History Reborn

Creating Heirlooms Forged in Silver by Sunlight

Black and white photo of a family of three standing in a natural outdoor setting with tall grass and leafy trees, the mother holding a baby, and the father standing behind them, looking serious.
“We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its’ glory.”
— Alan Watts
Tintype Portrait Sessions

What is a Tintype?

Invented in the 1850s, Tintypes were the first prominent form of photography. They gained widespread popularity during the American Civil War, making available to the many what had been the luxury of the few.

Forged in silver by sunlight, they are formed by pouring a light-sensitive solution upon thin metal plates and exposing them within a camera. The wet-collodion process yields a haunting reversed image of rich tonal depth. Each plate is a singular, imperfect image that cannot be reprinted.

Today, in an age of endless digital images, tintypes feel magical. Their slow, hands-on ritual and tangible authenticity bestow a soulful presence no pixel can match—flawed, unrepeatable and forever alive with character, they become heirlooms of a modern life preserved with an ancient soul.

A black and white photograph of a woman standing outdoors under a canopy of trees with blurred light filtering through the leaves. She is wearing a patterned dress and has her hands clasped in front of her.
Black and white photograph of a man with a beard and long hair holding a woman with long hair in a close embrace. The woman is sitting and the man is standing, with high contrast lighting emphasizing their profiles.
Black and white photograph of a young woman with long hair and freckles, resting her chin on her hands and looking directly at the camera.
A black and white photograph of an elderly woman in traditional fashion, with her hair styled in a bun, dressed in a plaid shirt. She is looking to her left with a serious expression.
A man sitting on a motorcycle inside a large, spherical, woven structure, viewed through an opening in the structure. The structure appears to be made of lattice and natural materials.
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Black and white photo of a man with curly hair and beard, wearing a white shirt, standing behind a woman with curly hair, large earrings, and a necklace, both looking at the camera, with the woman resting her hand on the man's shoulder.
A black and white photograph of a smiling man with glasses, wearing a jacket, holding a dog with a bandana around its neck. The dog is sitting on a flat surface, and the man has his arm around it.
A black and white vintage photograph of a young woman with long, wavy hair, wearing a lace top and a choker necklace, looking directly at the camera.
A black-and-white tintype portrait of a man wearing a cowboy hat, a bandana around his neck, and a vest, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile.
A tintype street portrait of a young woman wearing a face mask and backpack holding a stick with palm fronds, standing behind a wire fence; in the background, a large billboard with blurred text and an old house with a peaked roof.
Black and white double exposure tintype vintage photograph of a man and woman with their faces close together, showing intricate details of their expressions, clothing, and hair, with flowers at their necks.
Black and white portrait of a young man with styled hair, dressed in ornate traditional clothing with embroidered details and a bow tie.
Black and white photo of a young man with dark hair and beard, a woman with wavy blonde hair, and a Dalmatian dog, standing outdoors in a forest with leafless trees and tall grass.
A black and white tintype portrait of a young man and woman. The man is wearing a hat, a blazer, a shirt, and a tie. The woman has curly hair and is wearing a lace dress. The man has his arm around the woman and they are both looking at the camera.
Black and white photograph of a woman with long wavy hair, wearing earrings, a patterned top, and a sweater. She is smiling slightly, with her arms crossed, holding a pair of glasses and wearing rings. The image has a vintage, slightly worn appearanc
A black and white photograph of a woman standing behind a seated man, both nude. The woman has long, wavy hair and tattoos on her arm, and she is looking directly at the camera with a slight smile. The man has long, curly hair and a serious expressio
A tintype maternity portrait of woman in a lace dress walking through a grassy field with wildflowers, surrounded by trees and foliage in a sepia-toned photograph.
Black and white photograph of a woman with long wavy hair wearing a wide-brimmed hat and holding a lace fan, standing outdoors among tall grass or wheat. The image has a vintage or artistic style.
Black and white portrait of two men in formal attire, one holding a telephone, with the man on the right wearing a tuxedo with a bow tie and the man on the left wearing a suit with a bow tie.
A tintype portrait of a farmer with a straw hat standing in a cornfield at night, with blurred lights in the background.
A black and white vintage photograph of a woman with short hair holding a sleeping baby in her arms.
Black and white photo of a young man and woman posing together. The man is smiling, holding a balloon, and wearing a watch. The woman has long hair, freckles, and is wearing lace clothing, leaning on the man's shoulder.
A black and white tintype photograph of a young man and woman standing together, smiling. The man is wearing a suit jacket with pinstripes, a shirt, and a tie, and has wavy hair.
Black and white photograph of a man, woman, and a child standing outdoors among foliage. The man has a beard and is wearing a jacket, the woman has long hair and is wearing a dress, and the child, being held by the man, has short hair and is dressed
Tintype Portrait of Bobby Rush. An elderly man with a beard and mustache wearing a cap and dark coat standing in front of a monument of a soldier on a pedestal. The soldier statue is holding a bag in one hand and raising the other hand.
A black-and-white tintype photo of a man and woman standing outdoors in a wooded area, with a dog held by the man and a dog sitting on the ground. The woman is wearing a dress, and the man is dressed in casual clothing.
A vintage black-and-white photograph of a man and a woman standing outdoors surrounded by trees and foliage. The man has short hair, is wearing a Western shirt with contrasting accents and has his hand on his belt. The woman has long hair, is wearing
A black and white photograph of a man and woman standing close together, with the man wearing a cowboy hat and the woman with long hair. The image has worn edges and a vintage appearance.
Black and white maternity tintype portrait photograph of a pregnant woman with a large flower in her hair, wearing a vintage dress, in profile view.
Black and white tintype portrait of a young woman with long, wavy hair and freckles, looking directly at the camera.

Digital Tintypes

Authentic Silver Tintypes from Your Digital Photographs

Tintypes From Your Smartphone

Order Digital Tintype
Close-up of a person's hand holding a smartphone displaying a photo of a young boy with face paint and a butterfly design, outdoors near trees.
Close-up of a person's hand holding a smartphone displaying a photo of a young boy with face paint and a butterfly design, outdoors near trees.
A reflective surface, like a mirror or metallic panel, on a cart in a dimly lit room illuminated by red light, with a person's legs visible at the bottom of the image.
A reflective surface, like a mirror or metallic panel, on a cart in a dimly lit room illuminated by red light, with a person's legs visible at the bottom of the image.
Black and white photograph of a young boy with a butterfly on his face, holding a stick, outdoors with trees in the background.
Black and white photograph of a young boy with a butterfly on his face, holding a stick, outdoors with trees in the background.

The Photographic Van

Mobile Tintype Studio and Darkroom

A white van parked in a forest with tall trees featuring autumn foliage, orange leaves, and scattered fallen leaves on the ground.

  • Wedding Receptions

  • Corporate Events

  • At-Home Family Portraits

  • Random Pop-Up Events

More Information
A black and white portrait of a man with a beard, dressed in a dark shirt and cap with glasses resting on top, looking directly at the camera.

Meet the Photographer

so sayeth grok:

Patrick Cavan Brown is an award-winning documentary, editorial, and humanitarian photographer based in Boulder, Colorado. Known for intimate, story-driven images, his work explores culture, community, and the quiet resilience of people and places often overlooked. Alongside his reportage, Brown is a dedicated practitioner of the 19th-century wet-plate collodion process, creating original tintype portraits through The Tintype Company.

In his documentary practice, Brown brings a rigorous yet poetic eye to subjects ranging from local communities and cultural traditions to humanitarian stories and environmental portraits. His photographs seek out the human spirit in everyday settings, capturing belonging, place, and the enduring character of those he photographs with clarity and respect.

Through The Tintype Company, Brown revives the historic craft of forging images in silver by sunlight on metal plates. Working from an outdoor studio in the spirit of the itinerant photographers of the 1850s, he creates singular heirloom portraits that fuse historical technique with contemporary life. Each plate becomes a tangible record meant to outlast its subject, reflecting Brown’s lifelong curiosity about memory, craft, and the stories we leave behind.

Documentary Portfolio

  • "Hands down the best experience of my life! Patrick was so welcoming to myself and my husband. His passion for his work definitely shows! We will treasure these photos for the rest of our lives.

    • Kristin H.

  • "Wow! What a phenomenal experience! Sometimes you meet a really genuine person and it just transfers to their work. We absolutely love our tintypes."

    • Grace W.

  • "My fiancé and I had the BEST time getting our engagement photos done with Patrick! He took time to educate us on the inner workings of the camera, the photography process, and the development process. He was so kind and welcoming - he made the entire day so much fun. "

    • Andrea S.

  • "Patrick photographed my husband and I the morning after our wedding. The attention to detail, the warm and friendly interaction - we felt like we were hanging with a friend! This was truly the most wonderful experience for our first day as Husband and Wife and would 13/10 do it again."

    • Kira C.

  • "I took maternity photos with Patrick last summer when I was 9 months pregnant - the experience and results were incredible! I wanted to do something unique and artistic and Patrick was the perfect photographer to work with. He had so many ideas and helped me make memories that are now family heirlooms! I cherish my photos more than I can describe."

    • Jayne G.

  • "Hands down one of the coolest experiences ever, & that’s all thanks to Patrick! He is so welcoming, fun, knowledgeable, & his passion for his art just radiates. This was the first thing my husband & I wanted to do for our honeymoon & I cannot recommend him enough."

    • Joslyn S.

  • Patrick is a wonderful host and so fun work with! My husband and I got a portrait done by Patrick for our anniversary. He took us through the process and showed us how tintype is done. It was a very fun and educational time! I highly recommend seeing Patrick for a beautiful photo and a fun day.

    • C Heard

  • Now speaking of the photos…they came out incredible. Even better than I imagined, I can’t wait to be able to put them on display. Patrick has a fantastic eye and is an expert in his craft. He made the entire process of selecting poses and shooting them extremely enjoyable. My wife and I can’t wait to come back and have more photos taken. It was truly an amazing experience!

    • M Wilson

  • We had such an amazing time taking tintypes at Patrick’s studio!! It was such a special experience, you can tell that Patrick loves what he does. He made sure every plate was perfect. He made sure we were comfortable and gave us great direction. His passion and expertise is apparent when you see the final results of the plates!

    • S Garman

  • My partner and I had a portrait done for a housewarming gift to ourselves and we absolutely had our expectations exceeded by Patrick. We loved learning all the steps that go into this craft, and Patrick is certainly an expert in the field and its history.

    • Z Willard

  • My husband wanted to recreate a 100 year old portrait of his Great-Great-Grandfather so we booked a session to bring our two small boys to Patrick's studio for a photo of the boys and a family photo. We had the most wonderful experience! Patrick was so welcoming to our little crew. He let the boys feed his chickens and play with his sweet dog. My five year old was so amazed by the process. I would highly recommend the whole experience!

    • J Westbrook

  • Incredible experience! Patrick talked about the entire process and history behind tintypes and it was so fun to learn about. We can’t wait to treasure these for years to come.

    • Julie L

  • If you are even remotely considering tintype photography, just do it and do it with Patrick. You will not regret it. The photos that he captured are going to be some of my prized processions as well as family heirlooms for generations to come.

    • L Kinney

  • The Tintype Company was the best kind of experience. In a short time, Patrick explained the fascinating process and history of wet plate collodion photography. I enjoyed it so much that I asked if he had time for an additional tintype with my musical instrument, which he kindly accommodated. The result is now easily my favorite photograph of myself. Highly recommend!

    • J Smith

  • Patrick was absolutely amazing!! He made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, provided feedback and posing ideas, and made the whole thing feel seamless. The real treat of the experience was having the opportunity to learn so much from an absolute professional

    • K Meadows

  • Patrick very obviously adores the art that he provides so generously for a super reasonable price. My partner and I just did photos with him after driving all the way out from Wisconsin and we had nothing short of an exceptional experience. He wants nothing but the best for the photos and will stop at nothing to assure that you’re happy with them. 11/10 for this fantastic experience.

    • M Worklan

  • If I could give more than 5 stars,I would! My husband and I had wanted to get tintype photos done for years. We're so glad we did. Patrick really helped us collaborate on some beautiful photos. 10/10 would do again!

    • K Stowers

  • Amazing experience getting a tintype portrait done. Patrick was so kind and taught us about each step of the process. A can't-miss stop in Boulder!

    • E Campbell