Tintype Photography in Nashville
I make tintypes in a small studio in Franklin, about 30 minutes south of downtown Nashville. Real wet plate collodion portraits, mixed and poured and exposed by hand, one plate at a time.
What a tintype actually is
A tintype is a photograph made on a piece of metal. The plate gets coated with collodion, then dipped in silver nitrate, then exposed in a large-format camera while it's still wet. Fifteen minutes from start to finish. There's no negative. The plate itself is the photograph, and every plate is one of a kind.
It's the same process the Civil War photographers used. The cameras are old or hand-built, the chemistry is mixed in my darkroom, and the plates are metal (or, less often, black or clear glass for an ambrotype). What you walk out with is a real object, not a print.
If you want the deeper version of how this works, I've written about it here.
The experience
People book a session for the portrait. What they end up talking about is the session itself. A tintype doesn't get made behind a screen somewhere. It gets made in front of you. You watch the plate get coated and dipped in silver, then loaded into the camera while it's still wet. You hold still for the exposure. Then you stand next to me and watch your image rise up out of the developer. That moment gets a reaction every single time.
The slowness is the point. Each plate takes about fifteen minutes, and you're part of all of it, so a session feels less like getting your picture taken and more like making something together. There's sparkling wine and light hors d'oeuvres while we work, because an hour and a half in the studio should feel like an occasion.
And the portrait is only part of the visit. While your plates dry, I'll walk you through the history of early photography with original examples from my collection, and we can look at framing options if you're curious. Each plate gets scanned before it's varnished, so you leave with a digital copy along with the original. And you do leave with it. Nothing ships weeks later; your plates go home with you the same day. It's why couples book sessions as anniversary gifts, where the sitting is the celebration and the plate is what you keep. If you're looking for something to do near Nashville that you'll still be holding in fifty years, this is it.
Sessions
Studio portraits. The most common kind of session. You come to the studio in Franklin, we plan a few setups, and we make plates together. I set aside a full hour and a half for every session, so there's time to experience the whole process and make multiple plates if you choose. Nothing about it is rushed.
Couples, families, and small groups. The studio is intimate but it fits a few people. Group portraits work well in tintype because the process forces people to slow down and pay attention. You can't fire off a hundred frames. Each plate is the take, and that pace shows in the final image. Anniversaries are a favorite here, especially tenth anniversaries, since the traditional gift is tin. I've written more about anniversary tintype sessions.
Commercial and brand work. Tintypes for products, campaigns, and editorial. Past clients include Jack Daniel's. The full case study is here, and my commercial tintype work page covers what's possible for brands. For inquiries, email me directly.
Events and activations. Live tintype work at private events. Limited availability and booked well in advance.
For session pricing, current availability, and to book, see the pricing and scheduling page.
About the studio
My studio is appointment only, in Franklin. From downtown Nashville it's about 25 to 30 minutes south on I-65. From Brentwood it's closer. Clients also come from Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Spring Hill, and the smaller towns around the metro.
I only open a limited number of session dates, and they go quickly. New dates are announced to my newsletter first, and the list usually claims most of them before anyone else sees the calendar. Most clients book a few weeks out, longer during spring, fall, and the holidays. If nothing's available when you check, join the list and you'll hear the moment new dates open.
Featured work and recognition
My work has been featured by Tennessee Crossroads and News Channel 5, both of which produced studio segments. The Jack Daniel's commission is documented in a separate case study. In 2025, one of my plates received an honorable mention at the International Photography Awards.
I also have an ongoing series, One Take, documenting Nashville's musicians one plate at a time.
Frequently asked
Where is your studio?
In Franklin, Tennessee. About 25 to 30 minutes south of downtown Nashville. The exact address is shared after a session is booked, since the studio is appointment only.
Do you travel into Nashville for sessions?
Most sessions happen at the Franklin studio. Clients drive in. I do take on-location work for the right project, but the studio is where the bulk of portrait work gets made. The chemistry, the camera, and the darkroom all live there.
How far in advance should I book?
As far ahead as you can. I only open a limited number of dates, they're announced to the newsletter first, and they tend to fill fast. Most clients book a few weeks out, longer during spring, fall, and the holidays. If you have a specific date in mind, like an anniversary, don't wait.
What if no slots are available when I check?
Join the newsletter. Session dates get announced there first, so the list hears before anyone else when sessions open up.
What is a session actually like?
I set aside a full hour and a half for every session, so nothing is rushed. We talk through what you're after, set the camera, and make plates together, with sparkling wine and light hors d'oeuvres along the way. Each plate takes about fifteen minutes from coating to fixed image, and you'll see the entire process. While plates dry, I'll share some early photography history with examples from my collection. Every plate gets scanned, so you also get a digital copy, then varnished, and you take the originals home with you that day. Most clients leave with three to six finished plates.
Is this like the old time photo studios?
Not quite. Most old time photo shops take a digital picture, apply a sepia filter, and hand you a print. That's a fun souvenir, and there's nothing wrong with it. What I make is a real wet plate tintype, formed by silver and chemistry inside the camera, on a metal plate you take home. No costumes, no filters, no digital anything. It's the same process photographers used in the 1860s, and every plate is one of a kind.
Can I bring people with me?
Yes. The studio is small but it fits a few people comfortably. Couples, families, and small groups are welcome. If you want to bring more than three or four people, let me know ahead of time so I can plan the space.
Can you photograph babies and young kids?
Yes. Babies are welcome, held by a parent or on their own, and kids of all ages do fine. Little ones sometimes take an extra plate to catch the right moment, and that's part of it. Just let me know who's coming when you book so I can plan the setup.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Dogs are welcome. The camera needs the subject to stay still while I focus, so dogs that can sit calmly do great. Let me know in advance so I can plan the setup.
Do I get to keep the plate?
Yes. The plate is the photograph. You leave with the actual object, signed, dried, and varnished, plus a digital scan of every plate. When you're ready to display it, I've written a complete guide to framing and displaying tintypes.
Will my plate fade?
Properly varnished tintypes have lasted 150 years and counting. The oldest known examples are still in good shape. I've written more about archival life here.
These are the questions I hear most from Nashville clients. For everything else, from what to wear to how the chemistry works, see the full FAQ.
Booking
Sessions are booked through the pricing and scheduling page. If no slots are open, join the newsletter for new session announcements, or email blake@blakewylie.com with questions.