Photographs can help boost your child’s self esteem, simply by having printed pictures
of your child/family in the home.
Being able to see photographs of themselves with their family gives them a wonderful feeling of unity and belonging. It validates the love that they are already feeling. There is a wonderful article about the benefits of family photographs in the home that you can read here. The tactile nature of printed products helps them feel even more connected. Please print your photos.
Photographs are a ticket to a moment otherwise gone.
When you are in the thick of parenting, it feels like the current stage is going to last forever. You think the big moments are so important that of course you will remember…except you won’t. All of a sudden, your baby is now an active toddler and you can’t even remember what it was like to have a baby in the house. Now fast forward another 10 or 20 years and all of those moments are much fuzzier. Photographs freeze those moments and make those fuzzy moments clear again. I love lifestyle photography so much because it captures the family’s personality, relationships, and life’s every day details. As time passes, it will be those little details that are the hardest to recall. Documenting your everyday allows you to revisit those moments whenever you want.
Photographs connect generations.
Sometimes feeling a sense of place in this world has something to do with the ancestors that came before you. In my living room, we have a series of frames with professional photos of my husband’s extended family from almost 100 years ago. These type of images allow us to connect with our family history and give us a deeper sense of self. Thankfully the images were printed with archival quality so they have have held up beautifully over the years. Your investment in custom photography now is actually an investment in your legacy. Unfortunately, so many pictures today are taken with their smart phone. For those that are the photographers for the family, they typically don’t make it into the shot unless it is a selfie. Just think of you how you would like those memories to be captured.
Photographs only increase in value over time.
Last year, my mom was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Just a few months later, she passed away. It was shocking and gut wrenching. She was in perfect health before the tumor and such a massive part of our lives. My biggest comfort comes from the fact that she was able to meet her grandchildren and that I was obsessive about documenting them together. My daughter was only 3 when she passed so she probably won’t remember knowing her. The photos are the only way to keep their relationship alive for her. They are my biggest treasure and no object can even compete in value. An expensive meal out finishes quickly, technology gets outdated easily, and even cars need to be replaced after awhile. However, photos are forever and become more cherished over time. It is an investment in something that is guaranteed to grow in value. Here are a couple of everyday moments taken on my parent’s porch. I am thankful I had my camera with me in both instances. She was head over heals in love with both of my children and it shows in her radiant smile.
Of course I have my own favorite childhood memories with her.
Finally, a shot of my parents together from our annual family vacation. An image I will cherish and how I will always remember her.
“If you don’t think pictures are important, wait until they are all that you have left.” ~ Anonymous
