While times can vary it generally takes anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes to prep the plate, focus the shot, take the picture, and develop the plate. After this the plates are placed in a final rinse bath and then set out to dry before being varnished at home.

Once the plate is developed and dried, the collodion remains in a rather fragile state and needs to be protected to ensure it lasts. This is done through varnishing the plate, typically with a Shellac or Sandrac varnish. This is all done at home to ensure the plate is fully dried and ready. Once varnished I can either send the picture to you via post or we can arrange a pick-up. Unfortunately I am currently unable to offer same-day pick-ups at this time.

While the longer than typical exposure times required for the tintype process can make it more challenging, I am still able to do family portraits. However, it may be near impossible to get a good image with small children or pets, as it requires the subject to set absolutely still for upwards of 10 seconds without movement.

Film, on the other hand, can be shot with 1/100th of second exposures, making it much more friendly to those environments.

In the case of an exposure, chemistry error or blinking, reshoots are completely free of charge. This is also true in the very rare case of damage befalling the tintype before or during varnishing.

If for whatever reason besides those mentioned above you do not like the image I can do a reshoot at a discounted rate.