A black-and-white portrait of a young woman with a serious expression, captured using a vintage photographic technique. She has long hair framing her face and wears a light-colored sweater over a collared shirt. The image has a soft, slightly textured quality, characteristic of wet plate photography, with natural imperfections around the edges that add to the antique aesthetic. Her gaze is direct, creating an intimate and timeless feel in the portrait.

Classes & Workshops

Wet Plate Collodion Photography Workshop

11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday, 4 July 2026

Book Now
When:

11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday, 4 July 2026

Where:

Photo Museum Ireland

Tutor:

Monika Fabijanczyk

Participants:

6

Cost:

€225.00 Individual rate. €203.00 Museum Members - Become a Member Photomuseumireland.ie/memberships/

What do I Bring?

Bring some props for your still life image, for example, fruit, flowers, pottery, interesting objects.

Book Now

This intensive one day workshop led by experienced wet collodionist Monika Fabijanczyk gets you preparing plates, making exposures, developing, and varnishing your own wet collodion plates. Ideal for any photographer who wants to try something new – you can achieve results you will be proud of, and of course, you get to keep your work.

What will I learn?

  • How to set up a wet plate collodion, equipment, chemicals and workspace:
  • How to preparing plates for wet plate collodion photography
  • How to making exposures and developing
  • How to varnishing your own wet collodion plates

What we provide?

Everything is supplied, including 5 x 4 cameras, lights, all chemistry, clear glass, black glass and metal plates. Bring a steady hand and be prepared to fall in love with this most bewitching of processes!

Every student will also make a Wet Plate Collodion portrait, a beautiful unique object that can be framed and displayed at home.

Showcasing Creative Photography from our courses

To mark the creative success and share the enjoyment of the learning experience, a selection of photographic work from course participants will be displayed on Photo Museum Ireland’s recently launched Flickr platform.

By taking part in our workshops you are invited to participate with one image from your workshop experience. We will email you after the workshop with an image request. You can view the album at any time to see recent participants’ work.

Emma Barrett - Photographer

Course Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy


  • A black-and-white portrait of a young woman with a serious expression, captured using a vintage photographic technique. She has long hair framing her face and wears a light-colored sweater over a collared shirt. The image has a soft, slightly textured quality, characteristic of wet plate photography, with natural imperfections around the edges that add to the antique aesthetic. Her gaze is direct, creating an intimate and timeless feel in the portrait.

    Wet plate collodion portrait from the workshop

  • In a photography studio, a group of people is gathered around a table with various items, including coffee cups and notes. A large-format camera on a tripod is positioned in the foreground, facing the group, alongside a studio light on a stand. One woman in a pink sweater appears to be explaining something to the others, while another woman is bending down, organizing items. The walls are adorned with framed photographs, creating a creative and collaborative environment. The scene captures a workshop or discussion setting, focused on traditional photography techniques.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

  • Alt text: A woman is seated on a wooden chair in a photography studio, facing an antique large-format camera on a tripod. She is wearing a blue shirt, dark pants, and yellow shoes. Her hands rest on her lap, and her back is straight, supported by a wooden brace. The room's walls are decorated with black-and-white vintage photographs in frames. Another person, partially visible, is adjusting the camera settings. The scene has a retro atmosphere, highlighting traditional portrait photography techniques.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

  • A woman with glasses, wearing a striped shirt and jeans, is setting up a large-format wooden bellows camera on a tripod in a photography studio. She appears to be adjusting the camera’s settings or preparing a photographic plate for insertion. The camera has a vintage design with brass fittings and a large lens, typical of traditional or wet plate photography equipment. The background shows various studio items, including a glass door, shelving, and photography accessories, emphasizing the hands-on nature of analog photography.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

  • A group of people stands in a darkroom illuminated by a red safelight. At the center, a woman is demonstrating a photographic process, gesturing towards a workspace with trays and tools used for developing photos. The walls are lined with various darkroom equipment, including a clock and ventilation. Participants watch intently, some taking notes. The red lighting, essential for traditional photo development, casts warm shadows, creating a focused and immersive atmosphere typical of analog photography workshops.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

  • A woman wearing blue gloves carefully pours a chemical solution onto a photographic plate in a darkroom setting. She is focused on her task, illuminated by a red safelight above her. The setup includes a green tray below, likely for catching excess liquid, and a black background with photography equipment. She has glasses resting on her head, and her concentrated expression reflects the precision required for this wet plate development process. The overall scene highlights the intricate and hands-on nature of traditional photographic techniques.

    WetPlateWorkshop6

  • A hand holds a small black-and-white photographic plate displaying a portrait of a man with a calm expression. The plate is positioned above a glass jar containing a yellowish liquid, possibly a chemical solution used in the development process. In the background, a wooden drying rack and additional jars with handwritten labels are visible. The scene is set in a photography darkroom, showcasing the intricate steps involved in traditional wet plate or tintype photography.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

  • Several black-and-white photographic plates are drying on a wooden rack. The plates, featuring portraits of individuals, are arranged upright, allowing for proper airflow between them. The visible portrait shows a young woman with long hair and a calm expression. The setup emphasizes a traditional photography process, possibly wet plate collodion or tintype, where images are developed directly on metal or glass plates. The simple wooden rack adds to the vintage, handcrafted aesthetic of the photographic process.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

  • In a dimly lit photography darkroom, two people are examining metal plates with portraits printed on them. A woman on the left holds one plate while a man on the right, wearing a plastic apron and glove, holds another. They appear to be discussing the images, which are part of an alternative photographic process. The background includes darkroom equipment, including bottles, trays, and a sink. An old-fashioned wall clock is visible on the upper right. The atmosphere reflects the meticulous and hands-on nature of traditional photo development techniques.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

  • A person is holding a small black-and-white photographic plate featuring a portrait of a woman. The plate is being carefully examined, showing details of the subject's face and attire. The person, dressed in a striped red shirt and dark clothing, holds the plate gently, emphasizing the delicate nature of the material. The background is dimly lit, likely within a darkroom or similar setting, highlighting the meticulous process of analog or wet plate photography.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

  • A large-format vintage camera with a prominent lens sits on a wooden surface, framed by two black-and-white photographic plates leaning against it. The plate on the left shows a portrait of a young woman with short hair, wearing a shirt with text, while the plate on the right depicts a man in profile with a thoughtful expression. To the left, a wooden drying rack, similar to the one used for developing photographic plates, is partially visible. The image captures the essence of traditional photo

    Wet Plate Collodion Worksho

  • A collection of black-and-white photographic plates is displayed on a tabletop, showing a variety of portraits and still life images. Each plate has a unique subject, including close-up portraits of individuals, a vase with flowers, and a pair of cups. The plates are arranged on a white paper towel for drying or inspection. Nearby on the table are two bottles with orange liquid, possibly chemicals for the development process, along with a brush and some electronic equipment. The scene illustrates the artistry and careful handling involved in traditional plate photography techniques.

    Wet Plate Collodion Workshop 8

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