What is a Tintype?

A tintype is an image created on a piece of metal with several hand poured chemicals. This metal plate is then placed inside the camera and exposed upon to create a one of a kind, tangible image that will live on for centuries. This form of photography was invented in the 1850s before film and is known as wet plate collodion.

How long do I have to hold still?

With the powerful strobes I use in my studio, you must only sit still while I focus the camera and then for 1 second while the lights flash. When shooting outdoors in natural lighting, exposure times may vary from 1-8 seconds and sitting still for that amount of time is imperative to insure a blurry image is not the result.

Can I bring my pet or my children?

Yes to both, if they are all well behaved and capable of taking direction and sitting still in a chair. Because the focal range of my camera is so limited, sitting still long enough for me to focus my camera is a must. Please message me to talk about pet photos before booking an appointment. There is an additional $20 charge to bring a pet, please choose the "add on" when you book your session.

How many people can be in my photo?

In the studio, it is very difficult to light, frame, and focus on multiple people at a time. I allow up to four people in an image at a time. If you would like to do a larger group, please book an on site session and understand that natural light shoots require different things than studio sessions. Please contact me if you would like to discuss this possibility.

What should I wear for my photo?

I want everyone to wear what makes them feel most comfortable and most like themselves, as these photos are a look into each persons unique life. That being said here are some suggestions that pertain mostly to the nature of collodion photography.

— solid black and solid white are not recommended because they take up so much attention and space in the image (black is hard to see and makes the image much darker, white may blend in with my white backdrop and have a similar but opposite effect).

— cool colors tend to appear much lighter and warm colors tend to darken (I.e blue will lighten and red will darken)

— these images will develop backwards on the plate so any clothing with words will appear reversed

— patterns, textures and accessories add a lot of visual interest and character to the image

Here is an image by Lund Photographics to show you the color differences between color film, black and white film, and collodion

Can I wear my glasses in my picture?

This I leave up to the discretion of the subject. Most modern lenses have a UV coating on them which can cause them to darken with this process. The result will be more sunglass like than regular glasses. Often times, people opt to take their glasses off to avoid looking like a cool 1800s guy in shades. It is your choice. I have had someone bring an old pair of their glasses with the lenses removed so the frames are still visible but the lenses aren’t an issue.

Why do I look so different in a tintype?

As before mentioned, the chemical process that I am using picks up colors entirely different than we see with our eyes. People with more melanin in their skin will inevitably appear much darker in a tintype due to the different tones in their skin. People with freckles will look quite a bit more freckled because freckles have a warm tone to them. Different colored eyes will appear completely different shades.

Can we do a reshoot if I don’t like the image?

I offer reshoots DURING your session if the image we create is unsatisfactory. If someone blinks or looks away or the image is ruined due to something technical on my end, I will reshoot free of charge. If you just don’t like the pose you did or don’t like how your hair looks, etc. I would ask that you compensate me for my materials and my time ($20). I will not do a reshoot for a session that has already ended, so if you are unhappy with your plate please let me know while you are still at my studio.

Can I get multiples of my image?

Each tintype is completely one of a kind. I will send you a scan of your plate once the session is over, and you are free to make copies of it as you please.

Do I get to take my photo home immediately?

After the image is created, I must wash it, let it dry, scan it, and then coat it in a shellac varnish to protect it from damage. This takes me a few days and then we can arrange whether a pick up, drop off, or snail mail scenario works best for you.

What size will my picture be?

Currently in my studio, I am working with two historic cameras, one shoots both 4x5” and 5x7” plates, and the other shoots 8x10” plates. The resulting images will be one of these sizes.