ORANGE COUNTY, CA…Here’s a look at how I create palladium-platinum prints on paper, one at a time.

Minica and Ali visited the studio in Orange County after their wedding for a special portrait session. Using a large-format 8×10 camera, we captured their images on black and white film, creating timeless, high-resolution negatives.

First, I start with a large format negative—usually 8×10 film. The detail and tonal range in these negatives are perfect for contact printing. Each sheet of fine art paper is coated by hand with a mixture of palladium and platinum salts under a dim light.

After the paper dries, the negative is placed directly onto it and exposed under UV light. This can take several minutes, depending on the light source and chemistry. Once exposed, the image appears faintly on the paper—like a ghost.

Next comes development. The print is placed into a warm developer bath, and the image comes to life. From there, it goes through a series of clearing baths to remove any remaining metals, then into a final water rinse.

Once dry, the result is a rich, matte print with deep blacks, soft grays, and subtle highlights. Each one is unique, and the image is embedded in the paper fibers—no ink, no toner, just metal and craftsmanship.

This process is slow, hands-on, and incredibly rewarding. It’s photography at its most physical and timeless.

It was an honor to photograph Minica and Ali using such a classic, meaningful process