SUMMARY
The concept of affordable portrait photography for ordinary families evolved from early itinerant photographers selling "penny pictures" to large studio chains. Companies like Olan Mills built empires by making sittings inexpensive and accessible, later leveraging telemarketing and club plans to drive business. established a dominant presence by operating Sears Portrait Studios and PictureMe studios within Walmart. This era of mass-produced, standardized portraiture, characterized by specific backdrops and poses, came to an abrupt end on April 3, 2013, when CPI Corp. closed over 2,000 studios nationwide.
TAKEAWAYS
Early "penny pictures" made portrait photography accessible to the masses.
Olan Mills pioneered a portrait empire through low-cost sittings and telemarketing.
CPI Corp. operated the ubiquitous Sears Portrait Studios and PictureMe locations.
Over 2,000 mall portrait studios closed suddenly in 2013.