When I was growing up, back in the analog days, taking photographs was not an everyday luxury that is it today. In my family, it was mostly associated with special occasions like vacations, important milestones, weddings and other family gatherings. I remember clearly how exciting it was to unpack freshly developed photos and put them into family albums. I would go back to these albums over and over again: looking at my baby photos, staring with amazement at old pictures from my parents and grandparents’ childhood and youth, watching how they’ve changed, how our house and neighbourhood changed, how fashion changed, all so fascinating! All those moments, frozen in time and preserved for future generations, family history in making, what a privilege!

We live in a digital era now. The quality of phone cameras gets better every year and taking photographs has never been easier. We happily snap away, filling our phones and USBs with gigabytes of images, but how many of the hundreds of photos you have taken in the past year have you actually printed out? The chances are not many, if any. Digital technology is a wonderful thing but it can be very unpredictable as well -  all it takes is a hard drive crash, corrupted memory card or accidental deletion and you can lose years’ worth of memories. It has been said that in 50 years, the most photographed generation in history will have no pictures. So I can’t stress this enough - print what you want to preserve.

Here are my 5 reasons why you should print your photos:

1. To keep your photographs save and preserve your most precious memories

How do you store your photos? On your hard drive, USB stick, CD? As great as it is, no technology is failproof - every computer will eventually crash, and USBs and DCs can get corrupted. If you don’t want to suddenly loose your precious memories, always back up your images, and more importantly, print the ones you cherish the most!

2. To enjoy your favourite photographs on every day basis

This is true with your everyday snaps, but especially so with professional portraits. What’s the point of investing in a professional photography service, getting beautiful portraits of your loved ones, only to keep them on a USB, hidden somewhere deep in a drawer? Because let’s face it - how often do you actually look through photos on your computer or phone? Not very often, right? Why not frame some of your prints or hang some wall art, so you can enjoy your favourite photos every day? Albums and photo books are fantastic as well, they make for perfect coffee table books and can be great conversation starters.

3. To boost your children’s self-esteem

Regularly taking family portraits is a great way of documenting your family’s history, preserving it for future generations, and it can also help to build your children’s self-esteem. Children love seeing themselves in photographs and being surrounded by photos and wall art with their family reinforces a sense of self which helps to build security and confidence. It gives them a sense of belonging and makes them feel loved and important. Psychologist Judy Weiser, a specialist on the subject, wrote:

“It lets children learn who they are and where they fit. They learn their genealogy and the uniqueness of their own family and its story. When a child sees a family portrait with them included in the photograph, they say to themselves: ‘These people have me as part of what they are, that’s why I belong here. This is where I come from.”

4. To decorate your home

There’s no better way to decorate your home than by displaying your favourite portraits as wall art. I offer a wide selection of beautiful, quality products to suit any style and home decor, and add the wow factor to your interiors.

5. To gift them to your loved ones

Struggling to find a unique gift for a loved one? Look no further, photo albums, books, framed prints and other photography products are wonderful gifts that can be enjoyed for many years. They really can become treasured possessions, especially when your parents live far away and can’t see their grandchildren very often, or, as past year has showed us, when you can’t visit people you care about the most.

Have I convinced you to finally print some of your photos? I sure hope so! If you’re not sure where to start or want some inspiration, please have a look at some of the beautiful products I offer: https://www.kasiasoszkaphotography.com/products-wall-art