I have this passion about printing photos. Increasingly I have come to notice that in this digital age hardly anyone is printing their pictures anymore. It frustrates me people, because these digital forms will die one day and you will loose everything! Panic stations! Okay, maybe mass-hysteria is not called for, but what is the point of taking photos if you don’t show them?
I read something recently that said having pictures of your children and family together displayed around the house gives them confidence, a feeling of love and togetherness, and helps them to feel like part of the family unit. But how do your children feel when they walk past that drawer where that USB is sitting with dust on it from your last photography session, or last holiday? You’re not sending them any messages. It's important not only to be photographed with respect, love, and care, but also to see those images and take them in. Allow those images to take you back, to smile, to cringe, or laugh – let your photos do what they were designed to do…please.
So, I thought I’d put together a few little ideas you can do to fix this problem.
1. Plan a day together with your children to go through all those pictures on your iPhone or computer and pick out your favourite photos and head straight down to your local printer and have them put together your child’s very own scrapbook. You could buy any kind of journal, Spotlight has many ways to display pictures, or you could find an online photo album company. I print out a photo album each year for each of my children. It starts from their birthday and ends the day before their next birthday. My daughter in particular often chooses one of her albums as her bedtime story. She picks it up, gives it a little squeeze with this big grin and prances off to her room. We go through each page and talk about the picture and reminisce about that moment. She just glows.
2. Let your child choose a picture and display it next to their bed. These positive images are likely to be the last thing they see before they go to sleep and the first thing they see when they wake up.
3. Get a fun Polaroid camera and let them do a 52 Week Project were they take a photo a week. Or you take a photo of them each week of something that you're grateful for, something they have accomplished and you are proud of. Your little ones are precious and their creativity needs to be nurtured. They are growing, thriving, and changing little people who deserve to be celebrated. My daughter wanted a camera so badly, for so long in the end I bought her a Polaroid and she loves it! It gives her instant gratification and this year we are doing a 52 Week Project together. She displays her pictures on a thin rope along her wall in her room and in little albums. This film can be expensive, but you can buy a pack of 100 online for around $80. If you have 2 children doing a 52 Week Project, 100 Polaroids get you a whole year. Or you could do the project yourself and make a fun board. Or why not try a 365/6 Day Project (a photo a day for one year). If you’re the type of person who just won’t get around to printing things off, or have the time to put an album together this is perfect and instant.
4. If you don't think you have the time to do this yourself, hire a professional – like me! Family documentary photography is all about family and connection. What are the things you love doing as a family that you want to capture and cherish forever? Time goes by way too fast, and before you know it too many precious moments have passed. All my sessions come with a photo album. So I do all the hard work, while you guys get to have fun. Maybe you want a beautiful piece of artwork on your wall? There are some amazing photographers out there who make turning your life into art their job – Like myself, for instance. I’m really good at that also.
5. Can’t afford a photographer? Spend an afternoon at the park or just doing the things you love and snap away, take turns taking the pictures. Ask the children questions like what are their favourite things, and document them with their favourite things. Go out straight away and get them printed, the longer you put off printing your photos the more likely it is that it won’t get done.
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