09/17/2026
I can’t help but feel a little sentimental this time of year.
On September 10, 2025, I made my first natural light family portrait on 8x10 tintype.
After a decade of being a digital photographer (Kelsa | Minnesota + Wisconsin Photographer), I was beginning something entirely new. And I was beginning it with a little one at home - figuring out how to build a business while learning how to be a first time mom, too.
That first plate became so much more than I expected. Within weeks I was preparing to offer portraits at Boats and Bluegrass Festival, and just three months later, I opened the doors to my own studio (kind of crazy, maybe even a little stupid… I know).
A year later, I’ve poured countless plates, met so many wonderful people, learned new photographic processes, and watched this crazy dream become something so real, so quickly. And through it all, I’m reminded just how special community can be, especially the one right here in Winona, MN. Collective Types was built by kind people, meaningful connections, and a generous community that believed in what I was doing.
Cheers to one year (and some odd days) of creating handmade imagery through historic processes 🤍
