01Prepare
The plate is prepared by hand.
London
Collodion
Wet plate portraits
by Gaetan Bernede
One day each month in London.
Limited sittings.
Next portrait day
[DATE TBC]
Location
London
Sittings remaining
[X]
Status
Open
01The object
Not just a photograph.
A wet-plate portrait is made by hand. The plate is prepared, sensitised, exposed and developed as part of a physical photographic process dating back to the nineteenth century.
Each plate carries its own marks, edges and imperfections. No two are identical.
02Portrait day
One day.
Limited sittings.
Once each month, London Collodion opens a limited number of portrait sittings with Gaetan Bernede.
Book a time.
Come to the studio.
Sit for your portrait.
Watch your plate being made.
Leave with something that exists nowhere else.
Next portrait day
[DATE TBC]
[LONDON STUDIO — ADDRESS TBC]
[X] sittings remaining
03The process
The process
02Pour
Collodion is poured across the surface.
03Sensitise
The plate is sensitised immediately before exposure.
04Expose
Your portrait is made while the plate is still wet.
05Develop
The image physically emerges.
06Finish
The plate is washed, fixed and finished.
07Frame
Optional handmade framing turns the plate into a finished object.
▶ [VIDEO — THE PROCESS]
04Portraits
Portraits
Selected plates
05The artist
[GAETAN PORTRAIT]
Gaetan Bernede
Photographer / Craftsman
Gaetan Bernede is a London-based photographer and director working across fashion, jewellery and beauty. He trained in graphic design at Central Saint Martins.
He works with the wet-plate collodion process, making individual photographic objects by hand — prepared, exposed and developed during the sitting. He is also a framer.
Dior
Fendi
Gucci
Cassina
Audemars Piguet
Richard Mille
▶ [VIDEO — GAETAN SPEAKING]
06Framing
Leave with the object.
Selected sessions can include a handmade frame produced and finished by Gaetan. Frames will be offered in a curated selection of contemporary colours.
Made.
Developed.
Framed.
Signed.
Frame colours to be confirmed — configured in admin before release.
07Events / Brands
Bring the process to your event.
London Collodion can create a temporary wet-plate portrait atelier inside selected events, launches and activations. Guests experience the photographic process and leave with a unique physical portrait.
- Fashion
- Launches
- Private events
- Brand activations
- Cultural events
- Editorial projects
[EVENT ACTIVATION]
08Book