northland studio

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northland studio

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northland.studio

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location plate gallery

    Studio plate gallery

      Heirloom wet plate tintype

      session Gift Cards

      Gift cards from $160 to $1250 for various session types.

      Buy Now

      Northland studio

      Heirloom portraits

      Each tintype is one-of-a-kind, made with pure silver on a metal plate. It's the most archival process to date with plates from the 1850s still looking good. Your great great grandchildren may enjoy looking at these. 


      We offer prints made from a digital copy photograph. That is the only way to make a print. Print sizes range from 4x5in to 16x20in. See below for print and matted print prices.


      Note: I make a digital copy after each shoot. Each image is retouched lightly for dust and etc. in Photoshop and is adjusted for tone and contrast.

      For each plate I provide a low resolution digital image suitable for social media. 


      Larger digital copies are only available with Print or Mounted Print orders or by special arrangement.


      Price for commercial usage of images varies by usage.



      Location Portraits

      With location sessions I bring the whole setup, darkroom, chemicals, cameras and all to the location.

      We can work in 4x5 and/or 8x10 inch cameras with some great vintage lenses that compliment this 1850s process.

      Get in touch for more info.


      Location pricing is:


      4x5 inch plates:

      $450 for 3 plates in 4x5 

      $750 for 5 plates in 4x5


      8x10 inch plates:

      $750 for 3 plates

      $1250 for 5 plates


      This is for the Missoula area. Anyplace outside Missoula may have  travel cost added.


      Price for commercial usage of images varies by usage.



      Find out more

      In StudioPricing: 4x5 plates

      Studio pricing is on hold until I find a new space! Currently only doing location work and pop ups.

      If you'd like to host a pop up please get in touch!


      Missoula, MT 59802


      Hour sessions start at $160 for 4x5 plates and we can shoot 2 plates at a relaxed pace working on ideas and lighting. Best for individual or a couple wanting a couple images.

      Two hour (4x5 plate) sessions are $300. We'll shoot 4 plates. Studio time goes quickly. Most couples and families do 2+ hours.

      Additional time at $140/hour.

      In Studio Pricing: 8x10 plates

      Studio pricing is on hold until I find a new space! 

      Currently only doing location work and pop ups.

      If you'd like to host a pop up please get in touch!


      Missoula, MT 59802


      Hour sessions start at $235 for 8x10 plates and we can shoot 2 plates at a relaxed pace working on ideas and lighting. This is best for an individual or a couple wanting a couple images. Two hour (8x10 plate) sessions are $450. We'll shoot 4 plates. Studio time goes quickly. Most couples and families do 2+ hours. 

      Additional time at $215/hour.

      What to Expect

      Tintype images date to the mid 1850s. I mix chemicals in the open air and and then sensitize and load the plate into a holder in the dark to shoot while still wet. You can expect a little dust, some strange awesome unexpected results in the form of streaks, and marks due to time, temperature, and chemical shenanigans. 

      Print Prices

      Unmounted Prints on Hahnemuhle’s Fine Art Baryta Satin paper

      8x10 - $100

      11x14 - $200

      16x20 - $275


      Mounted Archival Prints ready for framing

      8 x 10 - $275

      11 x 14 - $400

      16 x 20 - $600


      Turn around time varies for print and matte services.

      A 50% deposit required to begin print and framing orders, balance due at time of delivery. 

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Please reach us at photo.chrischapman@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

      Wool, denim and hats play very well in tintypes. Generally you should avoid solid dark black and bright white clothes due to the high contrast results from the wet-plate process. Colors in the red/orange end of the spectrum will be somewhere between very dark to invisible to the camera. 


      With my current studio lighting and camera I'm limited to photographing two people at once framed from about the waist up. But new things are coming soon, brighter lights and different cameras and lenses.


      We've had some good success photographing pets! The lights are bright and can be startling so we may only get one shot at this. 


      Exposure times in the studio with powerful strobes are incredibly short. The reason for being very still is the depths of field in sharp focus is really slim. I focus on the eyes and then make the exposure within about 10-15 seconds. If you move even a centimeter before the exposure the focus will be off.


      That we know of at least 170 years and still looking good. It's among the most archival of photo processes and to top it off it's encased in a thin layer of amber (think insects from forever ago) we call varnish to protect its more delicate image layer.


      Absolutely! Click HERE


      The answer is YES! with a couple caveats. Get in touch to talk about possibilities.


      Yes! On a tintype the image is silver. Shadows are where there is no silver.


      Sure! For images used commercially there will be a usage fee based on how the image is used. Feel free to get in touch to discuss. 


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      Have a question about making an appointments, gift card and etc.?

      northland studio

      Missoula, Montana 59802, United States

      Northland Cell: 406.546.2231 Email: photo.chrischapman@gmail.com

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