How real is the "social status" shown in photos from the 19th century

[mariotcameron]

Hi,

I have been analysing19th century photos from Scotish family members (Moray, Rose Cromaty); I have the feeling that there is a mismatch between their ocupation as indicated in the databases and the aparent social status at the photos;

I have the feeling that some "photo services" included the dress and haircut;

Can somebody comment on this?

Cheers


Mario

[Steve G]

Mario; I wouldn't know about the photographers providing the clothes etc. But, I would suggest that the typical 'portrait' photo's we see were not exactly just 'throw away' snap shots.

 I have  a photo of my own Grandparents and they're both clearly in their Sunday Best and have scrubbed up for the occasion.

 Added to that is the back drops used by professional photographers of the era. They'd usually have a few very nice bits of furniture and drapes for their subjects to be photographed with. This could quite often add up to a cultured looking subject in a rather refined setting.

 In a word; Illusory!

Could this be what ye driving at?
 

[Lydart]

I'd completely agree !

This is a picture of my grandmother ... high status, wouldn't you say ??     Don't  you believe it ... her father was still an ag. lab, her mother a button maker at the time this was taken !

[Bond1]

May be they were not trying to signify a status in the Photo's.
But simply some self pride and confidence in there future.

2c

[LizzieW]

We always used to dress up at Christmas, Easter and Whit Sunday,to go to the threatre, to have our photos taken (in a studio), etc. but how many people bother to do that now.    As 2c says, I think people had a lot of self pride in the 19th century (and early 20th century) and would certainly have dressed up for photographs.

Lizzie

ps. Lydart -  I love the photo of your granny

[Redroger]

I have posted on this site (Ayres/Brignell wedding 1896) the wedding photo of my maternal grandparents. Front the dresses etc. it could be thought they were quite well to do, in fact my grandfather was an agricultural labourer, and my grandmother a domestic servant.

[Plummiegirl]

Many photographic studios at this time did have a selection of "nice" clothes for the poorer clients to wear.

Often though the sitters would borrow from family & friends for a good turnout for their often annual or jsut special occassion photos.

 

[Redroger]

That's worth knowing, from what my grandmother told me about many people's personal hygene in the late 19th century it is to be hoped that they were thoroughly cleaned between clients.

[LizzieW]

it is to be hoped that they were thoroughly cleaned between clients.

I doubt it, the people didn't realise they were not clean did they.  Even when I was young some people only bathed and washed their hair once a week.  I went to stay with a friend in 1951 when my parents went off to the Festival of Britain.  I'd had a bath just before I went to stay for the night, so when the father asked if I wanted a bath that night, I said no I'd just had one, but I'd have another one the next day when I got up.  His answer was that they only bathed on a Friday night and if I didn't have a bath then, too bad I couldn't have one.  Needless to say I didn't have a bath at their house, I was going home the following day so I knew I'd get another bath at home.