The Wedding Photography Collection of Stephen Bulger and Catherine Lash

Thoughtfully assembled over the course of more than 20 years by married couple Stephen Bulger and Catherine Lash, this collection of approximately 700 photographic objects is an extraordinary resource for understanding the development of one of photography’s most important genres. Created by commercial studio photographers, photojournalists, artists, and amateur users, the photographs range from posed studio portraits to candid or photojournalistic images of ceremonies and receptions. Unique objects such as personal albums, elaborately framed portraits, hand-painted photographs, and photo buttons demonstrate the diverse ways that wedding photographs have historically been preserved and cherished. The collection includes a broad array of photographic techniques and processes, from 19th century daguerreotypes and tintypes to recent digital inkjet prints. Intended as an illustrated social history of wedding customs from around the world, the collection represents the evolution of marriage customs over time, including changes in fashion as well as prevailing trends in ceremonial practice.