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.

patrickcavanbrown.com

Patrick Cavan Brown

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

Get in Touch

Whether you have a question, an idea, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out—I’m here to help.

-patrick

Patrick Cavan Brown

"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.

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

"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. "

"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."

"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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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!

Get in Touch