Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Marano.
Michael, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Bloomfield, NJ, and moved to Atlanta in 2014 to pursue a career at The Elf on the Shelf as a full-time product/lifestyle photographer. My passion for photography started for me at a young age. I always had a camera in my hand photographing my friend’s skateboarding. It wasn’t until I was out of college and working at a packaging design agency as an account executive that I decided I wanted to become a career photographer. That was 11 years ago – fast forward to today, I currently am working only with analog photographic process. I was burnt out on sitting behind a computer to process and retouch images. I thought it was time to go back to the basics and get back into a dark room.
I fell in love with the wet plate collodion (tintype) process about two years ago. The wet plate process was invented in 1851. A “wet plate” photographic process means you have about 15 minutes to expose and process the wet plate before it dries out. From start to finish, every chemical step is hand-poured and created from the same antique formula that was used in the 1850’s. This gives every plate a unique chemical signature making this process all the more special. In an age of digital photography, where all your images live on social media sites and your phone, a tintype is unique and special. Each portrait is a truly unique piece – there is no negative, no printing, no copy. The plate that is prepared in front of you and exposed in the camera is the very same one that you will take home. The camera I use is a 1901 8×10 Century Studio camera paired with an 1866 Voigtlander Petzval lens. I have spent the last two years custom building all my equipment. You can find me at various pop-up events in the metro Atlanta area. My studio is fully mobile, and my goal is to travel state to state capturing amazing tintype portraits.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I learned early on in the creative field it’s never a smooth road. It’s rocky, twisty, and forever changing. Early-on struggles as a freelance photographer included having to find a constant client base. I have had various jobs in and out over the last 11 years to support me financially. Some of the jobs included working as a house painter, contractor, forklift driver, and selling offset and letterpress printing. However, I have never lost sight of my true passion for photography. I constantly worked on building my skill to create my own path on this ever changing journey.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Nine7Three Studio – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Nine7Three Studio specializes in tintype portraits and still life artwork. I have a fully mobile studio and darkroom. I create 5×7 and 8×10 tintype portraits. My Pop-up Tintype Studio is available for any occasion or event. This process always is a crowd pleaser because it’s interactive. Every customer gets to be a part of the process in that they can watch their portrait being made from start to finish.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like that Atlanta is a diverse city and I get to meet a lot of people from all over the country. Other than the volume of traffic, my least favorite thing is the lack of authentic Italian food. Having grown up in Jersey, 15 minutes from NYC, I really miss the Italian bakeries and restaurants.
Pricing:
- 5×7 Tintype Portraits $75
- 8×10 Tintype Portraits $115
- Private Portrait Sessions start at $400
Contact Info:
- Website: www.973studio.com
- Phone: 973-445-4315
- Email: Mike@973studio.com
- Instagram: 973studio
Image Credit:
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