The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06
WOMEN AS PHOTOGRAPHERS.
An Unnccupled Field for Women Of Good
Taste and Desire for Independence.

Several mon and women were talking about
woman's work and the possibilities Of her
success in the professions. when man who
had evidently given some thought to the sub
ject took the floor and made the following re-
marks. which may be- helpfully suggestive to
capable women who have not yet entered
upon their appropriate careers.
NO finer opportunity for professional sue
cess is presented TO women, especially to
young women" he said. than may be found
in the practically unoccupied field Of pho
Biography. This Is at once an art. a profess
sion and business. and young women who
might hesitate at law or medicine or would
decline to sell groceries or real estate. or
would be unequal to a career in art as the
term is generally understood. can find in pho
Biography a combination which answers all
their require ments and removes all doubt as
to the propriety of women in the professions.
Possibly in the largest cities the oppor-
tunity is less than in smaller communities
because in these cities higher standards are
demanded more money is required and COM
petition is greater. But in the lesser cities
and in the towns tho field is almost entirely
unoccupied by women, particularly In the
towns Of from 10000 population down.
know personally Of dozens OF the smaller
towns In which there are no woman pho
tographers. and in fact cannot now recall one
in which there is a woman photographer. I
know OF one town Of 1000 people where three
years go there were two photographers, both
men, and their galleries were Of the kind
usually found in such towns. There were
several capa BILE women in the town who had
asked suggestions from me as to what they
might do for the improvement of their mate
rial condition. and suggested to two Of them
that they buy out these galleries and open
tf>h Ha IN bo nd
to themselves. They simply looked at me in
surprise and said they had never heard OF
such thing az woman photographer, and
could not think OF doing such work Within
year an enterprisng man came along.
good one. not anything like such one as the
women could have had. and since that time
has made money right along.
togra pliers have taken posi- tions in the very
forefront Of the profession. but they have not
done there what is possible in the small towns.
same town. Of good social position and ac-
Quaintance, OF good taste and Of artistic
sense. which most women possess by nature;
and iS Of fair BUSINESS ap two
such young women determined TO open a
studio in such a town. having already pre-,
raphers They would select quarters on the
ground foor-the average town photograph
way--n a quiet street near the business CEN
tire with ample accommodations and all the
latest applia noes for their work: reception
books, pictures, DC. for the comfort and
convenience of customers. nice dressing
rooms. and other surroundings as unshoplike
Of the town would resort. and when a plain
woman from the country came in she would
find all about her object lessons that would
ments: and when she wanted her picture
taken she would not be posed in the con-
sciops manner which so generally prevails in
dressed young photographer would chang
her inartistic and unbecomng attire into
something more attractive.this ribbon and
pr or gH" arran ran her hair Void be gwen
distance from, the lens, her pose before the
even graceful, perhaps and when the photo,
graph came finished to her view. she would
discover charm and delight in herself whose
and children and hers would be a speak
ing likeness. indeed speaking such words Of
that they ae ' Would be Visited BY many others
wishing TO be so transformed. II might not
be a very superior photograph either. Judged
by the M hsh bsts1 +, sns GUY ese
ever before produced in the town that i
would be, comparatively. a more successful
piece OF WOTk imam tnt Guy LOT
d more critical subject. II is in this respect
that the good photographer, without being az
all great photoNapher. can reap material
success in the smaller places " hich are At
present so poorly provided with Photographic
studios that mean anything more than mere
sheds where one may have likeness made,
Pilot ogr ply portraiture IL work that only /,
woman oan do best, becaIs. 1t requires !
4 deftness OF sense with which woman ~ born
md which is as necessary TO SUCCESSFUL Pho
Biography as ~ is In the proper care Of the sick,
u Ia acquired TO some extent BY the highest
class man photographers, but II IL almost
entirely lacking In the usual country pho ,
Oarap her, and n visit 10 a dozen rural cstab- !
ishments made at random. viii fully con- |
vince any one who doubts my statement
Not only in portrait photography may
he young woman Of fair ability and artistic
Intelligence find success, bur as coIollary !
o IL Is the making Of outdoor pictures Of ,
PERSONS and animals, houses ana bts OF
cpneTy which may be converted INTO rndrm-
nv pictures for framing, 10 b" sod ~ gooa
,rIoas not only az home but abroad. R""hIIs"
}. autifnl pbotosrhphs rank, ~ tnrse day7 Of
arr PROGRESS wlth pictures
my places Of honor on the sam" walls WITH
he'll more distinguished competitors
i might 70 into much more fDiRnt" h'talls
support Of my contention ihht }0'IHS
iomeh OF the right kind pre- greatly nerd'd
y the Held ~ photography as sdYchtols u
riIstiDa that SOME zine women VIII discover
bal III advice ~ good md viii try for them
elves what ! snow N valuIs lDi hth' as
very yn"aury WAITS Tor the proper hIlilR f0r
Am our" II | hal daUgl tri sh", shoud
arm photography, and would do hll 'opIb
> hive her pfGctis' II ns hhN" nufgrrtp, no
IHttrr neither sG. mad ~ do II Tor u'hs