Hi Im Conrad Young and I am photographer making vintage wet plate in southern Ca. I work in the wet plate collodion process. Also known as tintype photography.
My photography journey started when I got my first camera in 1996. That first week I knew I wanted to work as a photographer. I started going to Saddleback working on a AA. In 2002 I got a job working at Romero Fine Portraiture in Laguna Beach. I learned a lot from them about light and posing people and how a studio should be ran. In 2003 I opened my business. while I started working in the film business. I earned BA in Film From The University of Utah in 2006 After shooting digital for a decade. I started looking for something new. I tried to Get back to the love I had shooting film. Researching old ways to shoot film I found wet plate Collodion. Having only read about it. My first encounter was from my friend Tim. He had a Gallery in the Los Rios District in San Juan Capistrano. He made vintage wet plate ambrotypes.
I never saw him work. We we would show photography work at art gallery together. One Day he showed up at my door leaving a lot of gear at my house. He was leaving the country. Moving to Central America He started a non profit saving sea turtles. vitalactionproject.org. his gear sat for years while I looked at it. wondering how to use it.
After trying to get started in the process I found William Dunniway. He started teaching meet plate collodion in 2015. William taught me to be clean to make make my own Chemistry and how to do this. making at least fifteen plates a week. This process is one of the most rewarding art forms I have found.
Conrad Young Photography is my wet plate studio in Oceanside. I will work from San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles. I love spending time with my clients. Making artwork that will last generations. I capture tomorrows memories today, in silver and light. This process is magic. I am Looking forward to making some great memories with you.
William Dunniway Teaching me the ropes
my first portrait I made after learning what to do