About a dozen years ago, Chris Morgan made his first appearance at the Village of Yesteryear at the North Carolina State Fair—and it was an unforgettable experience. At the time, Chris was a teacher, and taking two weeks off at the start of the school year wasn’t easy. But the chance to share his passion for tintype photography and meet so many people made it all worthwhile.
“It was a great time – I met a lot of people and taught a lot of people about the process,” Morgan said. “Teaching how photography was—not a digital file—it’s archival.”
His work brings to life the 19th-century process of tintype photography—also called wet plate collodion—a technique that predates digital photography by over a century. This type of photography is archival, tangible and built to last.
“Portraits stay with you for generations. They are ‘forever portraits’—the second most archival photographs. If you take care of them, they will last,” Morgan said. “The image layer is pure silver—it’s not going anywhere.”
This method was the primary photographic process during the Civil War era, and all images from that period were created using this exact technique.
Morgan’s journey into tintypes began in 1999 when he dove deep into researching how these images were made.
“I was always into Civil War history and I found that all images from that period used this process,” he said. “In 2001, I went all in and picked up equipment, chemistry, and original manuscripts on the process. I went to museums and libraries to find all the books I could on the subject.”
His first event was in February 2002, and since then, Morgan has showcased his craft at up to 30 events a year, including living history exhibitions, college campuses, reenactments and more. These events are a great opportunity to share his passion. “It’s history, chemistry, and the imagery all combined,” he said.
Two years ago, Morgan and his family made a bold move: they sold their home in Pine Level and hit the road in an RV. Now, he travels full-time across the United States with his wife and kids, bringing the art and science of wet plate photography to new audiences everywhere. His children, ranging in age from 9 to 22, love the adventure and hands-on learning that life on the road provides.
At the Village of Yesteryear, Morgan sets up his 1950s Burke and James camera with original lenses dating back to 1850-1870. Morgan has sourced these lenses from antique shops, friends and even eBay. Each tintype image takes about 10 minutes to create, involving a chemical process that visitors can watch at his booth.
“We create the image in about 5 to 10 minutes. The image clears in fixer, and before people leave the fair, they come back and pick it up,” said Morgan. Sizes offered range from 4×5 to 8×10 inches, making these portraits timeless keepsakes.
Morgan encourages people to wear clothing that reflects their personality rather than dressing up. “I don’t like people to dress up for photos—wear something comfortable that shows who you are. Wiggly children are fine! It’s a higher-end souvenir, representative of who you are.”
While about 90% of Morgan’s work is portraiture, he also photographs historic sites like Bentonville Battlefield and scenic landscapes. “I shoot more than I show and I own very little of what I have shot over the years,” he said. “The work is what is important to me. It connects history, chemistry and imagery in a way that’s truly unique.”
The N.C. State Fair runs October 16–26 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The Village of Yesteryear is located in the Holshouser Building and is open daily. Plan to stop by, say hi to Chris and his family, and take home your very own piece of photographic history.
My husband and I would like to have a tintype portrait made for us. Our 30th wedding anniversary is January 20, 2026.
Please contact me at by email mariejohns@aol.com or call cell phone number 919 915-1886