Originally known as the "Photography Unit," University of Manitoba Audio Visual and Classroom Technology Support was solely responsible for photography and initially 60% of its workload was for the Faculty of Agriculture, including plant, animal, and soil science. Soon, the Photography Unit became responsible for shooting campus-wide events, including public relations, scientific research, and convocations. The Photography Unit was also responsible for a day-to-day workload that consisted of bookings, completing photography jobs, as well as processing the photographs in a darkroom.

The "Photography Unit" became known as "Photography and Graphics," then "Imaging Services," and later "Audio Visual and Classroom Technology Support," which it is currently known as. The changes in the unit names reflects the advances in technology and the conversion to digital technology.

Originally, the Photography Unit reported to the head of the graphics department, and now photography has become an extended branch of the Audio Visual and Classroom Technology Support unit. The work of the Photography Unit had been split up amongst four photographers-- Bob Talbot, Keo Nishizeki, Allan Patterson, and Wayne Foster. It soon became three as Wayne Foster left to shoot at the Bannatyne campus.

Bob Talbot was a photographer at the University of Manitoba from May 1972 to January 2011. Bob Talbot had initially taken the job as summer employment, but he soon moved from office clerk to apprentice photographer, junior photographer, and finally, senior photographer. Within the Photography Unit, Bob Talbot became the head, and reported to the Audio Visual and Classroom Technology Support unit until his retirement in early 2011.