The Importance of Preserving Memories Through Photography

To quote Ferris Bueller, “life happens pretty fast.” The fictional character might have encouraged his audience to stop and look around every now and then. But, he didn’t mention in the movie that taking a picture can freeze a moment in time, slowing life down for a split second so you can go back and relive it later.

Preserving memories through photography allows you to look back on your life and recall its most special moments. It’s easy to think you’ll never forget things, but memories have a way of deteriorating over time. Photographs can make things clearer, especially when it comes to small, simple moments that you may have otherwise forgotten.

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to start taking more pictures. Most people have great-quality cameras in their pockets or by their sides nowadays, thanks to advancements in smartphone technology. That makes it easy to take a photo at a moment’s notice and permanently capture a memorable moment.

But, why is it so important, and how can you make sure you’re capturing the right things?

Why Your Memories Should Be Preserved

When you consider why photography is important, think about how preserving memories can be meaningful in your future. Some of the obvious reasons preserving memories through photography are so important include:

• It will connect you with younger generations
• It can provide a “history lesson”
• Your culture will carry on
• It’s a wonderful way to remember loved ones who have passed on

When a big moment in your life occurs, it’s normal to want to remember every detail. Unfortunately, the mind doesn’t often work that way. Details will start to get fuzzy. Or, random little moments will be completely forgotten, even on your most important days. Photographs help to fill in those gaps for years, so stories can get passed down, and you can enjoy reliving them.

While candid photos are great for sparking stories, getting professional photos taken is also a great idea for showcasing your family history. If you’re thinking about getting family photos done, consider things like a meaningful location, a color palette for everyone’s outfits, and props that your kids will enjoy. Family portraits are wonderful to have around your home, but saving them for your kids, grandkids, and their grandkids turns them into timeless treasures that will allow them to deep-dive into their personal history.

Where Should You Be Taking Photos?

Major life events feel natural for photos. After all, what’s a wedding without a photographer? Many people choose to hire photographers for pregnancy shoots and when they have a baby, or for their teens graduating from high school. Those are all important, and there are certain instances where it pays to have a professional.

But, you might find that the best photographs come from small, everyday moments. Are your kids helping with dinner tonight? Snap a few photos while they’re cooking (or even making a mess – trust us, you’ll laugh about it later). Is your family going outside after the first snow of the season? Make sure to take some pictures of them sledding or building a snowman.

Even simple events like a romantic date night with your partner should be something you remember forever. Did they set up an indoor theater in your house for movie night? Are you having a homemade pizza night together? Or, maybe you’re setting up a tent in the living room for an indoor camping adventure. Whatever the case, capture those little, sweet moments. Doing so will help you to remember the details, and who doesn’t love to hear a good love story that happened years ago?

There are no rules as to where or when you should be snapping photos. From small moments to big events, a good rule of thumb is to always keep a camera (or your phone) with you. When something happens that you know you’ll want to remember, don’t hesitate to freeze time with a quick picture.

Sharing Your Snaps for Generations to Come

Technology making it easier to take great photos is only one benefit. It’s also made it easier than ever to store and share photos. There’s something to be said for putting together a physical photo album. There’s even a certain thrill that comes from digging out an old shoebox filled with pictures from the past.

But, if you want to ensure that your photos don’t get damaged and they withstand the test of time, you’ll use technology to your advantage.

Nowadays, cloud storage is the easiest way to store and share photos. You can use apps and programs to back up your pictures, so you never have to worry about losing them. It’s a good idea to do this with any photos you truly care about, even if you have them stored on your phone or another device. If something were to happen to that device, the photos could be lost forever unless they’re backed up.

Some of the best cloud storage services for photos today include:

• Apple iCloud
• Amazon Photos
• Dropbox
• Google Photos
• Microsoft OneDrive

If you’re not sure which one is right for you, consider your needs. Some of them have a subscription fee based on the amount of storage you need. Others have editing features that can be helpful if you want to make your pictures pop.

Preserving your memories through photography is one of the best ways to share the past with the future. It allows you to look back on life’s biggest achievements and the smallest moments all at once while stirring up stories of years gone by. So, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, be sure to start snapping more pictures.

Photo Credit

Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels

Guest Author Bio
Jori Hamilton

Jori Hamilton is a writer and journalist from the Pacific Northwest who covers social justice issues, healthcare, and politics. You can follow her work on twitter @HamiltonJori, and through her portfolio at Writer Jori Hamilton.

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