Figure 1.--Family snapshots appeared in Canada almost immediately after Kodak introduced the Brownie (1900). This Canadian snapshot is undated, but would have been taken about 1905. Notice how easy it made photography which until the Brownie was complicated and required a degree of expertise. Now even children could takke photographs. This snapshot was taken in Vancouver's Stanley Park.

The family snapshot was born at the turn of the 20th century. There were anateur photography in the late-19th century, but not much. Photography was too expesive and complicated for many families to participate. This all changed with the Kodak Brownie (1900). This led to an exolosion of photograohy outside the studio. And middle-class familiess could afford it. A simple box camera could not be easier to operate and because it was so compact could be taken everywhere. This included anywhere far from home. Most snapshots werec taken around home, but theyv also appeared on family outings (figure 1). And this included outings far from home. Canada's location bordering on the United States meant that it was virtually availavke instrabtly. It was somewhat less common in Canada than America, largely for economic reasons. Percapita incime was lower in Canada, but not massively so. Almost all early photographers were men. There were somw women phtoraphers, but not very many. Women for the most part were not interested in getting involved with the mechncs and chemstry involved. For most of the 20th century, dad was the one who took the family phitigraohs. Cameras like the Brounie, however, meant that moms as wll as children could easily get involve if they wanted to do so. This graduly chabnged iver time, but slowly. Abd by the late 20h century this was happening.

Created: 6:49 PM 3/15/2023
Last updated: 6:49 PM 3/15/2023