This page provides an outline of the Letter Writing Ceremony. The following steps may vary slightly depending on your individual or group circumstances.

1.  Before the photo shoot day: Creating your letter.

This should be done during the week before the photo shoot. Think about what you want to communicate and spend time writing your message to fill one page. It’s important to think, write, think more, and perhaps change your letter a little. On the day of the photo shoot will bring it with you. It can be typed and printed, handwritten, or be only in digital form.

2. Writing the letter on black paper.  On the photo shoot day you will copy your letter on a large piece of black paper with a white implement. You may be given a candle that you can light before writing and you are invited to think about and/or call out to address the recipient. This is our own way of letting them know that a message is coming. We will provide you with the paper and white pencil or pen.

3.  Reading.  Now we will move to where the camera and lights are set up. You will site down and I’ll hang the letter near you so you can see it while seated in front of the camera. You will now you will read the letter aloud.

4.  Photography.  As soon as you finish reading I will take a photo of you using and old timey film called a tintype. After photographing you, I will take a photo of the letter on the same piece of film. This will create a double exposure effect which creates an image of you and your letter combined. The tintype film is a little odd in that it doesn’t pick up colors that are red - they will render as black, so it’s good to avoid red lipstick. Also it’s best to wear a darker colored shirt so that the words are easier to see on the final photo. Avoid wearing a blue shirt unless it is very dark as the film also makes blue colors white.

5.  Develop the photo.  We will go into some sort of darkroom where I'll have little trays of chemicals. I'll coach you in developing the photo plate. It's very easy and fun. I use a tintype variant that is not toxic or very smelly. There will be a red light on so you will be able to see what your are doing - just like in the movies!  It takes about a two minutes to see the photo, then a few more minutes to finish up. 

6.  Changing the letter's physical form.  After the development, you may be invited to set the letter on fire and watch it burn and turn to ashes. We will have a large metal can in which you can safely place the letter while it burns. You will use the candle that you lit at the beginning of the ceremony.

7.  Conclusion  I will take a digital photograph of the tintype photo as a record, as you will take the tintype home with you. It will be a one-of-a-kind special photo you made on this day! We can write whatever you wish on the back.

Below are examples of the photos that were made. Notice how the writing comes out backwards, it’s just a strange way the camera works. For more photo examples, go the the “Letter Writing” page on this website.