Figure 1.--Here we see an English snapshot with a white margin, common to snapshots in the first half of the 20th century. This one was taken in 1932.

A snapshot is a casual, informal photograph which an amateur takes quickly, typically with a small handheld camera. They can be taken by ordinary people with no training or expertise, althouh a little competence helps with the results. And unlike 19th century photography, the costs were modest. The snapshot was essentially invented in America by Kodak. It was the Kodak Brownie that changed everything (1900). Soon comanies in Britain and other counties offered a similar camera and service. All you had to do was point and shoot. It was revolution in photography, taking the camera out of the studio. Photographers could shoot outside the stydio arlier, but it was compluacted and expensive. Wuth the Brownine, anyine at any palce could shoot photographs. Gradually more complicated cameras appeared which permitted improved results, especially for individuals who mwere willing to learns the basics of photography. But baically family photography was invented. We no longer see just studio scenes, but photographs showing the family at home and all the various activities in and around the home and the varios family events away from honme. Few of the new photographers printed their own photographs. It was done mostlty commercially. But interested individuals could easily do so is they were so interested. The various prints provide clues as to when the photographs were taken. Many early snapshots were done with postcard backs. The size, dimensioins, format, borders, and edges had different time frames when they were popular, just like the CDV/cabinet card mounts provided fating clues. The white borders like the snapshot here were common in the first half of the 20th century. The width of the borders varied. The borders were caused by the need to hold the photographic paper flat. The width of the borders varied. Thus the features and chateristivs can be used to help date the many undated images we have found.

Definition

A snapshot is a casual, informal photograph which an amateur takes quickly, typically with a small handheld camera. They can be taken by ordinary people with no training or expertise, althouh a little competence helps with the results. And unlike 19th century photography, the costs were modest.

Invention

The snapshot was essentially invented in America by Kodak. It was the Kodak Brownie that changed everything (1900). Soon comanies in Britain and other counties offered a similar camera and service. All you had to do was point and shoot.

Importance

It was revolution in photography, taking the camera out of the s\tudio. Photographers could shoot outside the stydio arlier, but it was compliacted and expensive. Wuth the Brownie, anytine at any palce could shoot photographs. Gradually more complicated cameras appeared which permitted improved results, especially for individuals who mwere willing to learns the basics of photography. But basically family photography was invented. We no longer see just studio scenes, but photographs showing the family at home and all the various activities in and around the home and the varios family events away from home. Few of the new photographers printed their own photographs. It was done mostlty commercially. But interested individuals could easily do so is they were so interested.

Chronology

We see some family photographs before the turn-of the 20th century. We are not sure that they can be called sanp shots. The cameras were bulky and difficult to use. Mo simple point and shoot cameras. And the processoing was complicated. Fathers taking these photographs needed to be photographic entusiasts willing to devote time and money to their hoibby. This all cahnged with the Kodak Brownie (1900). Virtually anyone could now take a photograph. All you had to do was to point the camera in the right direction and press the shutter. Than when all the exosures take, mail the camera back to Kodak. It was virtually fool proof or as fool proof as a camera can be. The resulting prints susequently varied in different ways which we can follow decacade by decade. Most early prints were done in 3x5" postcard size ptints. A major variant for many years was the white border found on many sanpshots. This was needed to keep the photographic paper flat during the printing process, but width of the margin help to date it. Here we see a medium width white margim (1930). Other indicators were the size and dimensions of the paper. The paper edging also caried with both smooth and serated edges. After World War II we begin to see some dates printed in the white margin. We begin to see color snapshots (1940s), but they were not common until much later (1970s). We begin to see more square prints (1960s). Printed snapshots began to decline with the turn of the 21st centuey and the rise of digital photography. One helpul feature of some digiatal images is that some had water mark dates.

Characteristics

When trying to date indated snapshots you can go to the chronological pages above to see if the characteristics of your photo matches the suspected decade. Or yoiu can look at the chronological range for the various characterustucs detailed here. When trying to date undated The various prints provide clues as to when the photographs were taken. Many early snapshots were done with postcard backs. And the 3x5" postcard format became the default size of most snapshots and the film size. The size, dimensioins, format, borders, and edges all had different time frames when they were popular, just like the CDV/cabinet card mounts provided dating clues. The white borders like the snapshot here (figure 1) were common in the first half of the 20th century. The width of the borders varied. The borders were caused by the need to hold the photographic paper flat. The width of the borders varied. Thus the features and chateristics can be used to help date the many undated images we have found.

Created: 7:17 PM 3/9/2019
Last updated: 10:12 AM 6/14/2019