Character Commentary:
An ad for a Kodak camera I found in this morning’s paper, I thought it would be good to remember in case I should decide to buy this camera in the future to advance the business and make us stand out in comparison to the other shops owned by men. I think it would be good to have a variety of cameras available if I really want our photography shop to be successful, as I always have to be on top of my game due to the lack of females in this field of business.
Usually, I do not and would not mind the different treatment, but sometimes I can’t help but feel frustrated in the expectations people place on our business due to the fact that we are women, for one why should my prices be lower than that of a male photographer? It simply makes no sense, and I for one will not adjust my prices according to those desires and expectations.
Regardless I think it would be beneficial to invest in these cameras and make a small profit at the same time. Since it is easy to use I could buy a couple and rent them out for around 10 shillings, that way people would be able to use the cameras at their own discretion, in addition to being able to rent them from us for a cheaper price than purchasing the camera itself. Additionally, it could serve to assist us when we are too busy to personally go take photos. I should ask Lucy about it, maybe she’ll have a good idea of whether or not it would be a good investment?
Does the camera result in a different feel in the picture? How is the quality of the images? (Things I should consider and research before I go ahead with purchasing it and even consider asking Lucy about it.)
If Lucy says yes I could start by purchasing one camera and seeing if people would rent it out. If that works out well I could gradually invest in more cameras, only using the profit from the Kodak camera to purchase the new cameras, that way I wouldn’t be harming our savings in case it is not successful.
Editor Commentary:
Gertrude’s analysis of how the Kodak camera could be beneficial to how it could be harmful to her sister’s business and the initiation demonstrated in her thinking of ways to utilize this invention exhibits her intelligence and suggest to us how she is usually taking charge and is very clever and forward-thinking for a woman of her period. In addition to exhibiting to the audience her dedication to her family and job, this demonstrates to us how she is very much a modern woman, a woman that is independent, strong, driven, and confident. A businesswoman through and through. Her choice in choosing a camera ad shows us her dedication to her family, and how she is constantly thinking of how to improve her business and how to ensure their store is successful.
In order to maintain business, Gertrude and her sisters must work harder than men in order to get the credit they deserve, because as females in a time where women were expected to be kind and gentle housewives the idea of a woman owning a business was uncommon. In this type of atmosphere, one must always be thinking ahead and working hard. Gertrude tells us how she will not bend to the social norms and decrease her prices just because she is a female, illustrating how she is indeed a strong woman with a sense of independence. Additionally, she notes that she noticed the ad while reading that morning’s paper, this suggests to us that Gertrude is constantly thinking of ways to improve her business, either by making it stand out or be of higher quality.
Citation:
Mike, Mike. “A Brief History of Photography: Part 6 – KODAK & The Birth of Film.” Not Quite in Focus, 25 Nov. 2014, notquiteinfocus.com/2014/04/23/a-brief-history-of-photography-part-6-kodak-the-birth-of-film/.