Oakland’s Vintage Tintype Portraits Studio
We specialize in portraits using the wet plate collodion process from the 1850s - one of the oldest forms of photography. These timeless metal (or glass) photographs are produced using silver and light - creating a one-of-a-kind image with a surreal quality that will last for generations.
Our Process, Equipment, and Light
Our wet -plate collodion photography equipment was handmade and is period-correct. I use vintage lenses that were handcrafted in the early 1860s and 1870s, which recreates the look of the period and can not be achieved by modern camera lenses.
The process of making a portrait can be considered slow by today’s standards. It can take up to thirty minutes to produce one wet plate portrait. The 'film' is very slow and needs a lot of light. Making images with daylight (as opposed to lights indoors) means the sitters have to remain still for a minimum of five seconds and up to fifteen seconds. If the subject moves, the image will be blurry. The process is most successful when we collaborate together to create the image you envision.
Hasain Rasheed is available by appointment for portraits, commissions, artistic collaborations, and editorial and commercial work. We can host portrait sessions at our indoor space in Oakland using lights, or we can travel with our mobile portrait studio to your home or event. For more information or custom sessions and collaborations, please get in touch.
More of Hasain's portrait, commercial, editorial, and other photography is online here ... and also here.