Family portraits are a fixture in most living rooms. They document and preserve fond memories of the past. Whether these nostalgia-inspiring images come in black-and-white or colour, family photographs capture meaningful occasions and happy times.
Taking that family shot will never go out of fashion, but how we pose for the photos have evolved. In the old days when the only people who own cameras were the wealthy, family portraits were taken in studios. Everyone dressed up, and stood or sat according to the photographer’s instructions. The parents would sit in the centre, with perhaps a baby on the lap, and the rest of the children would surround them in order of their age.
Families would usually get these formal photos taken to mark special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, or graduations. The latter is easily identified by the graduate dressed in his robe and mortar board. The backdrops in these studios changed through the years; from snow-capped mountains to the wallpaper of a library of books.
It doesn’t matter how stiff everyone looked or how dated the hairstyle and clothes are. These family photographs are always beautifully framed and always occupy pride of place in homes.
These days, owning a camera is common and most people have mobile telephones with built-in cameras. Taking photographs and posing for shots are everyday occurences, and the old formal poses are as retro as cassettes.
People still love their family portraits, but they now want to capture their moments candidly and creatively.
Candid shots
Safety engineer Mohammed Assad Peer Mohamed, 34, and wife Dr Jaseema Begum Nazir Khan, 33, welcomed the arrival of their firstborn, Ariez Syanawar, in 2009. A year later, the proud parents decided to have their family portraits taken, using the services of independent photographer Asha Carlos.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
