Tintype Portraits by David Emitt Adams

Internationally known artist, David Emitt Adams, will make your tintype portrait during this special portrait session event at Art Intersection. You can sit for a unique, handcrafted portrait, made using the historic tintype process originally invented in the 1850s.

A session lasts between 30 – 45 minutes and you take away a fresh tintype portrait that will make a perfect keepsake or gift. The tintype image is captured on a 4-inch by 5-inch aluminum plate. Please allow an additional 30-minutes after your session for the plate to dry, or you can pick it up the next business day.

The session price includes only one tintype and does not include retakes unless there are clear issues with the image. Retakes are done at the discretion of the photographer. We can easily photograph 1 – 2 people and may be able to add a third person maximum. The exposure time may be as long as 5-seconds, so the subjects must be able to hold a pose, without moving for the exposure duration. Sorry, no pets.

Since tintypes are unique and cannot be reproduced, if you want two tintype portraits from the same session, another plate may be purchased for an additional $45. We will make a high resolution scan of your portrait for $25 and email it to you. You can pay for these options when you arrive for your scheduled session.

David uses a large format camera in the Art Intersection studio to photograph tintype portraits directly onto the aluminum plate. The image is developed in the darkroom and then coated with a varnish finish immediately after the photograph is taken.