The Little Kodaker Series

Many of George Eastman’s camera advertisements featured children and women as photographers, and because I photographed the images in this series with eight old Kodak cameras, I chose to portray a little girl holding a Brownie to emphasize the concept that Eastman’s cameras were so simple to operate, even a child could do it. 

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George Eastman

In the late 1800s cameras were used only by professional photographers. Photography equipment was expensive, heavy and difficult to use.  George Eastman, founder of the Kodak Company, believed that the process of photography could be simplified.  He figured there were many other people who would also enjoy taking pictures for fun, if only it weren’t so difficult, and so he set about inventing film and cameras that were safe and easy to use. Eastman’s Company offered a developing and printing service, which did away with the rest of the process. It was George Eastman advertising slogan that said it all: “You press the button.  We do the rest.”

George Eastman House :: The Museum :: History of George Eastman House

A display of the eight selected Kodak cameras

used to capture the Kodak Girl

·         1904                   No 2 Brownie Model B (Camera Box)

·         1919                   No 2 Brownie Model E (Camera Box)

·         1924-1933        No 2 Brownie Model F (Camera Box)

·         1930-1933        No 2 Rainbow Hawkeye Model C

·         1934-1941        Baby Brownie

·         1949-1961        Brownie Hawkeye Flash Model

·         1957-1964        Brownie Starflex

·         1960-1963        Brownie Starmite II