Photos of Box People           Photos Augustus F Perren      February 2025
There were many reasons why Victorians valued photographs and portraits of their family members. As we do today, there was a desire have likenesses of loved ones, to record special occasions, achievements and family. The following portrait photographs taken by Augustus are all courtesy Margaret Wakefield (nee Lambert). We welcome people to help identify their relatives.
Above: Milly Lambert, unknown and unknown
Because the camera exposure time was lengthy, people had difficulty holding smiles, so most photographic portraits tended to be rather serious. Sometimes people appeared rather stiff because they were held in a metal brace hidden behind their neck.
Unknown, unknown and Frances Lambert
Child mortality was a distressing reality and it was not uncommon for dead children to be photographed, known as momento mori. For living children the preferred style was full length, often with a background ornament, giving some indication of their height and age and sometimes an element of respectful fun.
Edward Lambert, unknown and unknown
The carte-de-viste was popular for those visiting friends and acquaintances and also for business purposes - rather like the selfies and business cards of today.
Above: Unknown, William Bradfield and Jack Vezey
Above: Alf Lambert photographed at different stages in his life
Below: Similar photographs of Alfred's brother Thomas Henry Lambert
Augustus was clearly a very skilled photographer with the ability to capture the essence of a person and their character. Most of his work was studio-based with limited or no background to concentrate the image on the sitter. He employed a range of styles for his subjects, typically head and shoulders to give his middle-class subjects an appearance of authority, often with a hint of formal dress coat. Men rarely smiled in his photographs, stressing their importance. ​