamp.com