Hamilton Studios always knows when a visitor arrives. Tiny bells hang at the entrance — replacing the glass doors at most modern photo studios. So, the wind often plays pranks. And when we arrive, an attendant stands in the parlour, even before we can fully grasp the space's majestic old-world charm.

The chiming of the bells fade slowly as proprietor Ajita Madhavji arrives, and we draw a wooden chair — which is perhaps lighter than over six lakh negatives the space houses. Launched in 1928, it's the oldest studio in Mumbai. And in less than 10 minutes, she explains the crux of the studio's philosophy — an emphasis on quality and absolute transparency — which has led her to the British Library (BL).