Tintype Portrait Sessions

Black and white photo of a woman with short hair, wearing earrings and a septum piercing, holding a sleeping baby close to her chest.

  • Traditional Outdoor 1850’s Studio

  • Multi-Light Modern Portraits

  • Natural Light Outdoor Portraits

  • Singles, Couples, Families, Groups

  • Personalized Fine Art

  • Headshots

  • Bridal Portraits

  • Maternity

  • Boudoir, etc...

Schedule Portrait Session
A black and white portrait of a young woman with long wavy hair, wearing a lace top and a necklace, with tattoos on her arm.
Black and white artistic photo blending a silhouette of a person's profile with flowers and abstract patterns.
A vintage black and white photograph of a young woman with curly hair wearing a white dress and a large necklace, standing close to a man with a beard, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a striped jacket with a patch on the shoulder.
A black and white portrait of a man and woman posing closely, with the woman on the left and the man wearing a cowboy hat and leather vest on the right.
Black and white photo of a woman with dark hair holding her face with her hands, staring directly at the camera.
A woman in a lace dress with flowers in her hair stands in a field of tall grass and wildflowers, surrounded by trees and blurred sunlight in the background.
A black-and-white photograph of a man with dark hair, mustache, and light skin, and a woman with long curly hair, earrings, and a necklace. Both are dressed in vintage clothing, with the woman in an off-shoulder top, striking a confident pose, with t
A black and white photograph of a man, a woman, and a Dalmatian dog standing outdoors in a natural setting with trees and dry grass
A woman with long hair, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, is holding a parasol in an outdoor natural setting with tall grass surrounding her.
Black and white photo of a bearded man with long hair embracing a woman with long hair, both topless, in an intimate pose.
Black and white photo of a man wearing a cowboy hat, bandana, and denim jacket. Only part of his face is visible, with emphasis on his eyes and beard.
A black-and-white photo of a family outdoors in a garden or field. A woman in a white dress, a man, and a young girl are posing together. The woman is standing in front, the man is behind her, and the girl is held by the man. They are surrounded by p
Black and white photo of a man and woman, with the woman standing behind the man and her arms around his shoulders. The man is wearing a light-colored hoodie and a watch on his left wrist. The woman has long, wavy hair and is wearing a sleeveless top
Black-and-white photograph of two men dressed in tuxedos, one with a beard and curly hair, the other with a neat hairstyle, both looking serious. The man with the curly hair has his hand on the shoulder of the other man, who is holding a telephone re
Four women standing outdoors on grass, looking at the camera.
Black and white photograph of a man with curly hair, a beard, and freckles, wearing a collared shirt and denim jacket.
Black and white photo of a woman with long, wavy hair and freckles, looking directly at the camera.
Black and white portrait of a young man and woman standing close together, looking at camera. The man is wearing a hat, a patterned jacket, and a tie. The woman has curly hair and is wearing a lace blouse. They are outside, with a blurred background.
Black and white photograph of a young man and woman posing together, smiling slightly. The man is wearing a suit with a striped tie and has medium-length hair. The woman has curly hair, a septum piercing, an ankh necklace, and is wearing a striped sh
A black and white photograph of a family of three standing outdoors among bushes and trees. A man with a beard and a woman with long hair are holding a young boy between them. The family appears serious and is looking at the camera.
A black-and-white portrait of a man wearing a cowboy hat, a bandana around his neck, and a collared shirt, looking directly at the camera.
A black-and-white photo of a man and woman standing in a wooded outdoor setting, with a dog sitting in front of them. The man is wearing a Western-style shirt with decorative yoke and Western trousers, with hands on hips. The woman has long hair, is
Black and white photo of a bearded man and a woman standing outdoors in a grassy area, holding a banjo and a camera respectively, with trees and foliage in the background.
Two men dressed in suits, one in a white tuxedo and the other in a dark suit, standing together outdoors among trees and rocks, holding hands in a romantic pose.
A black and white vintage photograph of a man and a woman close together, with the man on the left and the woman on the right. The man has long hair, a beard, and is wearing a denim jacket. The woman has short curly hair, freckles, and is wearing a d

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

  • 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!

CARING FOR YOUR TINTYPE

  • 6903 Valmont Road Boulder Colorado 80301

    Look for the gate immediately at the east end of the long green fence

  • Expect to be at the studio for 3+ hours. Afterwards the plates will still need to be washed, dried, varnished and baked. That takes another day or so. You are welcome to pick the plates up yourself, or have them shipped to you for $25. If you buy digital scans, those will be delivered to you via email in the following weeks.

  • 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.  Kids and dogs have a hard time doing this, but who cares? They will still look awesome.

  • Modern Lit Portraits can accommodate up to two people and a baby… perfect for couples and brand new families. For larger or more established families I recommend a series of individual studio portraits and a naturally lit environmental portrait.

  • 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.

  • Don't like the look on your face? The first reshoot is included - each additional reshoot will incur a $25 fee to cover the costs of chemistry.  Want to keep the reshoots or have duplicates?  They make great gifts!! Keeping a reshoot or duplicate is 50% off the a la carte price.

    • 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, a reshoot is no cost.

  • I offer digital scans for $50 each. With that you will get a HUGE file good for making enormous, poster-sized prints with as well as a smaller version good for posting online etc. These are professionally scanned and processed files that cleaned up and color balanced. Alternatively you can make your own digital file using your smartphone or camera. The key to a good copy is eliminating all glare. Lay your plate down on a table of the floor. Use two lamps down low close to the plate, one on either side of the tintype. Shade your camera from the lights. Look for any reflections in the dark areas of the plate. If you don’t see any you are good to go! Google “flat art copy” for a more in-depth explanation of the process.

FREQUESTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Newlywed or Not

Black and white portrait of a woman with long, wavy hair, nude upper chest, freckles on face, light-colored eyes, and full lips, with an artistic and slightly distressed background.
Black and white tintype photograph of a shirtless man with messy, shoulder-length hair and a serious expression.

The vast majority of my customers are couples. For that reason I have created a package specifically for couples, the Newlywed-Or-Not. This will save you a bit of money and send you home with a set of plates to be passed down as heirlooms for generations to come. These plates will be a record of who you are today for the souls you create tomorrow.

  • Two 4×5 Individual Studio Portraits

  • One 5×7 Couples Studio Portrait

  • One 8×10 Natural Light Environmental Portrait

Newlywed Or Not - $600
Black and white tintype photograph of a woman with long hair and freckles standing behind a shirtless man with long curly hair, with her arms around his neck, and their hands clasped in front of his chest.
Black and white tintype photo of a man and woman standing in a forest, looking directly at the camera. The woman is holding a bouquet of flowers, and the man is holding a bird. They are surrounded by trees and foliage.

Build Your Own Package

Minimum Purchase

$250

Collaboration is the heart of portraiture. If you’ve got ideas of your own, please share them with me. If you’ve got questions, please ask them of me. I am also more than happy to simply shepherd you through the process. These tintypes will outlive you - and your grandchildren too - so let us make certain they are worth your while.

Black and white photograph of a shirtless man with a beard and long hair holding a woman with long hair, in an intimate pose. The woman's face is turned to the side and resting on the man's chest. The background is dark and plain.

4×5

$125
Black and white photograph of a young man and woman. The woman is standing behind the man with her arm around his shoulder, while he holds a glass of drink. Both are smiling gently.

5×7

$175
Black and white photograph of a woman resting her face in her hands, with her elbows on a surface. She has long dark hair, freckles, and a septum piercing. The portrait is taken against a plain background.

8×10

$250
Schedule Session

Get Notified of Public Tintype Pop-Ups

I schedule occasional public pop-up events at local brew pubs, tattoo parlors, or the like.

Want me at your public place? Give me a holler to discuss.

Multi-Light Modern Tintype Studio Portraits

A black and white artistic photo combining a profile view of a woman and a large flower, blending the woman's face and hair with the flower petals.
A black and white photo of a man and woman. The man is wearing a hat and a jacket with stripes, and he's smiling slightly. The woman has long, curly hair, wears a light-colored dress, and has a serious expression. They are posing closely together for
Black and white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length hair, resting her face in her hands, looking directly at the camera.
A vintage black-and-white photograph of a man and woman posing together. The man has curly hair, a mustache, and is wearing a light-colored shirt with detailed stitching. The woman has curly hair, prominent freckles, and is wearing a large bow in her
Black and white photograph of a bearded man with long hair holding a woman with long hair, both are nude and seated closely with their faces near each other.
Black and white photograph of a man wearing a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, western shirt, and bandana around his neck, with only the upper half of his face visible.
Two young adults, a woman with long hair and a man with a beard, wearing a cowboy hat and intricate patterned shirt, posing closely together for a portrait in black and white.
A sepia-toned portrait photograph of a young woman with long wavy hair, wearing lace clothing, with visible tattoos on her arm, looking directly at the camera with a calm expression.
Black and white photograph of a young man with short curly hair and a young woman with long wavy hair, both smiling and embracing.
Black and white photo of two men dressed in formal tuxedos, one of whom is sitting while the other stands behind him with hand on shoulder, both looking slightly off-camera.
Black and white photograph of a young man with curly hair, freckles, and a beard, wearing a casual denim jacket and a collared shirt. The photo appears aged with scuffed edges.

Natural Light Environmental Portraits

A vintage black-and-white photograph of two people standing in a wooded area, holding a dog. The woman is wearing a long, light-colored dress, and the man is dressed casually in a shirt and pants. Two dogs are visible, one being held by the man and t
Black and white photograph of two men in suits, holding hands, standing outdoors among trees and plants, with a blurred background of foliage.
A man walking through a cornfield wearing a wide-brimmed hat and striped shirt, with sunlight filtering through the tops of the corn stalks.
Black and white photo of a man and a woman standing outdoors, with the woman holding a dog on a leash. The scene is surrounded by trees and foliage.
Black and white photo of a man, woman, and a Dalmatian dog standing outdoors in a field with trees in the background, all looking at the camera.
A black and white photograph of a woman with long hair wearing a wide-brimmed hat, holding a handheld fan, standing outdoors in a field of tall grass with a blurred background of trees.
Black and white photograph of six people gathered outdoors among trees, with some sitting on rocks and others standing, in a natural forest setting.
Black and white photograph of a family of three standing in a wooded outdoor area, with the man on the left, the woman on the right, and a young boy in the middle, some leaves and branches are in the foreground.
Black and white photo of a woman wearing a dress with a floral pattern, standing outdoors under a canopy of trees with blurred leaves and branches in the background.
Black and white photo of a man, woman, and girl standing in tall grass outdoors, with a backdrop of dense trees and branches.
A man with a beard, wearing a cap, riding a motorcycle inside a spherical, lattice-like structure. The photograph is in black and white.
A man with a beard and a woman with a camera around her neck standing in a grassy outdoor area. The man is holding a banjo, and the woman is wearing a sleeveless top. They are standing in front of a bush or tree with tangled branches. The image is in
Black and white photo of a man and woman sitting on the grass in a forest setting, with large trees and leafy canopy in the background.
A black and white photo of a man and woman standing in a forest, holding birds. The man wears overalls and the woman wears a dress.
Three men standing in a wooded area with trees, leaves, and sunlight filtering through the branches.
Black and white photograph of a family of three standing in a grassy, wooded outdoor setting. The woman is pregnant, wearing a long white dress, and the man is holding a young girl. The woman has long, wavy hair and is looking directly at the camera.

  • 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

  • "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.

  • 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

  • "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 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 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

  • 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 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

  • 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

Got a Question???

Collaboration is key! Come with ideas - or brainstorm with me.

Holler at me to discuss.