What is a tintype?
A tintype is a wetplate photo process dating back to the Civil War era. Historically made on enamel-coated tin (or iron), the modern day tintype starts out on a piece of aluminum. Collodion is flowed on the plate’s surface to act as an emulsion, and then placed in a tank with a silver nitrate solution to become sensitive to light. Once it has become sensitized, and while the plate is still wet, it is shot with a tremendous amount of light, and then brought back into the dark to be developed and processed right away. Once the plate’s development has been stopped with water, it can be brought out into the light and placed in a solution that fixes the image and makes it appear to turn positive, as if coming through a fog. Once washed and dried, the plate is coated with a layer of shellac varnish and is ready to be taken home. The result is a hyper unique, handmade image that will last several generations. We are still finding tintypes from the 1800’s that are in incredible condition, and the modern day tintype has just as much staying power.
How many photos do you take? Can I choose which one goes on the tintype? How big is a tintype?
This is a one shot deal, but you can add additional portraits/time to your session for a discounted fee.
During a scheduled session I will always re-shoot a portrait if you blink or if there is a chemical anomaly in the focal point of the image. If you don’t like your portrait for aesthetic reasons, I’ll re-shoot it once free of charge, but anything after includes an additional fee to cover chemical costs.
All tintypes are 4x5 inches in size.
How long does it take? Do I have to hold still?
The whole process of having your photo taken and then seeing the resulting image takes about 10-20 minutes. You don't have to hold still per-se, but you do have to stay mostly in one spot for a few minutes. I use a high powered strobe, so whatever is happening in front of the camera will be frozen on the tintype, wether you were moving or not! That being said, the depth of field (the area that is sharp and in focus) on the lenses I use are VERY shallow, so a movement backwards or forwards after I've set the focus could make you a little soft, so sit as still as you can!
How many people can you get in one tintype?
You can include as many faces/subjects in a tintype as you'd like, but one or two subjects is ideal. It gets exponentially harder to get more than two faces in focus, compose the image, make sure everyone is looking at the right place at the right time, etc. Additionally, keep in mind that the more faces or subjects you include, the smaller everything gets.
Can you make a tintype of my infant, toddler or pet?
Unfortunately, no.
Kids ages 6-10 tend to HATE the strobe. I will always try, but if the final tintype is unsatisfactory to you (due to your child being out-of-focus, making a bad face, etc.) you must still purchase the tintype.
Do I get a scan of my tintype?
For portraits in studio or at pop-ups, yes, all tintypes come with a web ready scan for personal use (sharing online, Facebook/Instagram profile pics, LinkedIn, etc).
I want to make prints or license the image for commercial use. Is that possible?
I am happy to make prints for you, please contact me with the number/size and I will get you a price quote. As for licensing, I retain all rights to the image but am happy to sell licensing rights to the image for commercial use. Email me and we can discuss pricing, etc.
How long will it take to get my tintype?
At a studio session it takes about a week to prepare the plates and get them into your hands (I wash the plate, digitally scan it and then varnish the surface so it doesn't get damaged). If you need a quicker turn around time for tintypes made in the studio, talk to me and we can figure something out.
For inquiries about pricing and scheduling a tintype session, contact me here
“CREATIVITY IS A WILD MIND AND A DISCIPLINED EYE.”
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