Stepping Back in Time with The TinType Man: Learning the Wet Plate Process
I spent the morning with The TinType Man, learning the incredible art of tintype wet plate photography, and it honestly felt like stepping straight into the 1800s. Before film and long before digital, photographers used this process to create one-of-a-kind images on metal plates. The technique dates back to the 1850s, when portraits were precious, exposures were measured in seconds rather than fractions, and every photo was truly handmade.
A little history…
A tintype is created by coating a thin sheet of metal with a sticky, light-sensitive emulsion. While it is still wet, the plate goes into the camera, gets exposed, then has to be rushed into the darkroom before it dries. The whole thing is chemistry, timing and a bit of witchcraft. No undo button, no tweaking sliders later, no “I’ll fix it in Photoshop”. What you create is what you get.
The wet plate collodion process was introduced by Frederick Scott Archer in 1851. The specific tintype (also called ferrotype) variation was later refined and popularised by Hamilton Smith in 1856, making it cheaper, faster and tougher than other photographic methods of the time.
So Archer gave the world the wet plate process, and Smith helped turn tintypes into the everyday portrait medium of the era.
Why was it so popular?
It was cheap - Compared to daguerreotypes and ambrotypes, tintypes were far more affordable. Almost anyone could afford to sit for a portrait, which made photography accessible to everyday people for the first time.
It was fast - The wet plate collodion process needed to be exposed and developed while the plate was still wet. That meant photographers could create a finished portrait in minutes. For the 1850s, that was lightning fast.
It was durable - Tintypes were made on thin metal sheets, not glass. They could be carried around without breaking, tucked into pockets, wallets, lockets and letters. Soldiers in the American Civil War loved them for this exact reason.
It created one-of-a-kind images - There was no negative. Each tintype was a unique artefact. That sense of rarity made them treasured keepsakes.
Where was it used?
Civil War battlefields and camps - Travelling photographers set up portable darkrooms and made quick portraits for soldiers to send home. These small tintypes could survive war, weather and rough handling.
Travelling fairs and carnivals - Tintype booths were everywhere. People would sit for novelty portraits, postcards or souvenirs.
Portrait studios - Urban studios used tintypes as an affordable alternative to more delicate photographic processes.
Street corners and seaside boardwalks - It was one of the earliest forms of “instant photography.” Photographers would set up shop anywhere there was foot traffic and produce quick portraits for passersby.
Keepsakes, lockets and jewellery - Small tintypes were often slipped inside jewellery or sent as love tokens.
Back to the present day…
Scott guided me through the entire process, from prepping the tin to watching the image bloom to life in the developer tray. Seeing a portrait literally appear out of nothing is strangely emotional. It is slow, messy, hands-on and beautifully imperfect… and it forces you to slow down and really consider the photograph you are making.
Of course, Scott also took my portrait. Let’s just say that an 1880s medium-format camera has zero interest in flattery. It captured me exactly as I was in that moment, which appeared to be… well, a slightly sour old cow. At least it was accurate. LOL
Phone photo of the tin type Scott took of me
What I loved most is how grounding it felt. Modern photography moves at lightning speed, but this reminded me that our craft was built on patience, curiosity and chemistry. Every plate is unique. Every mistake is a lesson. Every success feels earned.
Watch the below video and see the image appear right before your eyes!
If you ever get the chance to try wet plate, do it. You’ll walk away with a new appreciation for your craft and a whole new appreciation for where our craft began. And who knows, you might even fall a little bit in love with the magic of it all.
