Royal Photographic Society

British photography society

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The Royal Photographic Society is a British scientific society founded in 1853 in London. It was initially known as the Photographic Society and is the parent organization of the present-day Royal Photographic Society. The society was formed by professionals and amateurs interested in photography, particularly with the popularity of the collodion process.

The society played a role in promoting photography as an aesthetic medium. Early discussions within the society focused on how photographs could be considered art, with suggestions including slightly blurring the subject and liberal retouching. Some photographers experimented with combining multiple negatives to create composite prints, aiming for artistic expression beyond straightforward photographic capabilities. Journals promoting photography as art also emerged alongside these organizations.

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

history of photography
Early developments
…Society, parent of the present Royal Photographic Society, was formed in London, and in the following year the Société Française de Photographie was founded in Paris. Toward the end of the 19th century, similar societies appeared in German-speaking countries, eastern Europe, and India. Some were designed to promote photography generally,…
Read More
…Society, parent of the present Royal Photographic Society, was formed in London, and in the following year the Société Française de Photographie was founded in Paris. Toward the end of the 19th century, similar societies appeared in German-speaking countries, eastern Europe, and India. Some were designed to promote photography generally,…
Read More