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'Picture men' were once popular in parks in all major towns.

With their bulky cameras and colourful backdrops, they gave people a chance to capture memories on a visit to any of the public spaces.

But with the increasing use of smartphones, everyone can now claim to be a photographer, and the picture men are no longer in demand.

But Roderick Ellis is not discouraged by this. He has been taking pictures for more than 35 years, and though business might be slow, he has no intention of slowing down.

"Taking photos is a joy. I love it. I create the image in my mind before I snap it. I don't even know how to explain the love for it," he said.

Ellis told THE STAR that he started taking photos when he was in high school, after he became an apprentice to a photographer in Half-Way Tree, who later recognised his talent.

"After mi come from school, mi would just go Half-Way Tree, sit down wid him, and watch him tek him picture. When mi tek di picture enuh, him put up fi mi picture, and put up fi him picture, and then him seh, 'wah, look like you can tek picture betta than mi'," he said.

Ellis said that unlike his mentor, he took his photographs outside of the parks.

"I used to go all about, like down waterfront, up Constant Spring Road, in Hope Gardens, and Devon House. In the shopping centres, mi would go and seh 'picture man passing through' and people would come and take pictures," he said.

And with a price range of between $100 and $300 for a photo, Ellis said it was a very profitable business for him.

"I build a two-room house with kitchen and bathroom, and the same picture taking build mi house and pay mi lease, and school my two daughters," he said.

He added that he also did weddings, parties and funerals, charging between $20,000 and $40,000. But now, Ellis can only reminisce on those days.

"Before the phone thing come in, you really make money dem time deh. Dem time deh as yuh put out you printa yuh see people dem pass, and mi would haffi tell dem fi line up, and gwaan snap. But nowadays, yuh nuh really see nobody come," he said.

So now, he said he has to be more strategic with this business.

"I go places where people just put away their phone, and they take their picture. Is about where you is, and the place and the time when you come," he said.

He has had to raise his prices to between $300 and $500 for a picture.

But since his service has now become a novelty, he's hoping that will work in his favour.

"I don't think this will die out yet, because people will want a picture with their girlfriend, the lady that they just met. Sometime a bus come up from country, and everybody in the bus want a picture," he said.