Chinese languages

As far recording/ knowing the “etymologically correct” pronunciation is concerned, I still would like to do that if possible. I appreciate that language just evolves, differently in different places, and that it’s all valid. But in some cases, aren’t some pronunciations more “original (or whatever)”

Modern Standard Chinese is very similar in grammar and usage to Modern Mandarin, but there are very important differences. You can write Modern Mandarin exactly as it is spoken, but it is not what you would call literary language.

I think you're trying to say 照相 (zhao4xiang1) which means "to take a photograph". Guangzhou speakers are in fact more traditional speakers of Cantonese, so it's not surprising to find that your aunt used a more formal word/phrase as opposed to "影想"