Learning Portraiture Through 35mm Film Photography

In the Intro to Photography class at Huntington High School, students explored portraiture through a focused 35mm black-and-white film project. The project is built around intention, patience, and hands-on image making. Each student was assigned one roll of 36-exposure film and asked to photograph a single model of their choosing, encouraging depth over quantity and connection over quick capture.

Working with film introduces students to the tactile process of photography from start to finish. Loading the camera, advancing the film, and hearing the mechanical click of the shutter made each frame feel physical and purposeful. With a limited number of exposures, students learned to pause, study light, and consider composition, angle, and expression before taking a photograph. Every decision carried weight, helping them develop strong observational skills and visual awareness.

Focusing on one model allowed students to build rapport and move beyond surface-level likeness. They explored a range of approaches, from environmental portraits that showed setting and context to closer studies of gesture and facial expression. Shooting in black and white directed attention to contrast, texture, shape, and emotion, strengthening their understanding of how light defines form.

The experience continues in the darkroom, where students develop their own negatives and print their images. Seeing their images appear in the developer reinforced photography as a physical and creative process.

Photography teacher Pamela Piffard emphasizes that the experience builds foundational skills that stay with students long after the project ends. “When students work with film, they learn to slow down and truly see,” she explains. “They begin to understand that every photograph is a series of choices — about light, timing, and connection. That awareness makes them stronger photographers in any format.”

This project fosters an appreciation for the craftsmanship behind image-making. Through the physical process of working with film, students experienced photography as both an art and a hands-on practice built on care, attention, and human connection.