A couple poses for a tintype photo in my Panama City Beach, Florida, tintype studio.
In a world where things aren’t built to last, tintypes have stood the test of time. Take a quick trip through any antique store and you will more than likely see a tintype for sale that is at least 100 years old. These images are still around today. As a Florida tintype photographer, I would love to make a brand-new tintype of you that you can pass down through the generations.
What is a tintype photo?
Tintype photography, also known as wet plate collodion, is the most archival form of photography known to mankind. The process is called wet plate due to the fact that the photographer has around 15 minutes to expose and process the plate before the plate dries out.
A tintype is a positive image on a thin black metal plate. From beginning to end every chemical step is hand poured and created from the same formulas that were used since the process was invented in the 1850s. This gives each and every plate a unique chemical signature making each image one-of-a-kind.
In today’s world of digital photography where images primarily stay on a computer or phone, a tintype is truly unique. This is not a quick, cell-phone photo. The process is slower than most people are accustomed to, but you still get a kind-of instant gratification….it just takes about 15 minutes.
What happens during our tintype photo session?
Before your portrait session I will walk you through the steps that it takes to make a handmade tintype portrait. You will visit the darkroom and I will take you step-by-step through the process. After taking your tintype photo in the studio, we will head back into the darkroom to see your tintype come to life.
I offer tintypes in a variety of sizes to fit your needs and space. You can choose from 4×5, 5×7, or 8×10. I sometimes even break out the passport camera to get a set of 4 images on one tintype.
Where is your tintype studio located?
My Panama City Beach tintype studio is centrally located in the heart of PCB and is easy to get to from anywhere you are staying in the area.
Book your tintype portrait!
Contact me if you would like to schedule your own Florida tintype portrait session. Your great-great-great-great grand kids will thank you.