WordPress website for Portrait Detective – Visual History Research Tool

Visit Portrait Detective

Portrait Detective is a free educational resource helping users identify and date historical photographs. Built for researchers, educators, and history enthusiasts, the site combines high-resolution photography with visual cues, timelines, and downloadable references to support learning and archival discovery.

• Platform: WordPress
• Theme: Custom layout built on Divi by Elegant Themes
• Plugins: Envira Gallery (for zoom-enabled, high-resolution image display), WP-Optimize, Yoast SEO
• Interactive image galleries with zoom-in functionality to inspect fashion, poses, and studio styles
• Custom timeline interface that guides users through the evolution of portrait photography, from 1860s to 1930s
• Printable reference pages available for offline use by students, archivists, and libraries
• Designed for clarity and educational accessibility, across desktop and tablet

A well-organised and richly visual tool that empowers users to become their own “portrait detective” — helping identify photographic details by era, with a focus on Australian photographic history. The site supports learning, community research, and formal study through a uniquely engaging and interactive format.