How Often Should I Update My Family Photos?
Wondering how often you should update your family photos? This is what you need to know.
Busy schedules, family commitments, and lengthy to-do lists mean families don’t always get the time to update their family photos.
The years also seem to be going by faster and faster, which is especially true when you have children. As parents, you don’t want to miss the chance to capture your child’s milestones or how much you’ve changed as a family.
So, how often should you be updating your family photos?
When to update your family photos
Ideally, you should try and take new photos of your family every year. Here’s why:
- Do it for future generations. While you are taking photos for yourself, you are also making sure that future generations have amazing photos that they can look back on too. Your children and grandchildren will thank you for it.
- It’s a chance to make memories. By making a point of updating your family photos on a regular basis, you’re also taking the time to be with your family and make new memories. You never know when your family dynamics could change so capture new memories whenever you can.
- Professional photos last a lifetime. While we are a society that is constantly snapping photos on our phones and uploading them to social media, investing in professional photos gives you a completely different result. Not only will a professional know how to compose and edit each photo to perfection but these are the best photos to print and add to your family albums too.
- Document your family’s growth. You never realize how quickly your kids are growing until you look back at photos of them or you run into someone who hasn’t seen you in a while. By updating your family photos on an annual basis, you can really document your family’s growth, creating a beautiful series of photos that you can treasure forever.
Remember, updating your family photos every year doesn’t need to cost a fortune either. Talk with your photographer about the different options available to you.
Ways to Preserve Your Photos
In the attic, in the closet, in boxes on the bookcases we all have photos scattered around the house that we just don't know what to do with. While most opt for the shoebox method of storing their loose printed images this isn't always the best way to ensure they aren't damaged or lost. For all those photos you keep finding around your home try one of these ways to preserve your printed memories.
4 Ways To Better Protect Your Loose Prints
1. Photo Storage Boxes
One of the best and quickest ways to get loose piles of photos organized is with a photo storage box. They are easy to find as well and can be purchased at any local craft store. Just be sure the photo boxes are of archival quality.
2. Albums or Scrapbooks
Putting your printed photos into an album can seem like a long process. You don't have to get fancy or specific just slip your photos into an album in the best chronological order you can. If you want to get creative and add in some extra special memories create a scrapbook of your photos.
When choosing albums make sure they are made with acid and lignin free paper, they use non-PVC plastic, and that they do not have magnetic or sticky backed sheets. The best albums are ones that can accommodate various sizes of photos from wallet size to 8×10. Refrain from gluing or using an adhesive to keep your photos in place as you may change your mind (also many glues and adhesives will damage your prints).
3. Wall Art and Frames
Don't forget about the picture frames around your home. You can rotate the pictures in your frames or buy some new ones to hang on the walls as well. This is a great way to give your walls a quick and simple update while also enjoying the memories you've captured.
4. Online or Digital Album
The best way to preserve your prints is to transfer them into a digital album or folder (there are companies than can do this for you at a huge savings of time for you). This is the best way to protect your images from damage and ensure you always have a backup copy..
How to Decide What to Wear to Your Photoshoot
Top tips for getting the most out of your professional photography session.
If you are prepping for your first photoshoot you probably have a couple questions about what to expect. A common concern for people having their photos taken for the first time is what to wear.
7 Top Tips for Deciding What to Wear for a Photoshoot
- What is the purpose of the photoshoot? This should be your first thought when deciding what to wear. Choose an appropriate outfit for the occasion and something that suits your personality.
- Keep the location & season in mind. Where is the photoshoot taking place? Choose an outfit that will keep you feeling comfortable and confident. For example, if you’re on a beach, those new high heels might not be the most logical choice and you might end up looking a bit out of place.
- Mix and match. Don’t be afraid to wear patterns or prints for your photoshoot but keep them to a minimum and try to pair them with solid colors. If you’re having a family photoshoot for example, have two family members in printed items and two in solid colors. Play with different colors to match the mood and setting of the shoot.
- Make your photos timeless. You might love that trendy top or pair of pants now but will your photos stand the test of time if you wear that item of clothing?
- What to do about makeup. This would depend on the type of photos you are taking. Fashion shoots will call for more dramatic makeup but for your everyday maternity, family or portrait shoots, keep your makeup natural and to a minimum.
- Fit is more important that you think. If you already have an outfit in mind for your shoot, try it on before the time to make sure that it fits correctly and compliments your body type.
- Try not to go brand crazy. Wearing too much clothing with prominent brand names just makes you look like a walking ad. Clothing with large graphics on it also doesn’t work well as it will end up being the focus of your photos.
Remember to have fun on your photoshoot, be yourself and don’t hesitate to ask your photographer for guidance.
6 Questions You Should Be Asking Your Photographer
1. How long have you been a photographer?
The longer a photographer has been in business, the more likely it is that it’s not just a hobby for them.
2. It’s uncommon for a photographer to specialize in several different types of photography as they often only specialize in one or sometimes two genres. For example, a photographer who specializes in newborn photography might not be the best candidate to shoot wedding photos unless they have the experience in doing so.
3. Do you have many repeat clients?
This is a great litmus test of not only the quality of a photographer’s work but of their customer service too.
4. What is your policy on rescheduling a session?
An experienced photographer will definitely have a policy in place when it comes to a customer cancelling or rescheduling a photography session. A photographer with policies indicates that they have experience with different types of customers and situations and have created policies accordingly.
5. Have you had any experience with (name your specific concern)?
If you have any specific concerns regarding your photo session such as the photographer’s ability to work with a special needs child for example, find out if they have ever handled that type of situation before. Do not dismiss a photographer and their abilities based on their answers to your concerns. If given adequate notice, an experienced photographer should be able to deal with any situation you present them. This is the hallmark of a true pro.
6. Silent Question:
Use your gut to judge their personality and rapport. A photographer’s main job is to capture emotions and moments. If your photographer doesn’t mesh well with you on the phone or in person, chances are you and your family will not mesh well with them at your session and this will show in your photos.
Storing and Sharing Your Photos Online: The Best Platforms to Use in 2023
Smartphone cameras are more exceptional than ever before, so it’s only natural for us to want to fill our phones with hundreds of photos and videos. If you find that your phone runs out of space quite often, it might be time to consider an online photo storage and sharing platform. Not only can these platforms be used to back up your favorite shots but it allows you to share your images with others more easily too.
When reviewing online photo platforms, there are a few things you should keep an eye out for:
- Ease of use: How easy is it to sign up and upload your photos?
- Organization: Is it easy to organize and tag your photos so that you can find the shot you want when you want?
- Space: How much space are you looking for and how do the prices of the platforms compare for that amount of storage?
- Quality: Does the platform retain the quality of your photos?
- Shareability: How easy is it to share your photos with others or mark them as private?
Top Photo Storage Platforms to Consider in 2023
Flickr
Flickr is well known for its simple and clean user interface and is a great option for everyday and serious photographers. Along with several great tools, the platform also makes it easy to tag and download your photos at a variety of resolutions. The drag-and-drop functionality also makes it easy to organize your albums.
500px
This platform is more ideal for anyone who wants to share their photos with those who would really appreciate it. If you love capturing artistic or landscape photos, this is the best platform for you. Users can display their photos very creatively using the Sets and Stories functionality.
Photobucket
Photobucket’s free version allows you to store up to 250 photos, which isn’t that much if you tend to take hundreds of photos every week. Fortunately, their paid plans are very affordable, so it is possible to store all of your shots in a safe place. The platform also makes it very easy to share your photos on social media sites if that’s what you enjoy doing.
SmugMug
SmugMug is another stylish platform that uses a number of design templates to display your photos. Unfortunately, there is no free version and their paid plans aren’t that affordable either, so it’s a better option for those who are more serious about their photography and don’t just want to store family photos.
iCloud
iCloud works with Apple Photos and it allows users to upload up to 5GB worth of photos, which they can then share as they please. The photos can be viewed in Apple Photos or on the web and a location and names can be added to each shot.
Google Photos
Google Photos is the perfect platform for everyday users and the editing and sharing functionality is not bad either. Users can create individual albums and mark them as private if they would prefer not to share their shots with others.
Dropbox
Dropbox continues to be a firm favorite amongst many photo fans and it works on both Android and iOS devices. Dropbox makes it easy to upload photos from your phone or computer and safely store them behind a password. You can also share slideshows and images with anyone who has access to the necessary links.
As you can see, there really is no reason why you should risk losing or sharing your favorite photos. There is a photo storage and sharing platform for all needs and budgets.