Today's generation is the most photographed group EVER, but they have the least to show for it.

In 20, 30 years, there won't be that awesome shoe box full of photos to reminisce through. There is nothing to hold. Today's kids won't be able to show their kids their high school senior photos or the fun cookout in your backyard, and family vacations with the whole family. And sadly, no one will know where to find the disc of memories.

I passionately believe in having your photos printed and displayed.

You may say you only want "digital images" from your photo session because you feel they are the most valuable thing... But really, they are not.

You cannot hang a CD on your wall, you hang photos.

When I first started Augusta Birth Photography, I only gave my birth clients a disc of images from their baby's birth. This HUGE life changing event in their family and I gave them what I thought was the ultimate item - digitals. Clients wanted to print their photos to save money. I had not learned much about professional photo labs early in my business so giving a disc of images was easy and what clients "wanted".

I ran into a birth client a few years after her baby was born and asked what she ever did with her digital images. Her reply? She had not done anything with them. Three years later and nothing was printed. Images from one of the most important days in her whole life had not been looked at in 3 years. SOMEWHERE, she said, was the CD I gave her. She wasn't sure where, but she "planned on getting them printed soon". That day I completely changed how I ran my business.

Now, every client gets a beautiful, high quality, professional album of her birth story included with the Collection she chooses.

I realize that digital images have an immediate gratification in this visual, social media world, but digital images will never replace having a photo to hold and see every day. Photos posted in the news feed of your online groups will cycle through and be gone in a week or two. The instant gratification is over and now what?

Digital images will not last forever. Technology will change, hard drives get damaged, and files get lost. Computers don't ever come with a CD drive any more. I still have the 3.5in floppy discs from 20 years ago with photos of my kids that I can't even access anymore. Photos that I never had printed BUT was "I was going to get to it" soon. I wish I had those photos of my kids in my hands and on my walls.

When someone loses a loved one, what's the first thing they look for to remember that person?? They look for photos. I have sadly gotten a few calls from past clients who had lost a parent and hoped I still might have photos from their session that I could print for them. Photos bring the memories flooding back and help you be closer to those you love. PRINTS MATTER.

I read a great blog post in which David Krauss, a licensed American psychologist and author of Photo Therapy and Mental Health, says, “I think it is really important to show a family as a family unit. It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of that family unit. A photographer’s job is to create and make the image look like a safe holding space for kids where they are safe and protected. Kids get it on a really simple level." There is a huge positive effect on your children's mental health from having family photos displayed.

You will never regret the money you invest into having your family photos printed and framed for your walls. There is satisfaction in laying a book on your lap and flipping the pages. But you will regret it when you can't find those senior or newborn or milestone photos because they were on a CD that has been lost in a drawer somewhere or scratched and can't be opened.

It's a photographers JOB to finish your session by giving you photos in print.  You invest money to have an event commemorated that is important to you. You need prints to remember it.

I have a chance for you to add some fine art to your home. I am teaming up with Kevin Jiminez Photography to offer gorgeous Christmas photo sessions unlike any Augusta has ever had. We  invite you to our Santa's Magical Workshop Fine Art Portrait & Storybook Sessions.  We'll have one weekend in August, and in September, and in October. We have a beautiful set filled with rustic toys and Christmas decorations.

Santa will spend an HOUR with just your children doing lots of activities.  All the while, we will be in the background quietly photographing their visit to create either a keepsake children's Storybook or a framed art for your walls. Both will become family heirlooms.

Imagine the excitement of reading your child a story every Christmas eve where all the photos in the book are of them and Santa. It truly will be a MAGICAL experience. Sign up to get upcoming session dates.  Learn more about Santa's Magical Workshop photo sessions at www.KevinJPhoto.com

And this link will take you to the blog post I mentioned above about the mental health benefits for your children by displaying family photos. It is definitely worth a few minutes of your day.

To learn more about documentary family sessions, photographing your REAL everyday life, look through my website! www.AugustaBirthPhotography.com (which is also the site for Documenting Everyday: Family Storytelling Photography)

Hugs,
Jennifer