The photographs in this collection were made using the wet-plate collodion process to create tintype portraits. The tintypes are hand made and individually exposed, creating a one of a kind object. The tintype portrait is a reflection of what we see - a mirror image.

I was intrigued by the idea of engaging children in this project. I believed that children would be genuine, not yet self-conscious about their appearance in photographs. Because the tintype process captures so well a still, calm moment in time, I found that the intelligence and complexity of a child seemed to reveal themselves in these portraits. I tried not to pose, suggest, or intervene in their presentation. The children were not asked to smile but were just encouraged to relax and look at the camera. What seems to come through in each portrait is the genuine, adorable, and complex character of each individual child: a true reflection of themselves.