wet-plate rentals

George Eastman’s 1st Wet-Plate kit, photo by Mia Nakano

Wetplate photography is a process first popularized in the mid-1800’s. Aluminum plates with a black enamel surface are coated and sensitized, a photograph is taken on the plate, and is immediately processed in a darkroom. The result is a one-of-a-kind, rich, silvery image, with incredible detail and tone. Multiple options to create tintypes are available: darkroom rentals for enlargements, studio rentals for portraits, and a technical service to have a staff person coat your plates during your shoot.

Tintype Studio rentals

• $300/8-hour day
• $175/4-hour day
• $100 – Lighting Rental
• $20/day – 4×5″ camera (in-house)
• $50/week – 4×5″ camera (off-site)

Sample kit: Schneider 150mm f/5.6 lens, 4×5
holders, loupe, dark cloth, and cable release.

Darkroom Rental

• $14/hr (2-hour minimum)
• Includes silver nitrate, fixer, tanks, and developer trays

CHEMISTRY & PLATE SUPPLIES

• $40/125ml Collodion (Ammonium or Potassium Iodide formulas)
• $15/100 ml Developer

Aluminum black lacquer plates (.025)
• $20/10 (3.25×4.25 plates)
• $30 /10 (5×7” plates)

ON-SITE TECHNICAL SERVICE

We provide on-site services to photographers who want to produce tintypes, but need of an experienced technician to coat and process plates. We provide a camera, lens, Tintype plate holders, chemistry, and plates. Studio and darkroom rental are not-included.

• Consult with staff to determine lighting and exposure requirements.
• Plates must be left on-site to dry for at least 24-hours, and can be picked up the following day
• $200/hr (one-hour minimum)