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The Story Behind Our Roots: From F-22 Collective to Labrot Studios

We were recently asked by a former student how we came up with the name F-22 Collective for our wedding photography business. They wondered if it had something to do with ensuring all our photos were focused—referencing the f-stop setting of f/22 on a camera lens, which renders most objects and scenes in sharp focus. While the technical connection is intriguing, it wasn't our original intention. The story behind the name, and why we didn't opt for something like "Sacramento's Best Wedding Photographers" or "Creative Sacramento Wedding Photography," reflects who we are as artists and what we stand for.

At Labrot Studios, we are, first and foremost, passionate photographers with deep roots in the craft. Our journey began long before we were wedding photographers. Growing up in creative environments, we learned the fundamentals of photography, became students of the art, and later served as educators, guiding both aspiring and professional photographers.

In our early days, we explored photography in its entirety. Starting with film cameras, we transitioned into the digital age with Photoshop, but we always continued our love for traditional techniques. Instead, we embraced a holistic approach, blending analog and digital photography to push creative boundaries. Collaborating with others and exchanging ideas, we immersed ourselves in alternative photographic processes, sharing these discoveries with clients, colleagues, and students.

When launching our Sacramento-based wedding photography business, we naturally turned to our roots for inspiration. The name "F-22 Collective" paid homage to our creative philosophy and the legendary Group f/64, a pioneering collective of photographers in the early 20th century that included visionaries like Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Edward Weston. Like them, we were committed to the artistry of photography and the exchange of ideas.

Evolving into Labrot Studios

As our business grew, so did our vision. While "F-22 Collective" represented our beginnings, we rebranded as Labrot Studios to reflect the evolution of our identity and the profoundly personal nature of our work. "Labrot" refers to our family, creativity, and dedication to crafting meaningful connections through photography.

Today, Labrot Studios carries forward the same passion, curiosity, and innovation that defined the F-22 Collective. While the name has changed, our commitment to delivering exceptional photography and creating timeless memories remains steadfast. We continue to draw inspiration from the creative spirit that launched our journey and strive to honor our roots in every wedding, engagement, and portrait session we capture.

Honoring Photography’s Roots

All photography has its roots in alternative processes—innovative techniques that laid the foundation for the art form we know today. From cyanotypes and tintypes to hand-applied emulsions, these methods shaped the creative possibilities of photography. At Labrot Studios, we honor these origins by integrating elements of these traditional processes into our work, but we also embrace the future. We blend the timeless artistry of the past with the cutting-edge tools of today, creating a unique and innovative approach to photography. This allows us to create images that are not only modern but also deeply connected to the history and craftsmanship of photography.

CYANOTYPE

A cyanotype type print is a process that uses two chemicals, ferric ammonium citrate, and potassium ferricyanide to create a blue image. These chemicals create a solution that is sensitive to UV light. The solution can be brushed or rolled onto paper and allowed to dry before printing. Objects can be laid on top of the paper to create a shadow of that object or a film or digital negative can be placed directly onto the photographic paper held in place by a contact printer to create a sharp positive image. Many people have had experience creating Cyanotypes through their schooling and the use of a “Sun Print Kit”. Sunprint kits are readily available on Amazon and through stores such as Imaginarium. Cyanotype is an easy and fun process that is perfect for launching someone into the world of alternative process photography.

LUMEN PRINTS

Another type of alternative process which uses UV light is Lumen printing. Lumen printing is one of the earliest types of photographic experimentation developed in the early 19th century. Botanists used this technique as a way to record different types of plant life. In this technique, plant life would be placed on photographic paper and exposed to light for an extended period of time. Once exposed the photographic paper would be placed directly into a fixer where different colors would appear leading to a permanent image on paper. The results created with lumen prints can be somewhat unpredictable but are often very beautiful.

PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Pinhole photography is perhaps one of the simplest types of photography in that it uses a light-tight container with a small aperture that allows light into it as its camera. The light which enters the camera is projected onto photographic paper which then records the image. Pinhole cameras can be created from any object which can be made light-tight. Cameras have been made from objects as simple as an aluminum soda can to as large as a box truck. The possibilities for a unique pinhole camera are endless. One of the most unique characteristics of pinhole photography is that an entire image recorded remains in focus. The following image was created by using a soda can and exposing an image twice to make a double exposure.

TOY CAMERAS

A Holga toy camera is one of the least expensive cameras still available for purchase on the market. Typically Holga cameras use film which is in 120 formats. However, because photography is about experimenting the following images have been created with expired 35 mm color film. The simplicity of Holga cameras makes photography somewhat unpredictable and exciting. Another brand of toy camera is the Diana Camera which has a number of different models and even has an instant square model that uses Fuji Film Instax square film.

SALT PRINTS

First invented in the 1830s by Henry Fox Talbot salt prints were used as a means of capturing images well into the 1860s. Salt prints are created by applying a weak solution of sodium chloride [table salt] to paper allowing the paper to dry and then applying a layer of silver nitrate again to the same piece of paper. The paper would then be exposed to UV light either in a camera to make a negative or in a contact printer with a negative on top of the paper. After exposing, the paper would be fixed in a solution of sodium thiosulfate. The following images were created with the use of a digital negative placed on salt print paper and then exposed under UV light.

4x5 salt print created with a large format camera.

COLLODION PHOTOGRAPHY [Wet Plate]

The collodion process invented by Frederick Scott Archer in 1851 was for the first time capable of producing very sharp and detailed photographic prints. Created on either black metal or glass wet plate photography was used extensively during the era of the Civil War. The trouble with wet plate photography was the entire process needed to be completed while the photographic plate was still wet with its chemicals. Additionally, these chemicals were quite toxic. Along with slow exposure times, photographers were burdened with a tremendous amount of equipment that they needed to carry in order to produce their photography. Wet plate photography has become quite popular recently and has seen a resurgence in use due to its fascinating characteristics.

4x5 Wet plate photograph by Labrot Studios

DRY PLATE PHOTOGRAPHY

Gelatin dry plates were first invented in the 1870s. Dry plates were a big improvement with photography as they allowed the photographer to move more freely in pursuit of their photography. Early drawbacks with dry plate photography were the slow speed at which images were recorded. Images were recorded on either black metal or glass. Recording images on glass created negatives which then allowed for multiple copies of images to be produced. Kodak was an early manufacturer of dry plates and this process launched Kodak’s business.

As mentioned earlier, experimenting with different types of photography has inspired us to continually look for something new anytime we pick up our cameras. While at a wedding we are constantly exploring the possibilities of what we can capture often looking for reflections, different angles, or for those perspectives that give our wedding photography a unique and creative style. We enjoy sharing what we discover about photography with other photographers and hope we can inspire others. For those wishing for more information about alternative photography or wanting to try some of the methods mentioned to great resources are Bostick & Sullivan and Freestyle Photo

AMBROTYPE and INKODYE