will prevent many failures often attributed to other causes.
"A place for every thing, and every thing in its place," should be
an absolute maxim with all artists. Do not oblige the ladies,
on going away from your rooms, to say--"That H. is a slovenly man;
see how my dress is ruined by sitting down in a chair that looked
as if it had just come out of a porter house kitchen and had not
been cleaned for six months."

In choosing your operating room, obtain one with a north-western aspect,
if possible; and either with, or capable of having attached,
a large skylight. Good pictures may be taken without the sky-light,
but not the most pleasing or effective.

A very important point to be observed, is to keep the camera perfectly
free from dust. The operator should be careful to see that the slightest
particle be removed, for the act of inserting the plate-holder will set
it in motion, if left, and cause those little black spots on the plate,
by which an otherwise good picture is spoiled. The camera should be
so placed as to prevent the sun shining into the lenses.

In taking portraits, the conformation of the sitter should be minutely
studied to enable you to place her or him in a position the most
graceful and easy to be obtained. The eyes should be fixed on some
object a little above the camera, and to one side--but never into,
or on the instrument, as some direct; the latter generally gives
a fixed, silly, staring, scowling or painful expression to the face.
Care should also be taken, that the hands and feet, in whatever position,
are not too forward or back ward from the face when that is in good focus

If any large surface of white is present, such as the shirt front,