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7 Reasons You Should Take That Photo

July 26, 2012 by Jen Senecal

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a camera in my hand.

Whether it was my dinosaur-aged Polaroid, my point-and-shoot, my DSLR, or my iPhone, I’ve put in more lens time than I have post-three-kids-kegel exercises. (And, believe me, I do them A LOT.) From even before my girls were born, I’ve never downplayed the importance of capturing moments on film, to cherish for a lifetime. To this day, I still sit regularly with my parents and look back at their sepia-toned, vintage photos while listening to the elaborate stories that surround them, and it warms my heart to strengthen our bond as a family through memories.

(Today’s version of “vintage” photos, when our children look back on them someday)

That’s what photos are to me. A bond. A frozen moment in time with an infinite shelf-life of conversation.

While that might seem like the obvious reason that anyone takes a photo, here are 7 more reasons you should grab that camera and snap away:

1. Photos make you talk. In a world where spoken conversation is slowly being replaced by digital chat, it’s important to find reasons to TALK. With that thing that comes out of your voice box. Even if it’s to say to your mother, “Why did you ever let me leave the house with a man’s TIE on for the first day of school?”

2. Photos make you laugh. When my 4 year-old busts out with a mismatched outfit and a flailing “fashion pose” or my 1 year-old boasts bed hair that rivals Don King’s or even my 3 year-old bursts out doing, well, anything, I don’t hesitate to take the shot. I know they’ll enjoy laughing about it someday and I look forward to reliving those moments with them. I also look forward to showing all of their boyfriends so that it will maybe save my husband from having to padlock our front door.

3. Photos change perspective. My husband has battled with his weight over the last few years and while he knew he had to take control of it, he didn’t really KNOW until he happened to glance at some pictures of himself. When he saw them, it struck a chord. Suddenly, our conversation went from what he looked like, physically, to the dread of what could happen years from now if he didn’t stay healthy, having three young children to care for. It was a wake-up call and a jumpstart to a complete lifestyle change. All sparked from a photo.

4. Photos give you history. Once you look back at your parent’s and grandparent’s photos, you’ll know where your daughter or son got their blue eyes, or why your baby has those curls or where your child’s stunningly good looks came from (in the case of my children, this was made clear by my glowing high school senior portrait).

(You see it, too. I know.) 

5. Photos keep you connected. My oldest daughter loves to draw. It’s what she does in all of her spare time. I would even go as far to say that she might really be an artist someday (no, I swear, she will). Today, she finished a drawing of “a skeleton arm” that could only be said to resemble something that should never be spoken about in the Internet space, and immediately said, “send it to daddy!” who is away on business. I texted the photo to him with a funny caption and he quickly replied that it made his day. No matter where anyone is, a photo can instantly connect you (and urge you to teach your child how to draw a skeleton arm that won’t need censorship when using it in a blog post).

6. Photos decorate your house, office, gifts, and possibly, your children.  Aside from the fact that it is now more affordable than ever to decorate your walls with framed photos or canvases (thank you, Groupon), you can also have your photos printed into gift wrap, memorabilia, and just about anything you can get your hands on. Each year, for my girls’ birthdays, I find a photo from the prior year and print it out onto iron-on transfer paper, and then iron it onto a tee-shirt. That shirt gets worn for the event and then immediately shadowboxed, along with a picture of her in it, and hung on the wall in her bedroom. Photos can truly decorate all aspects of your life.

(A shirt I made for my oldest daughter when the next in line turned 1. They all get in on the birthday shirt action.) 

7. Photos make a great girls’ night out. My long-time girlfriends and I get together at least once a month for a much-needed girls’ night. We drink wine, eat lots of great food, talk about our lives AND BUST OUT THE PHOTO ALBUMS. It never gets tiring to look back at the night you went to Senior prom together or organized a synchronized dance on a public beach (yes, it happened) or even the first visit to the hospital when one of you had a baby.

If I haven’t already given you reason enough, grab your camera and snap away. Sure, your kids might get annoyed with your 500th attempt at getting them all to smile together for a shot, but that’s what brownies are for. Believe me, they’ll cooperate. (And you know you just want a reason to make brownies.)

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About Jen Senecal

Jen Senecal is a mom to three girls (ages 4 and under), a writer, blogger, graphic designer and co-owner of Rhody Mamas (a RI digital mom-community that features deals, events & giveaways). Read more about her humorous foray into parenthood on her blog, Keekoin, or visit her at Providence Online and Buy-Her, where she is a regular contributor. She enjoys Tweeting after dark, preferably with a glass of wine in hand. You'll find her at @JenSenecal and @RhodyMamas.

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8 Comments

  1. Nicole says

    August 10, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    Excellent points all. I been through all the phases – first overlooking photo ops, then simply ignoring them, then taking only posed photos, now taking every opportunity to take posed and candid (usually the best) photos. I regret all but the last – I have never said I have too many photos of out children, I have said I wish I had more when they were young and my parents were old. Thanks for reminding me!

    Reply
  2. The Mommist says

    August 3, 2012 at 9:15 am

    Great points raised here. I love photos (mine and others, but mostly mine ‘coz I’m a narcissistic lady)! Amazing shots! Can those kids get any more cuter?

    I hope you don’t mind but, what kind of camera did you use for those photos?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jen Senecal says

      August 7, 2012 at 1:31 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind words about my girls!!! I don’t mind the question AT ALL– I use a Canon Rebel DSLR right now. I have a Canon 50mm/1.8 lens that I use for almost everything and it’s amazing. It’s all beginner level equipment, but I took some fabulous workshops on shooting in manual and it has made such a difference. Generally, any of the Canon DSLR cameras (or Nikon) are fabulous. 🙂

      Reply
  3. MommyPage says

    July 31, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    These are great reasons! Remembering to take photos of your kids is definitely important. I love looking back at baby pictures- it always reunites the family!

    Reply
    • Jen Senecal says

      August 7, 2012 at 1:32 pm

      Doesn’t it always bring you right back to those moments, that you would forget about otherwise? I love looking back on pictures!

      Reply
      • MommyPage says

        August 7, 2012 at 2:40 pm

        Yes, I completely agree! Pictures are the best at helping you remember happy times.

        Reply
  4. Nicole Robinson says

    July 27, 2012 at 5:23 am

    These are great reasons to take pictures. I love taking pictures of my daughter. Even when we are rushing out of the house, if she looks just too cute, I have to snap a shot.
    It’s hard to believe that the crystal clear photos we take of our kids these days will ever actually look vintage. But who knows what technology has in store in the future.

    Reply
    • Jen Senecal says

      August 7, 2012 at 1:32 pm

      I agree. My iPhone grabs every shot of them doing something cute throughout the day. Just can’t help myself!!!

      Reply

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