About Me — Daniel Leocadi

I’m Daniel Leocadi, a photographer dedicated to preserving one of the oldest and most beautiful photographic processes: wet plate collodion. Using 19th-century techniques, I create one-of-a-kind portraits and landscapes on glass and metal plates, each hand-crafted and impossible to duplicate.

My work takes me from my home base in New Jersey to the historic stretches of Route 66 and into the vast, cinematic landscapes of the American Southwest. Along the way, I capture people, places, and moments that deserve to be remembered — not as pixels, but as physical works of art that will last for generations.

I’ve studied with master practitioners of historic photography, refining every step from pouring collodion to varnishing the final plate. Whether you’re booking a portrait session or collecting a limited edition print, my goal is the same: to create an image that feels timeless, tactile, and deeply personal.

If you’re looking for a unique portrait experience, an heirloom photograph, or fine art prints inspired by my travels, I’d be honored to create something for you.

Every plate I create is part of a larger journey — through places, history, and moments that can’t be repeated. My fine art prints allow you to bring that journey into your own space.

Why I Choose 1850s Photography Process

I hand-pour collodion, sensitize in silver, and let sunlight etch the truth onto glass or metal. Wet plate collodion slows me down enough to actually see—to make portraits and landscapes with weight, texture, and permanence. In the video I share what pulls me to this craft and why a single plate can hold more soul than a thousand files. If it resonates, let’s make something that outlives us both.

Where the Work Happens.