40 Interesting Historical Photos You Wouldn’t Find In History Textbooks

Award-winning photographer and owner of Belle Privé, Emma Finch, has a deep love for vintage photography, particularly for everything that has to do with glamour, femininity, and elegance of the 40s and 50s, the Golden Age of Hollywood, Film Noir, and the Roaring 20s. 

“I have always been captivated by the glamour, the elegance, and the femininity of the Golden Age of Hollywood. I love the rich colours and the dramatic lighting,” she tells Bored Panda. 

Meanwhile, for award-winning analog film and darkroom educator and owner of Little Vintage Photography, Rachel Brewster, creating her vintage photography business was a way of dealing with the loss of her mom. 

“It was also a way of reconnecting with a tactile, physical process when I was feeling overwhelmed with the pace of the digital world. I felt that if this alternative way of creating images and telling a story was important to me, there would probably be other people who would benefit from it too, so I began running workshops and courses, teaching people how to shoot with film, process by hand and print in the darkroom,” she shared with us.

More and more people (including myself) are returning to vintage photography and are trying to emulate it by taking photos on film or using digital technology. One reason this is happening is because people love nostalgia and want to revisit a 'simpler’ offline world, says Brewster.

Other motivations she mentions include an interest in the imperfect aesthetic film offers and the influencer celebrity culture, which uses point-and-shoot cameras to create content that stands out from the crowd. 

She also believes that people come back to vintage photography for their own mental health and well-being. “The delayed gratification of 'slow-tech', hands-on experience is so different from what is created in a screen-based digital world.

Whereas Finch says that her clients are drawn to the timeless elegance of vintage photography. “They want images that stand out in this modern age. The women that I photograph want a break from their daily lives to look the most glamorous they ever have. The 40s and 50s in particular created a style that never goes out of fashion. Many of my clients dress in a vintage way on a daily basis.”

“TV and film also play a part—highly styled hair, makeup, and outfits can be aspirational to many women,” she adds. “I think another element is lighting—dramatic lighting that can be created in the studio, which is very authentic, is not something you can do at home with your phone, which makes vintage photography perhaps more in demand.”

So if you got inspired to dabble in vintage photography, Brewster recommends investing in a good-quality workshop where you can clarify anything by asking questions. “It will save you so much money and time in the long run (less ruined rolls of film and expensive processing mistakes) as well as being a lot more satisfying as an experience. Learn how to process your own film so that you are able to save money on processing costs and be fully in control of your creative vision and decisions,” she says.

She additionally advises not to overthink what you’re doing. “Grab a good-value camera (either a cheap point & shoot or an SLR from a reputable dealer with a warranty) and a few good-value rolls of black and white film (something like a Kentmere 400 or ILFORD HP5+) and experiment. These are really forgiving films, so you will still likely get some images, even if you make a few mistakes whilst you're learning.”

She also suggests, “Take loads of notes and be methodical so you can figure out what works, develop a unique style and see your photography progress! This will also save you so much money and time on wasted film and paper.”

Lastly, Finch urges not to forget the importance of styling and lighting. “To create vintage-style images, it starts with the styling. Working with a hair and makeup artist who truly understands vintage styling is essential. Lighting is also critical - understanding how to shape light and combine hard and soft lighting will really elevate your images. Posing is also very important - it should be elegant, classic and above all, flattering. It’s important to pay attention to hand positioning in particular.”