Old photographs can transport you to a world you had never been to before. Places, people, and even clothing are all so different. The longer you look at an old picture, the more you get to know about the people and world back in the day!
If you have old pictures lying around, you might want to sit down and rummage through them. Here are some fun things you can uncover while browsing old photographs.
Family Dynamics
A very common way to take pictures back in the day was in a studio. Everyone would don their best clothes and head to the nearest picture studio or invite a photographer to snap their pictures. It was a momentous occasion, since hired photographers were never cheap!
Often, you would find the patriarch of the family sitting in the center with their partner and children with their spouses surrounding the family. It's a difficult sight to miss. The elders of the family were always centered in the image and were the main focus.
From deciphering what relationship the couple had, you can understand whether the people surrounding them are their children or grandchildren.
Wealth Disparity
Showing off your wealth in portrait shots was an incredibly common practice. As people started to dabble in photography, they realized they could offer more to the camera than a solemn stare. Now, backgrounds and props were also gaining importance.
Often, members of the ruling class or educated individuals would surround themselves with their prized possessions. Some would even pose with a book as a marker of their literacy. It was seen as something to flaunt, as literacy rates were not incredibly high.
Children would also pose with their toys, an indicator of the wealth their parents would possess. Of course, in contrast, the working class would not have such pictures. In fact, individual portraits weren't a popular choice, and most would only invest in family portraits.
A Thirst For Knowledge
You might think you have all your relatives mapped out and can spot them in a picture. That is until you uncover an old photograph that shows an unfamiliar face gazing back from the background. This mystery leads to many questions, and soon, you're left finding relationships you never knew you had!
Damaged pictures can hide many important clues. The faded backgrounds can make locations and faces challenging to decipher, which leaves you with many unanswered questions. It's crucial to retouch any images that have faded from old age to better grasp the details that are difficult to see.
Want assistance with damaged photo restoration? At Heritage, we offer photo retouching services in Houston, TX, that will leave you with clear and detailed photographs for your investigation! And if you need help tracking down your family lineage, we offer genealogy services that will provide you with all the details you may need. Contact us today for more information.