Photographic portraiture and commodity culture

"The way in which photographic genres were affected by capitalism is illustrated in Tagg's essay by the demand for photographic portraits in the nineteenth century by the rising middle and lower-middle classes, keen for objects symbolic of high social status. The photographic portraits were affordable in price, yet were reminiscent of aristocratic social ascendancy signified by 'having one's portrait done'. "

Photographic portraiture and commodity culture - page 196 Photography: A Critical Introduction (third edition), Edited by Liz Wells. Published 2004

In the beginning of photography equipment was large, heavy and only affordable to those who were classed as high-class within society. Also because it's was classed as a luxury to be photographed again only high-class and middle-class social groups were photographed. Portraits were seen as a way of keeping a snapshot of time.