Final answer:
The first popular use for photography in the 19th Century was portraits, leveraging early photographic processes like the Daguerreotype. This made visual documentation widely accessible and began a significant cultural shift in visual representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first popular use for photography in the 19th Century was portraits. With the invention of photographic processes like the Daguerreotype, portrait photography quickly became a sought-after service among the middle classes, who previously could not afford the cost of oil paintings. Entrepreneurs like Nadar opened commercial photographic studios in Europe and America, capitalizing on this demand. The availability of the Daguerreotype made portrait photography the most popular and affordable method for the general public.
Early photographers were artistic pioneers, creatively blending art with new technology. The limitations of early photographic equipment did not deter these photographers from producing images that captivated viewers and began a transformation in how people saw and understood the world. This innovation in visual representation was a significant cultural shift, making the visual documentation of individuals and families accessible to a broader segment of society.