For the first time, Beatties Studio has its own web site.

It is amazing to think that a photographic studio operating for over 130 years has never had a web presence of its own. Of course the early photography was entirely analogue chemical techniques, but digital photography has been around since 1975. Given the penchant for new techniques and technology, it seems odd that Beatties Studio never used digital cameras. But I think the answer lies in the lesser quality of the early digital techniques. AA (Bill) Stephenson and his son William did not "go digital" because the quality was not available. Only after the studio ceased portraiture photography (1993) did the quality of digital measure up to the film they preferred.

So the purpose of this web site is to present for the first time, the Beatties Studio collection in a digital form that matches the traditional chemical process of the past.

At this time (January 2014) the web site is just starting to take shape. The collection will come online on 23-Feb-2014, the first anniversary of the passing of AA Stephenson.

It's a big project. Feel free to come along as it takes shape.

Happy New Year!

John Stephenson