The Photographic Van

Mobile Tintype Studio and Darkroom

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A forest with tall trees and orange autumn leaves, with a white van parked on a trail surrounded by fallen leaves.

The Photographic Van

  • The ultimate take-home gift for weddings receptions.

    Includes TEN 5×7 plates.

    Additional plates $100 each.

    $1500 + Mileage

  • Great for grand openings, anniversaries, special events, etc.

    Includes TEN 5×7 tintypes.

    Additional plates $100 each.

    $1500 + mileage

  • Perfect for reunions, birthday parties, private family sessions.

    Choose from the A La Carte Menu

    $1500 + Mileage

  • The subject of the tintype is charged at the time of their sitting. Great for fundraisers, special events, etc.

    $1500 minimum. Host must cover difference should there be any.

Mobile Tintype Studio and Darkroom

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CARING FOR YOUR TINTYPE

  • Display your tintype under a bright, specular light source for best viewing results.  I recommend propping them up directly under a lamp.

  • Let people pick up and hold your tintype. Tintypes are robust.  Baring any physical damage they will last hundreds of years.  ​

  • When fingerprints show, wash with cool water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.  Don't use windex or other chemical cleaners. 

  • Tintypes are varnished with a natural substance called Lavender Sandarac.  Is it amazing stuff, but not as hardcore as a poly.  

  • If you choose to frame your tintype, make certain there is an air gap between the glass and the plate.  If the plate touches the glass, given changes in humidity and temperature, over time the varnish will adhere to the glass. 

  • I recommend shadowboxes or frames without glass. Mount it 1/4 inch away from the back of the shadowbox for a cool 3D effect.

  • Tintypes are glossy, so is glass, so you will get a double the glare with glass.

  • Got any other questions or concerns, holler at me!

FREQUESTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • There are two options:

    1: The host pays the full amount. Typical for weddings, business events and family sessions:

    2: The subjects is charged at the time of their sitting, but the host is on the hook for the minimum should not enough folks show up. Social media advertising in advance is the key to success. Great for businesses trying to draw in more clientele.

  • We max out at around 6 tintypes per hour, give or take.

  • I need about 15×20 feet worth of space and access to electricity to set up the studio, as well as a place close-by to park the darkroom van. Tall ceilings are also key, unless we are shooting outdoors in which case shade is required.

  • For studio shots you will have to sit perfectly still for about 1 second. Natural light portraits are longer, requiring you to be perfectly still for up to 3+ seconds at a time…and that’s if the sun is shining, longer if it isn’t. 

  • Up to two people for our 5×7 lit portrait. 8×10 natural light portraits can acomodate more folks, but we need to stick to one size and one location for these pop-up events.

  • Come with ideas.  Wear something intriguing, or nothing at all.  Dress up.  Be formal.  Put on a hat.  Bring a prop. Go vintage. Go nude. Be you at your most wonderfully unique!! Everyone is welcome, and so are your ideas.  I encourage you to contact me ahead of time with your questions so that we can flesh them out for ultimate success.

  • Generally I mail the plates to the host after they have been washed, dried, varnished and baked. That takes a few days. The host is then responsible for distribution. This works great for businesses who want to bring their clients back twice: breweries, stores, etc. Alternatively, for an extra $25 per plate, I take down addresses and mail the tintypes directly to the subjects.

    • Tintypes are an antique handmade art form using equipment and techniques more than a century old.  As a result, chemistry artifacts will occur. Don't think of these as bugs, but features, giving each plate a unique - dare I say magical - quality.  That being said, if there is a big black streak right accross your face, I reshoot that plate at no cost.

  • I offer digital scans for $50 each. With that the subject will get a HUGE file good for making enormous, poster-sized prints as well as a smaller online friendly version. These are professionally scanned and processed files that are cleaned up and color balanced.

Most of the time we are making tintypes of couples, so I recommend 5×7s. Singles look great that size as well. 4×5s can be a little underwhelming. If larger groups are in the mix, 8×10’s are the way to go. Larger groups need to be naturally lit, as the chemistry is not sensitive enough to light a large group. Open shade works best, as direct sunlight is simply too harsh. Larger groups cannot be shot indoors or after the sun sets. All this being said, if we are trying to get a lot of tintypes made in a short period, we need to select one size and one location and stick with it. Moving the camera and set around takes too much time - you likely won’t get your money’s worth. A lot of info here, so please feel free to holler at me to discuss. All questions welcome.

A La Carte

Black and white close-up photo of a man with curly hair, freckles, and a mustache, wearing a collared shirt and a denim jacket.

Minimum Purchase of $1500

4×5

$100
A black-and-white portrait of a man and woman embracing, with the man wearing a hat, a suit, and tie, and the woman wearing a lace blouse. The woman has her hand on the man's chest.

5×7

$150
Black and white photograph of six people outdoors, surrounded by tall trees with sprawling branches. The group includes a seated woman in a floral dress, a woman in a leather jacket, two women with dark hair, a man with glasses, and a tall man with short hair standing behind them. The background features large trees and foliage, creating a natural setting.

8×10

$200
Schedule Session

  • "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.

Two men setting up camera equipment outdoors underneath trees with lighting and a white backdrop, one man adjusting a camera on a tripod and the other seated near a dog.

If you're interested in working with me, complete the form with a few details about your project. I'll review your message and get back to you asap.