What does a photo mean to you?

Some of our most cherished possessions are photographs. From the time we are born, there is almost always someone there creating a photograph of every special or important event in our life. The day we are born, a photo is taken. Our first birthdays and every birthday there after for years to come. Our first days of school, our ball teams or dance recitals. High school dances, high school graduations, first day of college, college graduations, and from that point you are most likely planning weddings, having babies, going on amazing vacations and celebrating new jobs or promotions. I imagine you get the idea at this point. :)

The funny thing is, with the exception of wedding photos, most people don't put too much stock into the photos at the time they are taken. I have also found after shooting many weddings, that the favorite wedding photos are the candid shots. The posed shots tend to be framed and displayed, but so many times, I have a bride tell me that their favorite shots are the unplanned, natural shots. Those types of shots also usually end up being the photo that is cherished by the family for years to come.

This past week, I lost my Grandmother. She turned 80 in October and we were very lucky to have had a nice party for her and the entire family was there to celebrate. Which was great because we were able to get a photo of the entire family. My Grandpa has been gone 27 years, but Gram, her 5 children, 9 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren (so far) were all there including our spouses.

 

While working on the slideshow, that played during Gram's viewing, I was so happy that we made sure to take lots of photos at the party. There was a bit of grumbling about having pics that day, but everyone made it through and the above was the result. I look at the kids in this photo and hope that years from now, they look back at this photo and realize how blessed they are to have this family that loves them so much and that we all gathered to celebrate their great grandmother.

This next photo is of my grandparents (my mom's parents) on their wedding day in 1952.

The next two photos are of my Dad's parents. They are both still with us and have been married over 63 years. They have 7 children, 28 grandchildren, and so far we are up to 30 great-grand children.  

I am so happy that someone created these 3 photos over 60 years ago. I have to wonder if the people that shot them realized how important they would be all these years later. 

The moral of the story folks is this: TAKE PICTURES! :) 

Save those pictures, pass them on to the next generation and if you have old pictures that need some restoration, have that done too. You just never know how important that photo you take today could be to someone 60 years from now.