Let’s talk prints vs. digitals!
Even before the first photograph was taken in 1826 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, people tried to capture images of “real life” through paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Today, we still use photographs to capture “real life,” and printed images enable us to remember people, relationships, and events. Photographs allow us to keep those memories alive for years to come.
I have thousands upon thousands of photographs that I’ve taken of my family through the years. Some are prints, and some are digital, stored on CDs and DVDs.
Looking back through my printed images evokes feelings that I just don’t get when looking at digital images. For that reason, I think are many advantages to choosing printed images over digital, and here are a few.
#1 – Printed images are tangible
You can hold, feel, print, and display a printed photograph, and the tactile sensation of holding a print cannot be replaced with digital. A print becomes a reminder of the things that are important to us. Looking at a printed photograph that you have displayed on your wall or desk is very different than viewing that image on a computer or mobile device. When something lives in the digital world, it’s very easy to scroll past, swipe it away, or forget about it all together.
#2 – Prints have longevity
While you may think that digital images last forever, the truth is that they don’t. Jpg images deteriorate every time you open your computer or save the file. Over the years, that perfectly sharp image may not look the same.
And technology is unreliable. Your images won’t be compatible with your device forever. Computers crash, and images are often lost when upgrading or replacing mobile devices. The bottom line is that digital images just aren’t as reliable as we think.
I’m an Apple girl, but several years ago, Apple did away with disc drives on their computers. That means to enjoy my digital images, I’ve got to buy a portable disc drive, find my dongle (oh yeah, Apple also did away with the USB drive), and pop disc after disc into the drive to find the images I’m looking for. Needless to say, I don’t look through my digital images very often.
#3 – Prints are nostalgic and don’t need a screen to be enjoyed
I remember sitting with my mom and grandma for hours, looking through old photo albums. It was an experience. With each image, I was transported back to another time and place. I saw my place in the family and learned about relatives that I’d never even met. Curling up with the computer and pressing “next” over and over doesn’t have the same feel.
#4 – Printed images are a legacy
Your children will be able to hold and touch an image, knowing that you also held and touched that image. Printed images are meant to be passed down from one generation to the next. They are part of the legacy we leave behind. Stories not told are soon forgotten, so don’t let your story go untold.
If you’re ready to get started with your next family session, just reach out.
Leigh Ann – Your Oakland, CA, Family and Newborn Photographer, serving perfectly imperfect families. And remember, I serve families throughout the Bay Area.
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