Tintype photography is a 19th-century photographic process where images are created on a sheet of metal coated with light-sensitive chemicals. Each plate is hand-poured, exposed, and developed on-site, resulting in a one-of-a-kind photograph that cannot be duplicated.

The look of tintypes is instantly recognizable, rich, timeless, and filled with unique imperfections that make every plate distinct. Unlike modern prints, each image exists as a physical, original piece of art designed to last for generations.

We offer two distinct ways to bring tintypes into your wedding:

 • Tintype Wedding Photography Package. This is focused on the couple and their closest people. The package includes 10 handmade 8x10 tintypes, a mix of original tintypes created on-site during the wedding day and tintype prints made from digital images. Because each tintype takes up to 12 minutes to create, including digital-to-tintype prints allows us to work with the natural flow of the wedding day while still delivering a full collection of plates.
 
• Tintype Wedding Photography Photo booth. This is all about your guests. We create 5x6 tintypes for individuals and small groups who step into the booth, alongside companion digital portraits. Our base package includes 30 tintypes, with the capacity to make up to around 60 during a wedding depending on timing.

Yes. Tintype wedding photography is always booked as an add-on to digital coverage. This ensures your day is fully documented in a flexible way while also giving you the heirloom tintype experience.

You can add tintypes to weddings where Folklore is also providing digital photography, or we can work alongside another photographer you’ve already booked. In those cases, we’ll coordinate with them ahead of time to make sure tintype portraits are scheduled smoothly within your day.

Tintype is a historic, handmade process, and part of its beauty lies in its imperfections. Each plate may show unique artifacts, streaks, spots, uneven edges, that are a natural result of the chemistry and conditions on the day. No two plates ever look the same, and this unpredictability is part of what makes tintypes so special.

That said, working with 19th-century chemistry means things don’t always go perfectly. This is why we also include digital-to-tintype prints as a backup. If something prevents a plate from developing properly, we can recreate the portrait afterward in our studio by transferring a digital image onto a tintype plate. This way you’ll always receive a complete collection.

Yes! Our mobile horse trailer darkroom travels with us to weddings and becomes part of the guest experience. Guests are invited inside to watch the tintype development process unfold, from the moment the plate is dipped in chemistry to the image appearing before their eyes.

It’s an unforgettable moment of magic and artistry that turns the creation of each tintype into an event in itself. Guests often say it’s one of the most fascinating parts of the wedding, as they get to witness photography the way it was done over 150 years ago.

In addition to creating tintypes directly on-site, we can also transform digital photographs into tintype plates. These can come from our own digital coverage of your wedding or from images you provide.

This process not only gives couples creative flexibility but also serves as a built-in backup if on-site chemistry conditions ever create challenges. Either way, you’ll end up with a full collection of tintypes.

The tintypes are carefully packaged and mailed to the couple within a few weeks of the wedding. From there, it’s the couple’s responsibility to distribute them to family and guests. Many couples enjoy this step, as it gives them an opportunity to reconnect with loved ones after the wedding.

Each plate also comes with a digital copy in your online gallery, so you’ll have access right away even before the physical plates arrive.

Yes! We offer digital-to-tintype prints for couples who want heirloom tintypes from their wedding but didn’t have us on-site. You send us your digital images, and we create authentic tintype plates in our studio. This is a great option for couples who discover tintypes after their wedding or who simply want to expand their collection.

Tintypes are among the most durable forms of photography ever made. With proper care, they can last hundreds of years, making them a true family heirloom to be passed down for generations.

We recommend storing them in a dry environment and handling them by the edges to avoid fingerprints. With even minimal care, they will far outlast modern prints.

Tintypes are unlike any other medium. Each plate is handmade, unique, and physically tied to the moment it was created. The Wedding Package gives you heirloom 8x10 portraits of the couple, family, or wedding party, while the Portrait Booth offers an interactive guest experience.

Couples often tell us their tintypes become some of their most treasured wedding artifacts — images that feel timeless and deeply personal. Whether displayed at home or shared as gifts, tintypes carry a presence and weight that digital photos alone cannot match.