In this blog, I am looking back at the era where taking a photo was a big program by itself.
The people whose photo was to be taken would get together and decide a time and date when the actual photo shoot should happen. They would also decide the dress/attire to be worn, maybe have a consultation with the photographer to confirm what would look good.
Dress up neatly – not a pin out of place. Go at the appointed time and date to the meeting point and from there to the photo studio. Wait patiently outside till the photographer is ready in the photography room.
One by one file into the room. The outside waiting area and the room inside would contain several photographs of celebrities. Observe them closely to see what expression would actually look good in the photo. The ambiance inside was special. Photographer waiting behind the camera. A special place with a mirror on one side for touching up the face (last minute) or combing the hair. Lighting focused on the bench and background scene. The camera mounted on an elaborate tripod with an umbrella-type shade over the light. The shade would be minutely adjusted by the photographer to get the perfect lighting.
All the people would take seats randomly or some would be standing and some sitting on a bench. The photographer would be behind the camera and then he would come and decide who should stand/sit where and the exact pose to be made to have maximum impact. He would be moving back and forth between the camera and the people and make adjustments to both the camera and people to get the best shot.
The time has arrived to take the final shot. All attention on the camera. Everybody say ‘cheese’. Photographer would say ‘Smile and look into the camera’ at the same time. Two shots – done.
He would then check whether the shot was alright. It would take 2-3 days to get it processed since it was in a film. The film and the photos would be given to the people. For many decades, it was a black and white photograph.
Typically, every family had photographs taken in this manner at least 2-3 times during different stages of their life – once after marriage, once after the birth of a child when the child was about 3-4 years old, and when the child became a teenager.
Each photo shoot was special and targeted for a specific milestone. There was nothing casual about a photograph. Everything was intentional.
The fact that there was such an elaborate thought process behind every photo that was taken is something which we need to think about. Convenience in taking photos also means that there is no thought/intention, most of the time, behind this. The purpose with which the photography was taken was not only about memories, but also milestone achievement. Hence, there was a lot of emotion attached to each photograph, each became a precious memoir.
We can bring the same attention to detail, precision and intention to today’s photographs, if we don’t take photographs by the thousands for the sake of collection but take it for a purpose. It is the purposeful nature of the process which has probably been lost today. The joy that each photograph gave at that time can be attributed to this.
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