WHY SAVING YOUR PHOTOS MATTERS MORE THAN EVER
One photo I saved because I uploaded it to print a thank you card.
If you had only minutes to leave your home, what would you grab? For most people, the answer is the same: family photos.
Photos are more than images. They’re the stories of our lives — the birthdays, vacations, milestones, and everyday moments that tell us who we are and where we come from. They connect generations, spark conversations, and hold memories we never want to lose.
A Lesson I Learned the Hard Way
Not long after my husband and I got married, we went on our honeymoon and came home with hundreds of photos — from both my phone and my camera. I had uploaded them to my laptop, but I hadn’t taken the time to back them up yet to my external hard drive.
One day, the laptop was accidentally knocked to the floor and damaged. When I sent it for repairs, I told the technician not to replace the hard drive because it held irreplaceable photos. But when it came back, they had replaced it anyway. Just like that, those once-in-a-lifetime photos — including some of our wedding and honeymoon — were gone forever.
To this day, I still feel the sting of that loss. And it’s why I’m so passionate about helping others avoid the same heartbreak.
The Hidden Risks to Your Memories
We don’t always think about how fragile our photos really are.
Printed photos can fade over time, or be lost to floods, fires, and other disasters.
Digital photos feel “safe” — until a phone crashes, a laptop dies, or a cloud account is accidentally deleted.
In a world where we take more photos than ever, the truth is that many of our most precious memories are at risk of being forgotten or lost.
Save Your Photos Month: A Perfect Reminder
September is Save Your Photos Month, a worldwide initiative that shines a light on the importance of protecting our memories. It’s a reminder that safeguarding your photos isn’t just about organization — it’s about making sure your family’s stories are here for the next generation.
Whether it’s scanning old family albums, creating reliable backups for your digital library, or designing a photo book that pulls favorite moments into one place, this month is all about taking meaningful steps to preserve what matters most.
A Gentle Next Step
You don’t need to tackle your entire photo collection in one sitting. Even small actions — like choosing your favorite 20 prints to scan or setting up one backup drive — can make a big difference.
This Save Your Photos Month, I encourage you to pick one step and start. Your future self (and your family) will be so glad you did.
