TheDagLab.com

All the Daguerreotypes I create follow the 19th century hot mercury technique on a silver electroplated sheet of copper. Polished, buffed, coated over iodine fumes then bromine fumes, exposed in camera, developed over mercury and finally gilded with gold chloride. See the ‘process details’ page for more information, photos and steps involved in the daguerreotype process.

Daguerreotypes need a lot of light during the exposure because of how insensitive to light they are. For this reason I prefer to shoot portraits in my studio where the sunlight can be controlled to reduce exposure times down to a handful of seconds ranging from 10 to 40 depending on the day.

A head brace is usually used to minimize movement during the exposure. This helps to keep the image nice and crisp when wanted. One hour is usually the minimum amount of time I request for a scheduled appointment to photograph one person. Longer times are preferable to accommodate any unexpected issues or processing problems. This old photo technique is very finicky and presents challenges at almost every step.

The finished daguerreotype will be ready for you to take at conclusion of the sitting. It will be protected behind glass and sealed with Filmoplast P90 archival tape. Custom cases and passe partout mats can be purchased through CasedImage.com or Modern Day Antique.

Prices: (plus CA tax if you live in CA)

-Sixth plate (2 3/4 x 3 1/4″) Daguerreotype portrait made in the studio is $300.

-Quarter plate (3 1/4 x 4 1/4″) Daguerreotype portrait made in the studio is $450.

-Half plate (4 1/4 x 5 1/2″) Daguerreotype portrait made in the studio is $600.

To schedule a portrait sitting or if you have any questions please contact me via email or phone.