All Formats Welcome

Large format, medium format, 35mm, tintypes, ambrotypes, digital. I really enjoy working across multiple formats, usually blending a mix of film and digital into my sessions.

It’s not just an aesthetic thing or me trying to force a particular look. Sure, certain cameras bring a specific character that’s hard to replicate. But really, it’s about the process.

Right now, my absolute favorite camera for large format work is the Busch Pressman. It’s a classic 4x5 press camera—an absolute metal tank built for a different era—and shooting with it is an event in itself. If you’ve never sat for a large format portrait, you really should. It’s slow. You have to actually settle in, take a breath, and exist in the space. There’s a lot of waiting, then a little more waiting, usually followed by me saying, “Okay, 3, 2, 1, picture!” and then “Don’t move, don’t move, one more!” while I’m quickly flipping the film holder.

There is zero instant gratification here. You don't get to look at the back of a screen to see how you look. But all of that deliberate pacing and mechanical rhythm seems to somehow pull something much more real out of people. It strips away the rehearsed, polished smiles and leaves us with something pure and honest.

Then there’s medium format. I love bringing the Mamiya RB67 and the Mamiya 645 into the mix. The RB67 is this big, beautiful mechanical beast that makes a heavy, satisfying thud when you fire the shutter, while the 645 lets us move just a little bit faster while still keeping that massive, detailed analog negative.

Running these hybrid film and digital shoots is a great way to capture something genuinely unique. The digital side gives us the speed and agility to catch those fast, fleeting interactions, while the film forces us to slow down and create something highly intentional.

And the best part is where all this ends up. Photography shouldn't just live on the internet. We take these images and can turn them into something you can hold. Whether that’s a traditional darkroom silver gelatin print made by hand, or a fine art archival pigment print, it’s about the physical craft.

Mix that tangible output with custom framing, and what we do at Phantom House Creative is bring you a very unique, incredibly fun experience that results in real art. Stuff that is ready to hang on your wall and outlast us both.

If that sounds like a hoot to you, or if you just want something different than the usual routine, let's get in touch. And hey, if you do just want a normal, straightforward photo session? I'm totally pumped to help with that, too.