Victorian Inspirational Portraits

Blog / Portrait

None of our work is original. Maybe a better phrase is none of our work is completely original. We stand on the shoulders of the many who went before us and their work provides the inspiration for our work. So here we present a gallery of historic and historic style portraits with a vibe that we admire. We do not wish to copy any of these but rather use them as starting point. We hope that with this inspiration the creative Muse will inspire us to make our own images which honor and extent the originals! These are all public…

Favorite Victorian Portraits of 2025

Blog / Portrait

2025 is over! It was an amazing year at Sun and Silver Photo with so many wonderful clients and creative muses. Here, in no particular order, are our favorite Victorian portraits of 2025. What makes a portrait a "favorite"? Some might say it is all about the image, the subject, lighting and pose. But we here at Sun and Silver Photo are all about creating memories. So our favorite portraits are not just the final image but they are about the experience of creating the portrait. The portrait is about the fun we had, the creative process, the location and…

A Whisper of Alchemy

Blog / Portrait / Tintype

Something in the wind isCalling my name.Who is it, what do they want?Are they calling me, or am I the one doing the calling? Out of the corners of my mind I hear words, but nothing is clear..Like shadows of a desire, or it it just..A Whisper of Alchemy Tintype photographs - both 8x10 inches. Featuring Wisconsin model Ayrn, see more of her work on FaceBook Back to our Blog Page

Root and Runner Creative Space

Blog / Popup / Portrait

Tintype images from our November 29th popup. Download button below each image. Sunandsilver-Root-Runner-Nov-29-2025-tintype-5x7-109Download Sunandsilver-Root-Runner-Nov-29-2025-tintype-5x7-108Download Sunandsilver-Root-Runner-Nov-29-2025-tintype-5x7-107Download Sunandsilver-Root-Runner-Nov-29-2025-tintype-5x7-105Download Sunandsilver-Root-Runner-Nov-29-2025-tintype-5x7-104Download Sunandsilver-Root-Runner-Nov-29-2025-tintype-5x7-103Download Sunandsilver-Root-Runner-Nov-29-2025-tintype-5x7-100Download Sunandsilver-Root-Runner-Nov-29-2025-tintype-5x7-110Download

Helios 44 Portraits with Madeline

Blog / Portrait / Vintage Lens

Along with Victorian Photography, we also love film and vintage lenses. By "Vintage" we mean lenses built 50 or more years ago. We use modern digital cameras with adapters to mount the old lenses. One of our favorite vintage lenses is the Helios 44. The optical design and glass used in the Helios gives amazing character and beautiful rendering in a portrait. Madeline posed for tintype portraits in an 1860's warehouse (images coming soon) but we also had some time for Helios 44 portraits. The portrait above is a classic Helios rendering. The window lights glow in the background and…

Somewhere

Blog / Fine Art / Portrait / Tintype / Wet Plate Collodion

Somewhere in the dark a light still shines, We see, but we don't, All the things that we want to see are there, but some of them are hidden. You can always turn towards the light, or so you tell yourself, But the darkness sometimes is the brightest place, Where everything you want to know hides, Surrounded by everything you shouldn't know. "Somewhere" is an 8x10 tintype created with the Victorian wet Plate Collodion Process. Featuring Wisconsin Model Amber - you can contact her on FaceBook at AM Model.

Classic Tintype Portraits with Nataly

Blog / Portrait / Tintype

We are always in search of the best classic portraits at Sun and Silver Photo. Of course, defining a "classic portrait" is much harder than just saying the words. So what do we mean when we say "classic"? If seeing is believing then the image above is a classic photograph. It is a 12x10 inch tintype of Nataly at The Ember Studio in Menasha. But what makes it classic? We can think of four elements: It is Black and White: Monotone photographs give the best classic feel. This image is naturally in a creamy silver tone because it is a…

Nice Day for a White Wedding

Blog / Portrait / Tintype

It's a nice day for a white wedding - or so Billy says! Our white wedding photo was taken at Pleasant View Studios on a September day. Over 40 models and photographers gathered for some Pre-Halloween fun. Sun and Silver loaded up our darkroom and made the trip to do tintypes. We made over 25 tintypes that afternoon which was a record for us! Model KD Jae came by for some digital photos on the bench near our darkroom. She brought along photographer Steph or S Giron Photography. Here is one of their dreamy shots! As luck would have it…

Cloud Nine Fire Show Tintypes

Blog / Portrait / Tintype / Wet Plate Collodion

Just a random Saturday night in Wisconsin - with tintype portraits of fire artists! Cloud Nine Fire Show is a Wisconsin based troupe of talented performers specializing in the art of flow. We've worked together earlier this Summer to capture the art of flow in the historic tintype process - see our first plates at Cloud Nine Tintypes. Unfortunately, your humble alchemist was unable to to capture the fire in the plates. So like the Alchemists of old, when confronted with failure it is back to the lab and the library in the sub basement for research. The findings were…

Ambrotypes with Nataly

Ambrotype / Blog / Portrait / Wet Plate Collodion

July is a perfect time to do Ambrotypes with Nataly. This was the first time I fully utilized the real estate of my 12x12 Primer camera and made 12 inch by 12 inch glass plate. Silver collodion on glass is also know as an Ambrotype. It doesn't sound like a big change going from an 8x10 inch image to a 12x12 inch image but the 12x12 is actually 80% bigger. That means 80% more chemical and 80% more area to cover evenly with collodion. It also means 80% more to cover with developer as quickly as possible. So.. how did…

2025 Pinecrest Village Makers Market

Blog / Popup / Portrait / Tintype

We did a super fun tintype popup at the 2025 Makers Market - Pinecrest Village, Manitowoc. The Makers Market features dozens of historical artists and creators and is sponsored by the Manitowoc County Historical Society. Makers practice handmade craft from the 18th and 19th centuries and include pottery, blacksmithing, wooden shoes, sewing, cloth making & weaving, wood working and (of course) tintype photography invented in 1851. We had so much fun over the weekend. Met a lot of old friends and made some new ones. I only wish I had had more time to get portraits of all the wonderful…

Tintype Portrait of an Artist

Blog / Popup / Portrait / Tintype

We spent a wonderful weekend doing a Tintype Popup at Pinecrest Historical Village in Manitowoc. The event was the Manitowoc Historical Society's annual Makers Market. While there we did portraits of both visitors and as many of the Makers as we had time for. Here is an 8x10 tintype portrait of Emma, an historical pottery artist and creator. What is a "Maker" and why do they need a Market? A Maker is someone who creates handcrafted items using historical methods and processes. Maker's specialize in products that are heritage-inspired, well designed, long lasting and sustainably produced. Examples of Maker artists…