A physical original
The photograph forms directly in silver on its metal plate—an original object made in the camera, not a paper print from a negative.
NOW BOOKING SESSIONS!!! Currently only offering 4"x5" plates, but larger sizes are on the horizon. Book your appointment, or walk in if I'm there - the lights are a pretty reliable clue.
Silver Crow Studio · Tintype photography · Plate no. 001
A portrait made by hand. A keepsake made to last.
Silver Crow Studio brings wet-plate tintype photography to Broadway in Boise—freezing a moment directly into silver on a metal plate through a photographic form introduced in 1856.
Discover the process01Wet-plate collodion
02Silver on metal
03A form born in 1856
01 / The portrait
Freezing time directly into silver.
In wet-plate collodion photography, a dark-coated metal plate is poured with collodion, sensitized with silver salts, exposed while still wet, and developed by hand. The tintype form emerged in 1856, creating one singular photograph with its own surface, edges, and tonal character.
General process description informed by the Library of Congress.
02 / Material study
The plate must stay wet. The moment does not.
Wet-plate photography asks the artist to prepare, expose, and develop the collodion plate before it dries. Silver captures the light; hand-poured chemistry, timing, and touch leave small variations that make every finished tintype unmistakably its own.
03 / Why tintype
More object than file. More presence than polish.
Tintype brings the image, silver, collodion, and metal together on one physical plate. That material character is part of the appeal.
A distinctive surface
Edges, tonal shifts, and plate texture can become visible parts of the image rather than details edited away.
A historic photographic form
The sitting connects a contemporary portrait to the wet-plate collodion tradition and a tintype form introduced in 1856.
04 / The photographer
Thirty years behind the camera. Back to where the magic began.
Founder Jane Carter is a Boise photographer with about three decades of experience. Her relationship with photography began in the film-and-darkroom days, long before digital storytelling became her everyday medium.
Through Pure Magnolia Memories, Jane photographs newborns, families, seniors, couples, and the unscripted moments between them across the Treasure Valley. Silver Crow Studio is a specialty chapter rooted in that long creative history.
Visit Jane's current photography work05 / Studio questions
What to know before your tintype.
A practical introduction to tintype portraits, visiting the Boise studio, and booking a session.
01What is a tintype portrait?
A tintype is a one-of-a-kind photograph made directly on a dark-coated metal plate. Silver salts capture the image while the hand-poured collodion plate is still wet, giving each finished portrait its own surface, edges, and tonal character.
02Where is Silver Crow Studio located?
Silver Crow Studio is open at 1779 S Broadway Ave, Boise, ID 83706. Appointments are the sure bet, and walk-ins are welcome when Jane is there.
03Can I book a tintype photography session now?
Online booking is now available. Open the booking page to view current services, policies, and available appointment times.
04Who is the photographer behind Silver Crow Studio?
Silver Crow Studio is a specialty studio by Boise photographer Jane Carter. Jane has about three decades of photography experience and currently photographs families, newborns, seniors, and couples through Pure Magnolia Memories.
1779 S Broadway Ave · BoiseStudio inquiry slip · 001
Booking is open. Curiosity is encouraged.
Ready to reserve a tintype session? Use the booking page to view current services and available times. Have a question or an unusual idea? Send Jane a note.
Book a sessionFor direct questions, Jane's public photography contact is available below.
jane@silvercrowstudio.com 208-366-4424Studio particulars
Silver Crow Studio is open at 1779 S Broadway Ave, Boise, ID 83706.
By appointment—or walk-ins welcome when I’m there. If the lights are off, even the camera is napping.
Online booking is available through the secure booking page. Send a note for studio questions, strange ideas, or future session updates.