Figure 1.--Here we see a family snapshot in 1923. Notice the very wide white border margin. This is wider than most white borders we have found.

The family snapshot is mostly associated with the 20th century. The were amateur photographrs in the late-19th centyry. But the cameras and processes were complicated and expensive. Thus it was not until the Kofak Browie appared that photography became accessable to the average American family. Kodak would dominate American photography for most of the 20th century. Early snapshots were printed im many ways. Some were done on cabinet cards. Many were done with postcard backs. Photographers would bring their film to studios for developing and chose images to be printed as cabinet cards. Most were done as sturdy paper prints. At first amateur photographers sent their cameras back to Kodak or other companies. Kodak would develop and print the film, reload the camera and send it all back to you. Gradually Kodak sold the film, often in drug stores and you had it developed by the drug store. A popular early innovation was printing them on 3 X 5 in postcard back paper so they could be mailed to family and friends. The paper prints other than post cards were done in many different sizes with varying edging and white margins. The white border margins were the result of devices to hold the paper flat during exposure. Thus the border edge area was unexposed. Some prints had variously decorated margins. These seem popular in the 1930s. The various format differences can be used to help date the snapshots. It becanme popular in the 1950s for the processor to print the date in the white margin. Kodak camevout with a new Brownie, the Brownie Hawkeye (1949) which produce square (3.5 X 3.5 in ) prints. It proved very popular. I was replaced by the Instimatic which also produced square prints. Kodak dominated American photography at the time. As a result, a substantial porty=tion of liw-end snapdhots were taken bu these square format cameras (1950s-80s). Parents more interested in photigraphy used miatky 35 mm gilm producung the familiar rectangular (3 X 5 in ) prints. Eventually prints by thev 1970s began to be done done without the wide border margins. This was mostly when color photography became common replacing the silver nitrate black and white photography.

Chronology

The family snapshot is mostly associated with the 20th century. The were amateur photographrs in the late-19th centyry. But the cameras and processes were complivated and expensive. Thus 19th century photography while not wxclusively is primarrily studio photograpy. Few individuals had the time, intrest, or money to pursue photography as an amateur family endevor. Thus they headed to the nearby photographic studio to have portaits taken of themselves and familiy. It was not until the Kodak Brownie appared (1900) that photography became accessable to the average American family. This is important because family snapshots taken around the home and other outdoor and indoor vrnues provide much more historical information than studio portaits which mostly ptobideinforatiin about fashion. Kodak would dominate American photography for most of the 20th century which may surprise many young people as it is no longer a corporation of any importance as it failed to evrace digital photography.

Shape

Early snapshots adopted the rectangular shape that were used by the CDVs and cabinet cards that dominted photograohy (1860s-90s.) This did not change until new cabinet card mount styles appeared at the turn-of the 20th centur and we see varied shaped cabinet cards for the first time. The initial Kodak Brownie snapshots were done as rectanhular 3 X 5 in prints. This was the standard shape of snapshot prints for the first half of the 20th century. The print here is a good example, although the white margin is exceptionally large (figure 1). Many at first were done as post-card back prints. We begin to see square cabinet cards prints at the turn of the 20th century, but we have not found many square snapshots until much later. Kodak came out with a new Brownie, the Brownie Hawkeye (1949) which produced square (3.5 X 3.5 in ) prints. It proved very popular (1950s). Kodak replaced the Brownie with the Instimatic which also produced square prints (1963). Kodak still dominated American photography at the time. As a result, a substantial portion of low-end family snapshots were taken by these square format cameras (1950s-80s). There were still many of te ectanhulat prints as well. Parents more interested in photpgraphy used mosrly 35 mm film producing the familiar rectangular (3 X 5 in ) prints. After the late-1980s, we no longer see the square prints to any extent.

Presentation

Images were printed im many ways. Some were done on cabinet cards. Many were done with postcard backs. Photographers would bring their film to studios for developing and chose images to be printed as cabinet cards. Most were done as sturdy paper prints. At first amateur photographers sent their cameras back to Kodak or other companies. Kodak would develop and print the film, reload the camera and send it all back to you. Gradually Kodak sold the film, often in drug stores and you had it developed by the drug store. A popular early innovation was printing them on in postcard back paper so they could be mailed to family and friends.

Edging

Snapshots were normally printed with smooth esges. We also note studio prints and snaosgots with rugged edges.

Margins

Snapshots were at firsrt dine with white margins. The wudthof tge nargins varied. The white border margins were the result of devices to hold the paper flat during exposure. Thus the border edge area was unexposed. Some prints had variously decorated margins. These seem popular in the 1930s. The various format differences can be used to help date the snapshots. It becanme popular in the 1950s for the processor to print the date in the white margin. Eventually prints by the 1970s began to be done done without the wide border margins. This was mostly when color photography became common replacing the silver nitrate black and white photography.

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Created: 4:20 AM 6/7/2019
Last updated: 7:52 AM 6/2/2020