At various times during his career, Schleier specialized in ambrotypes, cartes de visite, and cabinet cards. By 1863, he was using a "multiplying camera" designed by Simon Wing that utilized movable lenses to produce a popular type of photograph known as a "gem." His branch studio in Knoxville, which opened in 1864, offered "photographs, cartes de visite and stereotypes." His main Knoxville studio, which opened in 1867, specialized in ambrotypes, pearl miniatures, and photographs.Knoxville Whig, 19 June 1867, p. 2. Schleier partnered with rising Knoxville painter Lloyd Branson to create several "photo-crayon portraits" which were exhibited at 1875 Eastern Division Fair.Knoxville Whig and Chronicle, 13 October 1875, p. 2. Accessed at the Library of Congress Chronicling America database, 21 February 2014. In 1880, Schleier's Nashville gallery offered "artotypes" (a type of photograph created using ink) and "chromotypes" (colored photographs).
