🔍 scar 🖤

2024…..y’all were on Scar island….this year was so special. I was selected for my very first exhibition, and the tintypes I submitted won an award 😻. I made the most tintypes ever, had my first maternity and wedding shoots, got to make tintypes in cemeteries and Lyndhurst Mansion. I also got to tintype at Tattooed Mom’s, which has been a bucket list location for me 💜 I don’t know why I am called to wet plate but the more I follow it the more my life becomes what I want it to be. I am thankful for everyone who has spent time with me this year and let me share the process. You’ve given me, someone who historically isn’t the face of wet plate, a chance. It means a lot that folks find me and want to work with me 🥹 okk that’s enough sappy stuff, I will try and share more of my work in 2025!!

Everyone’s so busy trying to be immortalized but the real key is going to be getting tin types and ending up in the cool ghostly girls collection in 100 years on display in her curio cabinet next to a taxidermy owl Tintypes by @hellcatdarkroom #tintypes

Had an absolute blast at @lyndhurst_mansion making tintypes with my buddy my pal @vps_gettysburg . The folks at Lyndhurst graciously let me make some big ol 8x10s on the grounds, and these two pics are probably my favorite. It’s been a year (!!) since I’ve worked in a darkroom in the trunk of a car so it was a nice lil challenge for me. I was really hitting my stride when I got to these photos, and I’m so proud of being able to make these 8x10s in the cold/rain/fog. Thank you so much Lyndhurst for having me and I can’t wait to be back!! **I had explicit permission from the institution to make these photos, please do not perform photo shoots like this without speaking to the staff in advance** . . . #wetplate #tintype #collodion #wetplatephotographer

So happy to finally be able to share more about Radical Americana, a city wide exhibition series hosted by The Clay Studio. In addition the Radical Americana, I will also be featured in two other exhibitions. I was able to create a new body of work through this project (I focused on portraits of 1976 semi-centennial counter protest activists), and researched in the archives at the William Way LGBT Center and Winterthur. I’m still creating works for the additional exhibitions that are happening in the coming months, but have already been able to photograph and speak to some amazing folks. Arleen Olshan was the first person I worked with, and there is just something about cross generational relationships that make my heart soar. We are so disconnected and separated from each other when I know what I’m really craving is solidarity, compassion, acknowledgement, and connection. I need to hear the stories of folks who have been activists and fighting for what’s right so I know how I can keep going when the world is grinding me down. All that to say this project has meant a lot more to me than I originally intended. I have soooo many folks to thank, the Willam Way Center, the Dina Wind Foundation, the Clay Studio, Imperfect Gallery, Jake Foster, John Anderies, John Wind, Arleen Olshan, John Whyte, Tom Wilson Weinberg, and the folks I haven’t even gotten the chance to photograph yet. I can’t wait to keep sharing more!!

Philadelphia has always been a center for art and civic dialogue. This year, we’re honoring that legacy with Radical Americana. ️🏛️ ✨⁠ ⁠ Organized by @theclaystudiophl , this city-wide series features 25 exhibitions from arts and cultural institutions responding to the Semiquincentennial. We are proud to be one of the host sites!⁠ ⁠ Forty-five artists have researched artwork from 1776, 1876, 1976, and today to create works that celebrate our city’s diversity and prompt vital conversations about our nation’s future.⁠ ⁠ 📍 Visit us online at The Dina Wind Art Foundation to see how the past is shaping our present.⁠ ⁠ ⭐️ UPCOMING EXHIBITION - Scarlett DeLorme: Photographing Queer Elders ⁠ ⁠ Online Viewing Room Exhibition⁠ May 16 - September 7, 2026⁠ ⁠ This is a collection of tintype and ambrotype photographs by @hellcatdarkroom that honor Philadelphia's queer elders. The portraits center storytelling and invite each sitter to share memories, identities, and history that needs to be archived. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠The artist’s research and an in-person presentation of the photos are in collaboration with the William Way LGBT Community Center (@waygayphilly )⁠ ⁠ Using a historic photographic process, the images help to document the resilience and testimony of a community that has had to create space for itself.⁠ ⁠ Stay tuned for more info ~⁠ ⁠ 📷️: Portrait of artist and activist Arleen Olshan⁠ ⁠ Scarlett DeLorme artist portrait⁠ ⁠ #RadicalAmericana #TheClayStudiophl #Philly250 #VisitPhilly

Finally sharing a minutes worth of clips from my residency at @winterthurmuse this past fall 🙈. I had such an amazing time!! I got to stay on the grounds and had access to their library/archives, the house itself, seminars, oh my. The staff were amazing and I enjoyed being a researcher again. This was my very first artist residency/fellowship and has made me excited for what ~my artist life~ could look like. I was hauling myself and my gear all over and didn’t even care because of all the amazing things I could see on my walks. Here’s to hoping I’ll be back at Winterthur again soon (if they’ll have me 👀👀👀). #winterthur #winterthurinstitute

October’s been a blur of markets, orders, and general mayhem— but somehow, between the chaos and the grave dust, we managed to stand still long enough for this tintype. Running an entire business as one woman, raising two wild kids, and somehow keeping up with it all— thankfully with this handsome man by my side. Sometimes posting falls by the wayside, but the work (and the life) never stops. Grateful to the incredible Scarlet, @hellcatdarkroom // @vps_gettysburg for capturing us in silver and shadow, and to @lilliko.signature.fans for my new fan that made it into the frame. Running on caffeine, bone dust, and a little bit of magic. Head to our strories for the next stops on the chaos tour. ✨

This could be you on aluminum….I’m so glad Philly is liking these 4x5 vignettes 😝 sign up sheet for Darksome is live! Hoping to make some more cool plates 🪦

We had an amazing time at the Market of Macabre this past weekend! The weather was perfect and I got to make some amazing plates. Our next outdoor gig will be at Darksome on October 4th. Darksome will be the last chance for cemetery tintypes this year!

Tintype Portraits are back this October, and tickets are now on sale!⁣ ⁣ Expanded due to popular demand, this 2025 Halloween season is the chance to bring home a piece of photographic history with our Victorian Tintype Studio.⁣ ⁣ Union Tintype and Hellcat Darkroom will be on site at the Lyndhurst Bowling Alley, ready to take your portrait using 19th-century photographic technology, resulting in a one-of-a-kind tintype portrait. Bring home a special memento of your trip to Lyndhurst during the most exciting time of the year. ⁣ ⁣ CAS Photography and Antique Framing, based in San Diego, CA, will also be on deck, selling their incredible reproduction 19th-century frames and paper mats for your photo!⁣ ⁣ More information on our website! We hope to see you there!⁣ ⁣ • ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ • ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ • ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ • ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ • ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ • ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ historicpreservation trustsites preservation westchester explorewestchester museum discoverwestchester visitsleepyhollow sleepyhollowcountry housemuseum history iloveny historicbuildings gildedage gildedagemansion architecture tarrytown mansion halloweeniscoming fall autumn ⁣autumnseason spookyseason lyndhurstafterdark halloweenevents superstitions victorianlore gothicmarket wetplate photography tintypes

I really like this test shot from Shanty Fest! The artifact came from the plate holder falling over while I was focusing the camera 🙈 I knew as soon as it fell there would be something on the plate, and of course it’s right on the face… you can still see a bit of detail in the eyes 👀

I love this photo of Pang @pangtography from our wet plate gathering 🫶 I appreciate everyone standing for me, tintypes 4 ever!