We are in the digital age and taking photos of our beloved families is very easy to do, especially since we all carry our phones with us everywhere therefor always have instant access to a camera. It's wonderful, it means we can capture those precious memories and keep them with us forever.
But let's stop and think about this for a moment, when was the last time you printed a photo?
I will put my hand up and say, I haven't printed a photo for a while, my family holiday snaps are still on my hard drive, probably will be for a while until I find a nice photo album to put them in and i'm a photographer, I should know better!
In truth I have thousands of photos of my family stored in my phone, none of them have ever been printed, most probably haven't even been looked at since I took them and when I recently realized this, I felt guilty, I have so many beautiful photos that should be seen that are now just hiding somewhere in the cloud! I probably struggle to actually find them now, something I myself need to look into!
The question remains, why should we print our photo's?
1. Computers, hard drives, usbs, phones die, paper doesn't.
Have you ever had that happen, go to look at your photos and realize they are no longer there, computer or phone breaks meaning all those memories are gone? Yes that has happened to me and the heartbreak I felt at losing all those memories... I don't want to go through that again. Printing your favourite photos, the most precious ones, means should anything happen to the digital versions, they are safe in print.
2. You don't look at them.
How often do you go through your old digital photos? Yeah, not often... that's what I thought. Me neither! I now have a beautiful glass box next to my computer, filled with my favourite photos of our family, which I add to every so often. I sometimes find my children sat with the box on their lap, looking through them... It's beautiful, which lead me onto number 3.
3. Photos around the home boost children's confidence..
Did you know the having photos of your children around the home can actually boost their self confidence? No, I didn't either, but I often find my son standing at the top of the stairs looking at his baby photos and asks me questions, he even asked to take this one to his room, which it remains to this day.
According to Judy Weiser, a psychologist, art therapist and author based in Vancouver “It lets children learn who they are and where they fit," She believes that photo's are very important to show the family as a unit and their role within the family, she goes on to say “They learn their genealogy and the the uniqueness of their own family and its story. When a child sees a family portrait with them included in the photograph they say to themselves: ‘These people have me as part of what they are, that’s why I belong here. This is where I come from.” Now if that isn't a reason to get printing, I don't know what is!
4. They make great room decor!
We all love beautiful homes and photographs of our happy family makes it even more so. So blow up those favourite photos, frame them and line your walls with memories that you will cherish forever in your own personal art gallery.
5. Prints have an actual presence.
Digital images are great, instantly shareable with all your friends and family, but there is nothing quite like a photograph in your hands, its almost like it breaths life into your pictures. It's hard to ignore a picture when its printed and framed on your desk or on your walls, seeing the smiles of your loved one is a visual reminder of the one specific memory that is heartwarming and inspiring.
I hope I have inspired you to start printing your favourite memories of you family and stop them living on a hard drive where they are hardly ever viewed again. Go on, line your walls, they deserve to be seen.
Oh So Peachy Photography
Plymouth, Devon.
More about the Author.
Cheryl Peach is a family photographer based in Plymouth, Devon who specializes in maternity, newborn and family lifestyle photography, creating natural photographs that show the emotions and uniqueness of every family. Oh So Peachy Photography was
created in 2016 when Cheryl found her passion for photography whilst photographing her own children and wanted to create memories for other to cherish for years to come. To book a session, please get in touch.