Vibrant photo studios of past now vanishing

BY BABURAM KARKI,Barahakshetra, Aug. 29: Photo studios, once the go-to places for capturing life's most memorable moments, are now witnessing a steady decline in business across Nepal. With the widespread use of digital technology and smartphones, the culture of visiting studios for photography, printing, and album creation is gradually disappearing.

Just a decade ago, photo studios used to be bustling with people, especially during festivals, weddings, and special family events. However, that scenario has changed drastically. According to Chandra Bhattarai, an employee at Hikola Digital Colour Lab in Itahari, the number of studio operators visiting their lab for photo printing has significantly dropped. “Earlier, photographers from various towns and villages of eastern Nepal would visit daily. Now, we only see them once a week,” he said.

At its peak, Hikola Digital Colour Lab printed photos for around 80 studios daily. That number has now shrunk to just 50 per week. Bhattarai attributes this decline to studio owners leaving the business due to unsustainable income levels.

In the past, people used to queue up for studio appointments, ensuring steady earnings for studio owners. But in recent years, high operating costs, particularly steep urban rent, combined with declining demand, have forced many to shut down or switch professions.

Nagendra Rai, operator of Nepson Photo Studio in Prakashpur of Sunsari, shared a similar tale. He said that video services, once in high demand during weddings, religious ceremonies, and cultural functions, have also been hit hard. “With digital technology and smartphones becoming common, people are now used to capturing photos and videos on their phones. The tradition of studio photography is fading fast,” he said.

The custom of printing photos and preserving them in albums is also vanishing with generational change. “Today, everyone has smartphones equipped with high-quality cameras. People no longer feel the need to visit studios,” added Rai.

Ram Yogi, a local from Prakashpur, echoed these sentiments. “There was a time when we captured important moments in photographs and preserved them in albums. The next generation would look at those albums and enjoy them. Now, it’s all about Facebook and online sharing,” he said

Despite growing interest in photography among the youth, particularly with the rise of social media, studio-based photography businesses are struggling. Studio operators believe that revamping traditional business models and modernising services to meet current market demands could help revive the industry.