The Benefits of Printing Family Pictures

Sense of Belonging + Identity

Did you know that when children view family pictures on a regular basis, especially of themselves, it gives them a stronger sense of identity and belonging? I can attest to this. Growing up, my dad did a good job of curating albums of family pictures and hanging pictures in our home. I always found myself drawn to those images because it was like looking back in time. It felt like I was reliving a moment, some I remembered and some I did not. Either way, those moments defined who I was and who I am today.

Meaningful Decor

I FINALLY printed some of my favorite family pictures I have taken over the years along with some our wedding photos from 2019. I framed these images and now I have sentimental photographs all over my home including the kitchen, living room, dinning room, and bedroom, Let me tell you, these photographs bring me so much more joy than a random piece of art or pretty object. I believe we should fill our homes with things that ACTUALLY mean something to us instead of things we assign meaning to.

Quality Time with Loved Ones

Growing up, my sister and I would randomly pull out our family photo albums. Because there were so many, it took up a good chunk of time to go through them but that was kind of the point. It was a way for us to spend time together, kill some time, and reminisce on the memories we shared together.

Today, my daughter and I frequently pull out our photo albums. She likes looking at pictures she is not in just as much as pictures that she is. I am the same way. I just love looking through old family photographs. It is more meaningful if they are my actual family members or my husband. However, I stand by the fact that the simple act of sharing photographs brings people together. It doesn’t matter if those images are in an album, loose in a box, or hung on the wall.

Digitals Don’t Keep

More times than I care to admit, I have lost digital images on both my computer and my phone. I do not trust the devices to safely store sentimental images and you shouldn't either. Technology does fail us sometimes.

I let my icloud storage exceed capacity. Years and years of memories had been built up on my phone. One day, without warning, my phone battery overheated and died. I lost every video I took of my first born and every photograph on my phone I didn’t print. Part of me was sad, but I was mostly grateful that I had printed my images. Because if I hadn’t, I would have lost everything.

Moral of the story, print your photos! I sure am glad that I did.