Scottish Post Office directories

Commercial photography begins

With the beginning of commercial photography in 1839, photographic studios became very popular during the mid 19th century.

Photographers' studios

They were quickly set up all across Scotland and by 1865, Edinburgh and its neighbourhood counted over 50 studios.

Many of them were located in Princes Street with its modern buildings, spacious rooms and large south-facing windows. This would have been an ideal location, allowing enough light into the studios.

Portraits and other services

Photographers offered different kinds of services, including 'cartes de visite' (small photos on trade cards or calling cards), portraits of children or the colouring of photographs with oil or water colours.

To acquaint the public with the new technology, they would often explicitly invite their customers for 'inspections of specimens'.

 

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