Twosday: The Evolution of Picture Taking — From “Hold Still!” to HD Magic

Picture taking used to be a full production. Not a quick snap, not a casual “come let me take you.” No. It was a mission planned days ahead. And at the center of it all was the photographer, the director, editor, hype man and judge of posture.

In the 90s, photographers were a whole personality. They wore those big multicoloured shirts, camera hanging proudly on the neck like a medal. Their famous line? “Shift smal, shift back, don’t breathe!” They held those heavy analog cameras like they owned the entire memory industry. One click and you either looked like royalty or a confused child and you wouldn’t know which until the picture was developed.

Today’s photographers? Clean aesthetics. Neutral outfits. Cross-body gear bags. They speak softly, encourage poses and edit gently. They don’t shout “DON’T MOVE!” They simply say, “Relax your shoulders, perfect.” The aura has changed from “discipline” to “soft professionalism.”

And the studios? The 90s studio was an experience. A small room with big energy. Backdrops that looked like heaven, palace, garden, or rainbow. Powder smell in the air. A standing fan blowing only one direction. And plastic flowers that had witnessed 15 years of memories.

Now? Studios look like art galleries. White walls, LED lights, curated sets, mood boards, clean floors, themed corners. Your picture is designed to come out looking like magazine cover material even if you just walked in from work.

Props have evolved too. Back then: plastic flowers, tall gold pillars, cane chairs, toy phones, teddy bear, and sometimes even a random clock for style. Today: minimal props. Wooden boxes, aesthetic chairs, plants that are actually alive, mirrors, textured fabrics and intentional styling. No random objects. Everything has a mood and meaning.

Picture quality? Two different worlds. The 90s gave us rawness, no filters, no retouching. If your shoe was dusty, the camera told the truth. If your shirt wasn’t ironed, it showed it with pride. Those photos aged with us, carrying their grainy, golden memories like treasure.

Now’s quality? Crisp, clear, clean. Skin glowing, lighting balanced, colours warm, edges sharp. You can zoom in and still see every detail. Photographers today work with precision and edit with intention.

And the cameras… The old analog cameras were heavy soldiers. Film inside, manual loading, manual focusing, manual everything. If the photographer shook, the picture was gone. If the film spoiled, everybody cried.

Now? DSLRs and mirrorless cameras that can capture running water, moving kids, night shots, indoor shots, everything. And memory cards that hold thousands of pictures without fear.

But still, both eras share one truth, pictures are magic. Then and now, photographers help us freeze the moments we don’t want to lose.

This Twosday, we’re celebrating the journey from retro studios with stubborn backdrops to modern spaces with intentional lighting.
From “hold your breath!” to “tilt your chin slightly.” From heavy cameras to high-tech masterpieces.

Which era has your favourite memories, the grainy charm of the old days or the clean finesse of today?