Victorians in Camera

'The making of a lifelike picture was something to be wondered at.
It was an adventure, it was an expense, and it was often something of an ordeal...'

Victorians in Camera explores the world of nineteenth century photography from the subjects' point of view. What did people want from their portraits? Where did they go to have them made and did the Victorians really never smile? What did they do with the finished product, whether a formal daguerreotype or cheery snapshot?

From a wealth of contemporary evidence – in both words and pictures – Robert Pols reveals the story behind Victorian photography – from trickery to photographic fashions. Discover the social history behind nineteenth century photographs and how to trace hidden stories within your own family album.