'picture-taking' originates from the combination of 'picture' and 'taking', where 'picture' meant 'a visual representation' and 'taking' referred to 'the act of capturing'.

'picture' changed from the Latin word 'pictura' and 'taking' from the Old English 'tacan', eventually forming the modern English term 'picture-taking'.

Initially, it meant 'capturing visual representations', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.