Photographer tries to get sitter to appear pleasant

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Photographer tries to get sitter to appear pleasant

A photographer is shown to be attempting to persuade his sitter to look happier while having his portrait captured. This is highlighted as one of the difficulties of being a photographer; making sure all subjects look happy and are pleased with their portrait. Date: 1886

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Media ID 23210636

© Mary Evans Picture Library

1886 Camera Difficulties Formal Photographer Pleasant Pleased Portraiture Sitter Subject 1860s

EDITORS COMMENTS
Captured Moments of Happiness: The Art of Persuasion in 19th Century Portraiture This evocative photograph, taken in 1886, captures a moment of tension and determination between a photographer and his sitter during a portrait session. The photographer, dressed in formal attire and holding a large-format camera, is seen earnestly trying to coax a smile or a more pleasant expression from his subject, who appears somewhat reluctant and serious. The sitter, dressed in a stylish suit, seems to be resisting the photographer's efforts, folding his arms and maintaining a stern gaze. The art of portraiture has always been a delicate dance between the photographer's vision and the subject's cooperation. In the 19th century, the pressure to create a pleasing and flattering image was particularly acute, as formal studio portraits were the primary means by which families and individuals documented their identities and social standing. The photographer's ability to make his subject appear happy and content was a crucial skill, one that required a deft touch, a keen sense of psychology, and a good deal of patience. Despite the challenges, the photographer in this photograph remains undeterred, continuing to offer gentle encouragement and adjusting the camera to capture the perfect angle and lighting. The sitter, for his part, eventually relents, offering a faint hint of a smile that the photographer can work with. The resulting portrait, while not an unqualified success, is a testament to the enduring power of the photographer's art and the human capacity for self-presentation.

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