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Film sessions are available in my home studio, starting at $150 for the first hour. Options include medium format (6x6 or 6x7) and large format (4x5 or 8x10). I typically work in black and white film, processing rolls and sheets by hand. Color and slide film are also available but require additional fees for materials and lab processing.
During your session, we will make as many photographs as possible-- which is often dictated by your format selection. If you have questions or would like to see examples of the different looks these formats produce, please reach out!
Booking A Session
If you are interested in having your portrait made on film, please fill out the contact form below and indicate at least two desired dates.
Appointments are 1 hour and only available on Saturdays and Sundays. Each appointment is $100 and includes film processing and scans of your images. Traditional gelatin silver darkroom prints are available for an additional fee, depending on size and paper selection.
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The Tintype
Tintypes are produced on a sheet of thin, lacquered metal colloquially referred to as 'tin' but most commonly made of aluminium. They involve the same wet-plate collodion process as ambrotypes, but are more durable and tend to produce a more high-contrast image.
Tintypes and Ambrotypes both share a signature 'antique' look and will include visible artifacts of the process in each plate. The primary differences between these processes are their substrate and display requirements. While a black backing and frame are typically needed for viewing Ambrotypes, Tintypes are able to be viewed standalone.
The Process
Each plate is cut to size from a black lacquered sheet of aluminum and prepared by hand before use. One side of the plate is coated with a thin layer of iodized collodion, then sensitized to light in a silver nitrate solution. The plate is quickly exposed in-camera while still wet, then developed and fixed on the spot. Because the metal sheet is lacquered in opaque black, the image appears to us as a positive.
After being fixed and washed, each plate is hand varnished with lavender sandarac to protect the fragile emulsion. This results in a one-of-a-kind tangible object that will surely survive for many generations to come.
Booking A Session
If you are interested in having your portrait made in this unique historical process, please fill out the contact form below and indicate at least two desired dates. Appointments are 1 hour and only available on Saturdays and Sundays. Each appointment is $125 and includes one 4x5 inch Tintype, as well as a high-quality digital scan of your plate. Larger plates (5x7, 8x10) are available for an additional fee.
Because wet plate collodion is a much slower ISO than film, it requires ample light and extended exposure times (typically ranging from 5 to 30 seconds). I use only natural lighting, which means that your session will take place outside and require you to sit relatively still for a period of time. For this reason, the process can be challenging for babies and small children. It also means that in cases of inclement weather, your session will need to be rescheduled.
I frequently use antique, shutterless brass lenses with very shallow depth of field, which means that the best images involve either one or two subjects. With large parties, it’s often best to split into smaller groups to ensure your images come out crisp and beautiful.
Please note that because your tintype will require adequate washing, drying and varnishing, you will not be able to take it home with you on the date of your session. Rather, you can plan to pick it up at your convenience approximately one week after your appointment. If you are unable to do so, shipping can be arranged for an additional fee. You will have the opportunity to watch the plate develop and snap your own photos during the process!
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The Ambrotype
The ambrotype (ancient greek for immortal impression) was introduced in the early 1850s as an alternative to the Daguerreotype and pre-dating tintypes. This early photographic process is a variation on the wet-plate collodion technique which involves under-exposing an image onto a glass plate, then backing it with a dark substrate (traditionally black velvet) to produce a positive image.The resulting photograph is a beautiful, often imperfect rendering that is completely outside of time and impossible to recreate. The experience of having your portrait made in this process will both delight you and deepen your connection to the rich history of photography.
The Process
Each plate is cut from high-quality framing grade glass, sanded and prepared by hand before use. Once cleaned, one side of the plate is coated with a thin layer of iodized collodion, then sensitized to light in a silver nitrate solution. The plate is quickly exposed in-camera while still wet, then developed and fixed on the spot. The resulting negative image, when viewed by reflective light on a dark background, appears to our eyes as a positive.
After being fixed and washed, each plate is hand varnished with lavender sandarac to protect the fragile emulsion. This results in a one-of-a-kind tangible object that will surely survive for many generations to come.
Booking A Session
If you are interested in having your portrait made in this unique historical process, please fill out the contact form below and indicate at least two desired dates. Appointments are 30 minutes long and only available on Saturdays and Sundays. Each appointment is $150 and includes one 4x5 inch ambrotype, as well as a high-quality digital scan of your plate. Larger plates (5x7, 8x10) may be requested for an additional fee.
Because wet plate collodion is a much slower ISO than film, it requires ample light and extended exposure times (typically ranging from 5 to 30 seconds). I use only natural lighting, which means that your session will take place outside and require you to sit relatively still for a period of time. For this reason, the process can be challenging for babies and small children. It also means that in cases of inclement weather, your session will need to be rescheduled.
I frequently use antique, shutterless brass lenses with very shallow depth of field, which means that the best images involve either one or two subjects. With large parties, it’s often best to split into smaller groups to ensure your images come out crisp and beautiful.
Please note that because your ambrotype will require adequate washing, drying and varnishing, you will not be able to take it home with you on the date of your session. Rather, you can plan to pick it up at your convenience approximately one week after your appointment. If you are unable to do so, shipping can be arranged for an additional fee. You will have the opportunity to watch the plate develop and snap your own photos during the process!