I am a photography addict and a shameless hoarder of memories from keepsakes with handwritten notes, receipts and of course pictures! In this digital world, the ease of having a memory card can give limitless joy of clicking still moments and convenience of storing it using social media accounts. Lately I have been struggling with updating our family albums with pictures on print; backlogs from previous travels, special occasions and random shots that requires time and effort to sort and be saved on the 'develop' album. Nothing beats seeing memories in pages and pages of pictures or displayed on a 5x7 wooden frame that line up when you enter the house. It gives out a certain connection whenever it's displayed as if one is never absent or be visually reminded of a memory.
Here are a few good reasons why I like to print photos:
Treasured Items
My grandparent's house is a treasure trove of pictures and memorabilia. When we were young, my siblings and I would secretly open a chest full of albums and would be so engrossed seeing the life our grandparents and their parents lived. It conveys a message of being a part of their life without actually meeting them in person. I would want the next generation to experience the same and be filled with stories of the past as we owe it to them too. And pictures get valuable over time!
Changing Times
Social media accounts like Facebook or Instagram are a few of the platforms one can view pictures using even the most basic Android-based smartphones but nothing beats touching a glossy paper with a photo of a family opening gifts on a Christmas morning, a self-portrait in an explored location, a random shot of a landscape that sparks emotions and gives new life. Photographs in albums or on a frame are viewable no matter what.
Sharing Memories
Whenever I have files developed, it brings everybody together. Who doesn't enjoy flipping through photo prints by hand and reminiscing stories with each other? Everyone loves to look at pictures and best of all you get to bond over it with food and a bottle of beer!
