The lights, camera… are missing? The slow decline of India’s OG photography studio

Seedhe baitho! Lift your chin and look a little to the left…perfect!Remember those classic studio photos you grew up with? Dark velvet curtains, plastic vases or carved chairs tucked to the side cast a soft glow on every face. Maybe it’s a passport photo, a neatly dressed family photo, or that slightly stiff school picture, but you’ve definitely seen at least one of these in an old photo album, tucked away with your papers, or framed on your living room wall.But the days of that “OG” image are now over. Neighborhood photo studios once filled with people chasing the perfect frame are now struggling to make ends meet. Curious trips to the nearby “Suresh Photography Studio” have quietly been replaced by the hunt for the perfect filter.It all starts with the camera moving out of the studio and into everyday homes. Although photography has existed in India since the 1840s, it was only in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when digital cameras began to replace film, that photography truly became popular at the household level.Prior to this, most households relied on film cameras of the following brands Kodak and Agfa, or visit a local studio to take important photos, since film stock is limited and development costs money.

Gradual transformation

This shift came with the advent of affordable digital cameras from companies like Sony, Canon, and Nikon, which made photography instant and unrestricted. By the 2010s, smartphones from Samsung and Apple made it ubiquitous, turning photography into a daily habit rather than a planned activity, making those old studio portraits feel even more special in hindsight.

Ironically, even photography giants like Kodak, which invented the digital camera through Steve Sasson in 1975, failed to benefit from this shift and eventually went out of business. It made weak strategic and leadership choices by sticking to its traditional business despite knowing that digital technology would replace film. As it tried to adapt, competitors had taken over, making Kodak a prime example of missing out on the revolution it helped create.But Kodak isn’t the only company taking a hit. The influence was felt just as keenly in the neighborhood photo studios that once thrived at the center of it all.

From long lines to silence

The small shops where people waited patiently for a good photo were now in eerie silence. Over time, the need to capture everything begins to disappear, and what was once an occasion becomes a habit. Now, studios want to know where they stand.For many photographers, this change is hard to ignore. Navneet Kumar Sharma, a first-generation photographer with 35 years of experience, recalls how different things were in the 1990s. “When I first entered the industry, I would work 16 to 20 hours a day and even then, the work never seemed to end. There was always something pending,” he told TOI. “Back then, the studio was almost always packed and there was hardly a moment to stop.”Today, the craze has all but disappeared. The Jaipur-based photographer says the rise of smartphones and ease of use of cameras has had a noticeable impact on his business, with bookings almost drying up. “We barely have any appointments now, even during the festival season when we used to be packed,” he said. “Occasions like Gangaur, Diwali and even birthdays, which used to be a steady source of income two decades ago, have almost disappeared. Now customers only come for passport-size photos.”

Middle-aged photographer Luo Mi also expressed the same situation. “We used to think photography was a safe profession because people always wanted their pictures to be clicked and that’s where the memory is,” he said. “But the shift was both sudden and gradual. Smartphones were basically the artificial intelligence of that era, taking jobs everywhere.”For some, adapting isn’t enough. Geha, another photographer, said the shift took him away from his family’s studio and into a completely different job. “I still work with cameras because growing up, that’s all I knew. I saw my dad do it and it became my world. I’ve always been obsessed with this career.”“I never really thought about studying anything else,” he added.

Then vs now – what does a day in your life look like?

From busy studio to quiet waiting room“All in all, every day is a struggle now,” says Sharma, who reflects on how much his working life has changed over the years. “Every day is pretty much the same – open the door in the morning and sit and wait for customers to walk in,” he added.He explained how the nature of customers has changed. “The foot traffic has reduced and most people come just to take passport-size photos. The whole job was done in five minutes,” he said.When taking photos becomes a five-minute jobRecalling the earlier days, Sharma spoke of a very different atmosphere in the studio. “Before, people would come in and do a proper photo shoot. They would pose, we would adjust the lights, fix the curtains, change props here and there, and it would feel like a complete set. There was always a buzz in the studio,” he said. “Right now, it’s just a matter of hoping for a new order, a birthday, a wedding, a corporate event, anything that will lead to work.”

Digital disruption and other challengesSharma also pointed out how the entire industry is transforming with technology. “Early photography and today’s photography are like day and night, there is a big difference,” he said. “Back then, there were standard rates and standard ways of working. But now, with digitization, there are no reel costs, no tape fees, everything is smart and digital, stored on the card. Because of this, it’s difficult for photographers to stick to a fixed rate. One person does a job for 1,000 rupees, another does the same work for 500 rupees, and some even do it for just 700 rupees. “Even for those already working in the field, the transition won’t be easy, he added. “When technology changes and new systems emerge, we older photographers also have to adapt. The younger generation joins later. Earlier, people learned their jobs directly on the job. Now, some universities even offer photography degrees where students can study photography formally,” he said.ALSO READ | “If you’re not close enough, your photo isn’t good enough”: Remembering Raghu Rai“Now that’s pretty typical,” Romy said with resignation. “When I first got into this, days felt like moments because so much was happening. Now, it’s a lot slower. The wait feels longer than the work itself.”Sharma also highlighted how the entire medium has shifted away from studios. “Early photography was done on cellulose tape and video was recorded on VHS tape, but now everything has gone digital,” he said. “Most of the work that still exists has moved beyond the studio and is done outdoors, on location.”He also talked about how smartphones have changed customer expectations. “Customers often tell us that their smartphones take better photos than ours, and they even question our pricing,” he added.

A career in transitionGedahl also reflects on how studio life has all but disappeared. “Every day of my life is never the same again,” he said. Like many in the industry, he eventually had to change careers as business declined. “I have a job now. When I realized my income was declining rapidly, I joined a local news channel as a videographer. It was different, but I still had what I knew best, which was camera skills. Thankfully, I could still work with a camera.”

glimmer of hope

All is not lost for these photographers and they are slowly adapting to the changing times, although the transition is not easy.Sharma reflects on how this shift is inevitable, but also something the older generation has learned to accept. “Yes, when technology changes and new tools emerge, we are the first to adapt.” Still, the struggle for stable employment continues. For Sharma, outdoor activities are now the main source of livelihood. “No weddings and events, barely any work… most days feel empty,” he admits quietly. Wedding season brings a brief sense of relaxation, he said. “Haldi, mehendi, pre-wedding shoots, that keeps things going for a while. But once the season ends, everything goes silent again. Then it’s just waiting…waiting for the next big moment,” he adds, capturing the chronic uncertainty that now defines his working life.Romy, who has been working on regional film projects, said this has now become a major source of income. “It’s not just studio photography anymore. Now the work comes from different places, sometimes it’s a film shoot, sometimes it’s an event. You have to keep working or you get left behind,” he said.Gothar still sometimes works in outdoor photography. “Studio work is down a lot, but outdoor shoots are still happening, providing a little extra income,” he said.

bottom line

Ultimately, the decline of neighborhood photo studios reflects a larger shift in the way society creates and consumes memory. What was once a skilled, time-consuming craft built around patience, composition, and personal interaction has been replaced by instant, self-driven photography on your smartphone.For many studio photographers, this change means reduced income, irregular work schedules, and constant pressure to adapt or exit the industry entirely. Yet even as business declines, their role in shaping visual memory remains important, capturing moments that once required care and effort. Sharma said some form of government support, such as minimum wage protection or skills-based aid, could help stabilize incomes and give the industry a fair chance to survive amid rapid technological change.These studios now exist on the fringes, no longer the go-to, but still a quiet reminder of the weight, preparation, and timelessness that each photograph carries.