Why Printing Family Photos and Photo Books is Important to Our Children

Life is precious and fleeting and now more than ever we realize just how important it is.  Memories that matter and bring us joy, need to be brought to life. So what happens when we grow up in a society of picture takers but not photo printers? We get a disconnect. Photo printing brings those moments back into our lives and they are tangible and easily accessible. They are shared when printed. They give children a sense of security and belonging when the photos are displayed throughout their own home.

So what happens when we don’t print? Well, we make it difficult for children to enjoy the memories that make up their small world. Here is a glimpse at children trying to get access to their favorite photos. It’s kind of a mess, with batteries not working, passwords needed and hundreds of photos to scroll through on the phone. Lots of time, a parent needs to step in to help out.

Photo Printing for Children

It’s almost as if we are denying access to our memories from the little ones, they do not have access to their own fond moments. So how do we remedy this trend? We decided to take these families, photograph them and then print out their photos from Printique. Instead of giving the printed photos to the parents,  we gave them directly to the children. Their reactions are priceless.

The reactions were immediate and joyful. The children were able to talk about the people in the photos, share them with siblings and parents and keep them close to heart.

There is a well-known study called Phototherapy in Mental Health authored by David A. Krauss and Jerry L. Fryrear. Within its pages, David Krauss, a licensed psychologist, 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.”   Reread that quote. It’s such a powerful statement.

When children see photos of themselves and their family it gives them security and a sense of belonging. The power of print is especially important for children.  We have a responsibility to print our photos not only for our children but for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

It doesn’t just have to be photos either, think of creating a photo book of the session or even a collage from Printique.  Just keep in mind, there is no better time to start than right now. Spoil your children with prints of themselves, you’ll never regret it.