AltPhoto Source Update

Friday January 13, 2006

I wanted to post an update (for those interested) about AltPhoto Source (altphotosource.com).

I wanted to open January 1, 2006, obviously that didn't happen. There is a lot of legal stuff to deal with, but I am wrapping it all up now. I have a planning commision meeting to attend in my city (for running this business) on January 24th and should have everything signed off, paid for and completed by the 27th of January!

I'm determined to open February 1, 2006 and have the first process date February 11, 2006. That means the first shipment of chemistry will go out the week of February 13, 2006.

In the beginning, I'm only mixing, processing and shipping chemistry once a month. This is how it will work:

FEBRUARY 2006
TAKE ORDERS: February 1 - 10, 2006
PROCESS DATES: February 11 & 12, 2006 
SHIP DATE: February 13, 2006

MARCH 2006
TAKE ORDERS: February 11 - March 17, 2006
PROCESS DATES: March 18 & 19, 2006 
SHIP DATE: March 20, 2006

APRIL 2006
TAKE ORDERS: March 18 - April 21, 2006
PROCESS DATES: April 22 & 23, 2006 
SHIP DATE: April 24, 2006

MAY 2006
TAKE ORDERS: April 22 - May 19, 2006
PROCESS DATES: May 20 & 21, 2006 
SHIP DATE: May 22, 2006

ADDRESSING SOME EMAIL QUESTIONS I'VE RECEIVED:

Who Owns AltPhoto Source? AltPhoto Source is a wholly owned subsidiary of Studio Q, LLC. All payments for products will be made to, or billed by, Studio Q, LLC.  

How will the chemicals be shipped? FedEx or UPS, depending on the size of order.

Did you have to get special permits to do this business? Yes, many of them. In fact, I'm lucky to live where I do so I can even do this type of business!

Why are you doing this business? If you were to look at my inbox (email) you would know why - there are many artists out there that want to (at very least) try this process but don't want to invest the amount of money, time and training it takes to get up and going. This is the prefect solution for them.

Are you working with ArtCraft Chemical? Yes. Mike Jacobson and I are working together. He offers great "raw" chemicals and is a great guy. I'm specializing in pre-made, ready to use, wet plate (for now) chemicals. If you order chemicals from AltPhoto Source, you'll see his catalog in the shipment and vice versa. Should you want to buy raw product and make your own, I recommend purchasing chemistry from him.

Please bear in mind, it will not all be perfect (the product will be) so I'll need input on what people want (what size, quantity, etc.) and what they don't want. I may have product in the store that's a waste of time and maybe have overlooked a product that needs to be there. I hope you'll let me know.

Thanks for your patient! I'm looking forward to doing this!!
Q

Originally posted by autochrome What chemistry is going to be offered? john

Everything to do positives and negatives in wet plate.

Originally posted by MikeCovington Will you be offering japaned tintype plates? If so, do you have your prices set yet? I'm looking forward to doing business with you.

Yes, there will (jappaned) tintypes as well as Albumen paper and kits for both. Prices will look something like this (subject to change):

12 each Quarter Plates: $25
12 each Half Plates: $35
12 each 5x7: $45
12 each 8x10: $90

These will be jappaned/authentic tintypes/ferrotypes (coated and baked). The trophy aluminum is ready to go and gives a very different look and feel than the original tintype/ferrotype and you can get it precut from Trophy. What I'm offering is the authentic, handmade tintype.

The size will depend on the demand. I can go as large as 11x14 right now and bigger if there is a demand.

Edited by quinn

For those interested:

I just returned from a planning commission meeting in my city where I have applied to do the chemistry business. It was disheartening to me; I have to go through ANOTHER inspection and more red tape! The fire department's haz mat people have to come over and inspect my storage facilities, chemicals and quantities (if I store over a certain limit, it's another license and more fees for that).

I NO LONGER wonder why someone is doing this business. I know from time, money and effort why they haven't. I feel like a fool trying and I think some days I'm wasting my time and money.

Bottom line: I don't know when I'll be opening - it depends on the haz mat people's schedule and if I pass.

Don't give up. Although it seems like a lot of nonsence. It really is the way things have to go. You wouldn't want just anyone setting up something like this without some sort of checks in place. It will protect you in the long run. It get's really expensive if you don't play by the rules. It's not that bad really. I'm sure you know the drill. It's kinda like........."Yes,Dear."

Quinn,

Hang in there buddy!

Regarding super fund sites for clean up -
When I moved to Houston, TX in 1970 I called on a chemical company
(I sell graphics) and noticed yellow and green streams running through
their parking lot.
Their business was disposing of chemicals from industrial processing
companies.
The company shut down and the land was used for a subdivision.
They later discovered their method of disposing was to spray the
chemicals over their land with a road wetting water truck.
The EPS has spend millions and they finally decided just to cover the
surface with dirt.
Good luck on getting your permits -

john