Amateur photography (as distinct from professional, commercial photography) was practised from the earliest days, but for decades remained a genteel pastime for a privileged few, those with the means to buy expensive, elaborate apparatus and leisure time for experimenting with the medium. Because of its elite beginnings, few of us have early-mid Victorian ancestors who engaged in amateur photography; however during the 1880s various innovations gave the activity a significant boost. Dry photographic plates – more convenient than the traditional wet plate method – and ‘modern’ developing-out papers both became widely available, while price reductions in equipment and supplies began to attract middle-class hobbyists. The greatest advance came with improved, specially-designed roll-film cameras. In 1888 in the United States, George Eastman launched the Kodak No.1 camera – a relatively simple box camera loaded with a 100-exposure roll of film: this was returned to the Eastman factory for processing, the camera meanwhile being re-loaded with film and returned to the customer. To demonstrate the ease of the new system, Kodak devised the famous slogan: “You push the button, we’ll do the rest.”

The traditional glass plate method was still used by professionals and serious amateurs, who usually processed their own photographs, but photography no longer necessitated advanced technical or artistic skills, or complex equipment. For inexperienced enthusiasts photography was becoming easier and now the term ‘snapshot’ (originating in 1860) described the photographic efforts of the new wave of photographers or ‘snap-shooters’. Amateur photography remained a somewhat specialist interest in the 1880s and 1890s: camera ownership did not yet extend to a mass population, but if our late-Victorian ancestors pursued the new hobby, then we may discover some real gems dating from this period.

Amateur photography gathered momentum during the early 20th century and within a generation would become a popular leisure activity. In 1900 the user-friendly Box Brownie camera was launched (again ready-loaded with film) and this economical model encouraged more working people to try photography for themselves. By the 1910s new, more convenient cameras were available, including the Kodak Vest Pocket Camera, introduced in 1912. During the First World War, reputedly many soldiers took one of these folding cameras away with him, a surge in sales being recorded during 1915. Evidently the 1910s were a major turning point and many more personal cameras were acquired between the 1920s and 1940s.

Family snapshots
Most private photograph collections today include amateur snapshots – photographs taken by the family photographer to record both special events and everyday scenes. Although some may be of Victorian or Edwardian origins, most date from at least the 1910s. The majority taken before the mid-20th century are set outdoors, where there was a natural source of light, and often show their subjects squinting into the glare. Illuminating interiors was hazardous until camera flashbulbs came into general use so indoor photography was rare before the 1950s. With colour photography still in an experimental stage, most family snapshots taken before the mid-1960s are black and white images.

Unlike professional studio photographs, formally composed in artificial settings contrived by the photographer, family snapshots depict past generations posing in a relatively relaxed manner, in their own surroundings or familiar locations. Early examples may portray elderly ancestors who had lived mainly in the Victorian era or, conversely, relatives who may still be alive today. From the family garden or workplace yard, to a favourite weekend haunt or annual holiday destination, casual snapshots reveal the places where family members lived, worked and spent their leisure time. Often full of interesting visual detail, snapshots may also include the friends, neighbours, colleagues, household pets, vehicles, buildings and material possessions known to the family in earlier times. Realistic and informative images, they are of particular documentary value, offering today’s researchers a fascinating visual record of earlier lives.

Examining the evidence
Sometimes the subjects and/or settings of old snapshots are instantly recognisable or have been identified verbally by a relative; the back of the paper print or an album page may even have been annotated with helpful handwritten details. Others, however, may appear baffling images of unfamiliar people and places, so consider showing these to other family members: older relatives can sometimes add information or may even have an annotated copy of the same or a similar scene. Also remember to look closely at other snapshots in the wider collection: one image may well shed light on another.

As with all old photographs, it is important to determine an accurate time frame for family snapshots, in order to understand their true historical context: yet, unlike professional photographs, there is no standard studio setting, card mount design or photographer data to aid dating of typical outdoor snapshots. Date estimates must generally be based on the visual image and theoretically various pictorial clues may help to narrow The Era, such as buildings: however, most relevant are the stylistic features likely to closely reflect contemporary taste – the fashions worn by the human subjects of the scene, from ‘Sunday best’ to beach wear; and any vehicles present, from horse-drawn carts and pedal bicycles, to motor cars, motorbikes, charabancs and commercial vans.

Investigating family snapshots is a fascinating and worthwhile project but potentially a vast area of research. Using the internet to its full extent and contacting specialist sources to pursue likely leads, such as names on buildings or styles of vehicle, can prove very enlightening. For more tips on how to get started, please see the Useful Sources section and read our examples illustrated below.

Useful Sources
Avril Lansdell, Everyday Fashions of the Twentieth Century (Shire, 1999)
Robert Pols, Dating Twentieth Century Photographs (The Alden Press, 2005)
Jayne Shrimpton, How to get the Most from Family Pictures (Society of Genealogists, 2011)
Jayne Shrimpton, Tracing Your Ancestors through Family Photographs (Pen & Sword, 2014)