Jeff Howlett has mastered the skill of preserving our most meaningful moments using a unique and historic photographic process called tintype. By mastering this old photographic process, Jeff has been able to create modern day portraits that resemble those of the courageous soldiers that fought for our country in the mid-19th century.
Born in Pensacola, Florida, Jeff recently moved to Rock Hill, South Carolina and has become a remarkable a Carolina photographer like no other. He’s fond of collaborating with other photographers, particularly the wildly talented Chris Morgan, another tintype photographer working out of the Carolinas. For over 17 years, Jeff and Chris have been traveling to various events and festivals with their mobile studio, creating mesmerizing tintype portraits for each of their clients.
As a child, Jeff was introduced to photography by his parents and captured his very first photographs using a Yashica Auto Focus Motor film camera. He learned the techniques and styles of the tintype process in a wet plate collodion workshop with photographer Ellen Susan. Intrigued by the aesthetic and process of wet plate collodion, he now considers it to be the primary expression of himself in photography. Jeff has since cultivated his tintype style, brandishing his portable darkroom to create the signature portraits you can find in the homes of his clients.
Though the historic tintype work of pioneer photographers like Matthew Brady and Alexander Gardner certainly inspires Jeff’s portraits, he’s far more emotionally stirred by the stories of those in front of his camera. “I get inspired by people and their stories when I photograph in Charlotte, or anywhere else in the world. He’s since I mainly do portraits of people, I find that every photograph has a story,” shares Jeff. Additionally, traveling and connecting with other photographers in the Carolinas serve as inspiration to Jeff’s exceptional style of photography.
For the future, Jeff plans to continue learning and developing his skill as an exceptional tintype photographer. He takes pride in being able to effectively create unique portraits for his clients using the tintype process. “My goal is to never feel complacent with my photography.” shares Jeff. Jeff believes in his unique work of photography there will always be room for improvement.
For more of Jeff Howlett’s unique tintype portraits or to commission one of your own visit www.howlermanphotography.com.
