Thomas Carlyle

1864–1875

Eleven years of photography

Cameron's career as a photographer lasted from 1864 to 1875: in that time she made more than 900 photographs, portraying great Victorians — Darwin, Tennyson, Browning, Longfellow, Herschel, Watts, Trollope, Carlyle and the actress Ellen Terry. The Virgin Mary in her religious scenes was most often played by her housekeeper, Mary Hillier.

1865

Sales through P. & D. Colnaghi

In 1865 Cameron joined the Photographic Society of Scotland and arranged for her prints to be sold through the London dealers P. & D. Colnaghi; demand for them was strong.

1865

The press derides her “out-of-focus portraits”

In 1865 The Photographic Journal wrote of her “series of out-of-focus portraits of celebrities”, crediting her daring originality at the expense of all other photographic qualities. Critics mocked her soft focus and unretouched prints, though The Illustrated London News saw in them a bold and successful application of the principles of fine art to photography.

1865

The South Kensington Museum buys 80 photographs

In August 1865 the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum) bought 80 of her photographs.

November 1865

First solo exhibition

In November 1865 Cameron held her first solo exhibition; her work was shown throughout Europe.

1868

First artist-in-residence of the South Kensington Museum

In 1868 the South Kensington Museum gave her two rooms to use as a portrait studio, making her its first artist-in-residence. By then her prints were being sold by two London agents, P. & D. Colnaghi and William Spooner.