Commercial Street photography
16 February 2020
Many people have photographs taken by commercial street photographers in their collections. Sometimes they are the most candid and personal of photographs: taken unprepared, people were seen relaxed, rather than posed as so often they are.
Street photographers were a common sight from the 1930s through to the late 1950s in many cities. Because they were taken by professional photographers, the photos were sharp, well lit and well composed.
They would take candid photographs of people, leaving a card with a reference number. Customers would call the studio, quote the reference number and order prints.
Further reading: Popular nuisance: controlling street photographers (Museums of History NSW).