Figure 1.--Photography on the 19th century was largely studio photography. When photographers like Matthew Brady ventured outside his studio, he had to take a studio with him in a well equipped horse-drawn waggon (1860s). As technological advances continued we see more and more images outside the studio. And by the 1880s and even more so the 90s, they are increasingly common. Most are group shots ith the exception of a relatively small number of avid hobbiests. The family snapshot would be a 20th century phemomenon. Here we see a portrait at what looks like a family reunion or perhaps a church picnic, probably in the 1890s. We are left to wonder if there was a amateur photographer present or a studio photographer was hired. Notice the boy wearing a blouse kilt suit. If this portrait had been taken erlier, probably mor of the younger boys would have been wearing skirted garments.

Photography during the 19th century was primarily studio photography. The photography record is mostly portraits taken in studios. Now we have images in numbers never before seen. A painted portrait was expensive. Photographs cost a fraction of that of a painted portraits, even Daguerreotypes which were the most expensive type of photogrphic portrait. Now there were photograhs taken outside the studio. such as the famous Brady Civil War photograohs (1860s), but in fact Brady and others took ther studio with them in a horse-drawn waggon. This was possible for historic events. There was a lucrative market for these images. It ws not conomical for individual or family portraits. Gradually the technology improved allowing for group portraits. Again group portraits were possible because a lot of people wanted copies. The portrait here is a good example (figure 1). But you do not see many examples of mom or probably dad taking pictures of litte Johnny playing in the backard. Technological advances gradually made amateur photography possible, but it continued to be both expensive and complicated. Only the most avid hobbyist would pursue photography. But we begin to see more amateur family work as technology advanced, especially in the 1890s. But the major change would come with the Kodak Brownie (1900). Thus the family snpshot would be a 20th century phenomenon.

Created: 10:12 AM 1/9/2018
Last updated: 4:28 PM 3/30/2023