faqs
What is a tintype?
Wet plate collodion photography (aka tintypes!) is an early photographic process from the mid 19th century where the final image is printed on a sheet of enameled metal. With this process, the photographer must coat, sensitize and develop the metal plate all while it remains wet, which requires a mobile darkroom. The immediate development process results in a couple of things; the ability to see the finished product in a matter of minutes, as well as a number of variables in the chemical process that create a unique and one-of-a-kind image.
What should I wear?
Anything! Feel free to dress up, or dress as casual as you'd like. Tintypes come out printed in reverse, so I recommend not wearing anything with text on it as it will be read backwards. White can sometimes look a little blown out, while black can lose a lot of details. Patterns and textures always look great. The process translates color differently than regular photographs. Reds and warmer colors come out looking darker, closer to black, whereas blues and cooler colors come out looking lighter, closer to white. For example, if you have black hair and wear a red shirt, they will most likely blend into each other.
Where is your studio located?
My studio is located in Washougal, WA. It's a 25 minute drive from Portland. It is just up the road from the beautiful Washougal river, and at the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. It is a forested 4 acre property with a variety of natural settings and backdrops for you to choose from for your portrait.
What if I blink or don't like my photo? Can we reshoot?
Exposure times vary from 1-10 seconds depending on the available light, which means occasionally blinks happen. Your plate will be developed in front of you, so we will know right away if you blinked. I will always reshoot for blinks free of charge. Due to the nature of this unique chemical process, occasionally there will be artifacts and chemistry marks. These marks are a part of the tintype process, and we will only reshoot for these if they retract from the overall quality of the portrait. If you would like to reshoot a plate for any other reason, there will be a $10 fee per reshoot to cover material costs.
How long until I get my tintypes after our session?
Can I bring my young child for a portrait?
I shoot portraits with natural light, so the exposure times can vary from 2-10 seconds(2-4 seconds on a sunny day). Your child will need to sit still for 60 seconds while the camera is focused, and the plate is exposed. These longer exposures can be a little more complicated for the younger, wiggly ones. If your child is unable to sit still for the entire exposure, they may come out slightly blurry. For some, this is not an issue and adds a little life and character to the photograph. If the photo is blurry, I will do up to two reshoots if you wish, at $10 per reshoot to cover material costs. I cannot guarantee an unblurry photo of children, therefore if we are unable to get a sharp photo, full payment is still expected to cover the cost of materials and time.
Can I bring my pet for a portrait?
I do pet portraits on a case by case basis. I shoot with natural light, so the exposure times can vary from 2-10 seconds. Generally, most pets are unable to sit still for that amount of time and will come out slightly blurry. For some, this is not an issue and adds a little life and character to the photograph. If the photo is blurry, I will do up to two reshoots, at $10 per reshoot to cover material costs. I cannot guarantee an unblurry photo of pets, therefore if we are unable to get a sharp photo, full payment is still expected to cover the cost of materials and time.
Do you do private or public events?
Yes, I do both! Weddings, company parties, birthdays, family reunions, you name it. Please shoot me an email if you're interested in having me at your upcoming event.
What is your cancellation policy?
Any cancellations later than 48 hours prior to your appointment cannot be refunded as I will have already purchased the materials for your portrait. If you need to cancel with less than 48 hours notice, you will have the option to reschedule for another date.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes! Please email me to purchase one. Gift certificates must be redeemed within one year.
Can I use the photograph commercially?
Yep! Usage fees apply when the work is used for commercial or editorial purposes, and prices will vary depending on the use. Please email me for more information.