Franklin Dean
Wedding photography has evolved since the invention of the photographic art form. The earliest wedding photographs were stiff and serious, taken days after the ceremony and not during the wedding itself. The earliest known photograph of a wedding couple dates back to 1840 and featured Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. As photography became more accessible in the 1850s to 1870s, elite couples began sitting for formal wedding portraits, typically done in photographers' studios. The process was slow, and smiles were rare due to long exposure times and the formality of the occasion. By the late 1860s, more couples started posing in their wedding attire, and photographers began working on location. Wedding photography as we know it today, capturing the entire wedding event, emerged after World War II with the advent of film roll technology and improved lighting techniques.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Setting | Taken in photographers' studios, not at the wedding venue |
| Timing | Taken days or weeks after the ceremony |
| Mood | Stiff and serious |
| Subjects | Only the married couple |
| Smiles | Rare |
| Equipment | Bulky |
| Prints | Fragile and expensive |
| Status Symbol | Yes |
| Colour | Black and white |
| Camera | Medium format cameras |
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What You'll Learn
Early wedding photographs were not taken at weddings
Wedding photography has evolved since its inception, but early wedding photographs were not taken at the wedding ceremony. In the early days of photography, most couples did not hire a photographer to record the wedding itself. Instead, they might pose for a formal photo before or after the wedding, dressed in their best clothes.
The earliest known photograph of a married couple dates back to 1840 and features Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This image is believed to be a daguerreotype taken after their wedding, not during. The image was created by Louis Daguerre, who developed the first publicly announced and commercially viable photographic process. The process required only minutes of exposure and produced clear, finely detailed results. However, the early photographs were stiff and serious, with long exposure times that made smiles rare.
The early wedding photographs were taken in studios by professionals with limited tools and long exposure times. The process was slow, with subjects having to hold still for up to 30 seconds or more. The images were printed on fragile and expensive materials such as tin, glass, or metal plates. As a result, having a wedding portrait was a status symbol, indicating that a couple could afford this new and luxurious service.
It wasn't until the late 19th century, with improvements in camera technology, that wedding portraits became slightly more common among the emerging middle class. Even then, the photographs typically included only the couple and not the ceremony, guests, or celebration. The concept of capturing the entire wedding "event" emerged after World War II, and the modern approach to wedding photography continued to evolve in the 1970s with the advent of "documentary photography".
Today, wedding photography has progressed to include various styles, such as photojournalistic, fashion-based, and studio photography. While early wedding photographs were not taken at weddings due to the limitations of the time, modern wedding photography embraces capturing the dynamic and emotional moments of the wedding day, both staged and spontaneous.
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They were serious and stiff, with no smiles
The first wedding photographs were serious and stiff, with no smiles. The earliest known photograph of a married couple dates back to 1840 and features Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This image was taken after their wedding, not during, and it is believed to be a daguerreotype. The serious and stiff nature of early wedding photos can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the long exposure times required for early photography meant that subjects had to remain still for up to 30 seconds or more, making it challenging to capture spontaneous expressions or movements.
The formality and seriousness were also a reflection of the style and cultural norms of the time. Wedding photography during this period was considered a luxury and served as a status symbol for elite couples who could afford this new service. The photographs were often taken in studios by professionals, contributing to the formal and posed nature of the images. The early photographs were also typically taken days after the wedding ceremony, further removing them from the joy and spontaneity of the wedding day itself.
Another factor influencing the serious nature of early wedding photographs was the limited tools and technology available to photographers at the time. The bulky equipment and lighting issues common in the late 19th century made it challenging for photographers to work on location, reinforcing the studio setting and the static nature of the images. It is also worth noting that the concept of capturing the entire wedding "event" with candid photography emerged much later, after the Second World War.
The evolution of wedding photography from its early days to the dynamic and emotional style of today is a remarkable transformation. While modern wedding photography embraces spontaneity, emotion, and creativity, the foundations laid by those first serious and stiff portraits continue to influence the art form. These early images marked the beginning of a visual legacy, capturing the importance of the wedding day and the couples' commitment, even in their formal and stoic presentation.
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They were a luxury for the wealthy
Wedding photography has come a long way since the early days when it was a luxury for the wealthy. The earliest wedding photographs were stiff and serious, taken days after the ceremony in studios by professionals with limited tools and long exposure times. The process was slow and expensive, with subjects having to hold still for up to 30 seconds or more, resulting in rare smiles and serious expressions. This made the wedding portrait a status symbol, signalling that a couple could afford this new and luxurious service.
The earliest known photograph of a wedding couple dates back to 1840 and featured Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This image, believed to be a daguerreotype, marked the beginning of a visual legacy. While it is unclear if this image was taken before or after their wedding, it is known that Queen Victoria wore her iconic white dress, setting a trend that continues to this day.
As photography became more accessible in the 1850s to 1870s, elite couples began sitting for formal wedding portraits. These portraits were typically taken in photographers' studios and were a symbol of status and luxury. The images were printed on fragile and expensive materials such as tin, glass, or metal plates.
It wasn't until the late 19th century, particularly the 1860s, that wedding photography started to become more common. Couples would pose in their wedding attire, either before or after the ceremony, and sometimes hired photographers to come to their wedding venue. However, due to bulky equipment and lighting issues, wedding photography remained largely a studio practice.
By the 1880s, wedding albums started to become more commonplace, and photographers would sometimes include the wedding party in the photographs. However, it is important to note that even during this time, photographs were typically limited to the couple only and did not capture the ceremony, guests, or celebration.
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They were taken in studios, after the wedding
Wedding photography has evolved since its early days, when photographs were not taken at the wedding ceremony but in studios after the wedding. The first wedding photographs were stiff and serious, taken days after the wedding, marking the beginning of a visual legacy.
The earliest known photograph of a wedding couple dates back to 1840 and features Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This image is believed to be a daguerreotype taken after their wedding, not during. The image holds significance as Queen Victoria wore a white dress, setting a trend that continues to this day.
In the 1850s to 1870s, as photography became more accessible, elite couples began sitting for formal wedding portraits. These portraits were typically taken in photographers' studios after the wedding. The process was slow, requiring subjects to remain still for up to 30 seconds or more. The long exposure times and the style of the time contributed to the serious and formal nature of these early wedding photographs. Smiles were rare, and the images were often printed on fragile and expensive materials like tin, glass, or metal plates.
The wedding portrait served as a status symbol, indicating that a couple could afford this new and luxurious service. By the late 1800s, as camera technology improved, wedding portraits became more common among the emerging middle class. However, the focus remained primarily on the couple, with little to no inclusion of the ceremony, guests, or celebration in the photographs.
The early days of wedding photography were marked by the use of bulky photography equipment, which limited the ability to capture the entire wedding event. Studio photography was prevalent during this period, with photographers working with long exposure times and limited tools. It was not until the late 1860s that more couples started posing in their wedding attire or invited photographers to their wedding venues.
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The earliest known wedding photo is of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Wedding photography has evolved from its origins, which were characterised by quiet, stiff, and rare photographs taken in studios after the wedding. The earliest known wedding photograph dates back to 1840 and features Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This image is believed to be a daguerreotype, a type of photograph that required shorter exposure times and produced clear, finely detailed results.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's wedding took place on February 10, 1840, at the Chapel Royal of St. James's Palace in London. The marriage between Queen Victoria, the young queen of the United Kingdom, and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (later known as the Prince Consort) captivated the nation. Victoria's choice to wear a pure white dress, described as "simple magnificence," set a trend that continues to this day.
The couple's wedding broke with tradition by being a lavish, public ceremony with a large number of guests. Victoria's decision to wear white enhanced her purity and innocence, and it also made her more visible to the thousands of people who gathered to witness the bridal procession. The wedding cake was a massive creation, weighing 300 pounds with a circumference of 9 feet and standing 16 inches high.
The earliest wedding photographs, including that of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, were serious and formal, with no smiles. This was due in part to the long exposure times required for early photography, but also to the style and formality of the time. These early wedding portraits were often printed on fragile and expensive materials like tin, glass, or metal plates, making them a status symbol for elite couples who could afford this new luxury.
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Frequently asked questions
Early wedding photographs were taken in studios, not at the wedding venue.
Early wedding photographs were taken days or weeks after the wedding.
People rarely smiled in early wedding photographs. This was partly due to long exposure times and partly because formality and seriousness were the style of the time.
Wedding photography was a luxury for the wealthy.
One of the earliest known wedding photos is of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in February 1840.
