Meet Chad Shryock | Tintype Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chad Shryock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chad, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I discovered the wetplate collodion process back in 2015, I was amazed that there were only an estimated 1000 people worldwide using this photographic process. After I started to learn and perform the process, my first thought was to share this with people that would be interested in creating images that would last for hundreds of years. I also wanted to create a studio space that people could experience the process in a completely different way compared to a normal portrait session.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am one of a small community of photographers that use a method of capturing photographic images that dates back to 1851. You’ve probably seen images in antique stores known as tintypes and ambrotypes that were created using this process. The image itself is made of crystals of silver on a metallic or glass material that is considered archival in nature. That is, unlike paper based images that may fade with time, these images should last for hundreds of years and look the same as the day they were created. I use a camera that is well over 100 years old and create each image one at a time. A single image typically takes 15-20 minutes to fully come to life and is created through the use of chemicals and light.

I still consider my business to be in the early stages, as many people are unfamiliar with this photographic technique. But once they experience the process first-hand, they realize that it’s somewhat magical to see an image be created in front of their eyes in the darkroom. I get the most satisfaction from being able to share this experience with people and create lasting images that will be passed down for generations.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Fort Collins, so craft beer is definitely on order. My wife and I love the Old Town atmosphere, where you can have almost any type of food or drink. And of course, I’d probably take a quick portrait while they’re in the studio.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I would like to thank my family for putting up with me taking up a new hobby all those years ago. They were also the ones that I photographed the most in the early days while trying to experiment with this vintage method of photography. As far as learning the process, there were countless hours of watching modern day practitioners on Youtube and other social media. Luckily, there are still many of the period manuals and books from the 1860s-1880s that describe the process.

Website: www.porkpiephotography

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/porkpiephotography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Porkpiephotography/

Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tin-questions/id1662388680 My podcast “Tin Questions” is available on multiple podcast providers.