CHB Museum: Wet Plate Portrait Sessions

Step into the past and experience the magic of 19th-century photography with a wet plate collodion portrait session at the Central Hawke’s Bay Museum in Waipawa.

Using techniques developed in the 1850s, each portrait is hand-crafted on metal or glass using silver and light, resulting in a timeless, one-of-a-kind image that will last for generations. You'll be photographed with an authentic large-format camera, and the plate will be processed on-site in a portable darkroom — just as it was done over 170 years ago.

Sessions are limited to a maximum of two people per plate. After the event, your finished, varnished plate will be carefully packaged and posted to you.

Bookings are essential — don’t miss this rare opportunity to take home a beautiful, handmade piece of photographic history.