Phantom of the Photography Studio

Learn about the art of spirit photography at the historic H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum in Wisconsin Dells.

Spirit photography began in the late 19th century, around the time that the spiritualism movement was gaining traction across Europe and beginning in the United States at the end of the American Civil War. The photographers who practiced it claimed that they could capture images of portrait subjects and their deceased loved ones in a single frame. 

This live demonstration will explain the subject that fascinated 19th century audiences and continues to captivate us today. The H.H. Bennett site staff and director will share techniques and processes from the history of photography and film, while demonstrating some of these historic methods used to “capture spirit activity” on photographic plates to unsuspecting and usually believing subjects during the last half of the 19th century. This demonstration will provide an intimate, in-depth understanding of spirit photography in the late 19th century. Attendees will have the opportunity to pose for and purchase a spirit photograph of their own.