It's no secret- I am a photographer and I obviously love photographs. I love freezing moments in time and having a physical memento to hang onto to revisit whenever my heart feels like it. 
I think photographs are one of the best presents you can give someone because it says a few things to the recipient. It says:
-You are cherished.
-You make me (the gift giver) happy.
-I want you to see yourself the way others see you.
-Your memories matter.
-You have an important role in the family/my life.
So, no matter the occasion, I think photographs or the opportunity to make photographs are one of the best gifts that you could possibly give someone.

Here are a few ways to give the gift of memories and photographs to your loved ones:

1. ​Give a Gift Certificate to a photo session with your favorite local photographer. The session doesn't have to be scheduled right away, but giving a gift certificate says that it's a priority to you and that you want to see them in front of the camera instead of always being the one behind the scenes. You're telling them that they deserve to be seen and that their memories matter too. 
2. Curate a photo album with your best family memories of the year in it. I can't tell you how thoughtful this is for any mom/dad/grandparent or even for family friends that you spend a lot of time with. It will become an absolutely priceless treasure in years to come. 
3. A photo-printing subscription service membership. I have one myself (it's Mootsh, in case anyone wants to know) and it helps me to be accountable for printing my own personal pictures. You can buy month to month or do a whole year! 
4. A framed print of a photograph that makes you happy. There's nothing more that I love than glancing up at my walls to see a photograph that makes me smile. And here's the kicker- it's never one that has everyone looking and smiling at the camera. It's a quirky grin, an action packed moment, or something that makes me laugh. So go ahead, choose that perfect photo and then have it matted and framed. It will be the best gift! 
5. Christmas ornaments! I have seen some of the loveliest tiny frames meant for hanging on the tree. What about gifting a set of these with photos from a recent session inside them?  Even better, you can find lots of them on Etsy and support a small business in the process! 

Let me know if you use any of these gift ideas this holiday season! 

If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably heard me talk a bit about my Legacy Box. I also briefly mentioned it in this blog about why you should print your photos. I have gotten comments and questions about my Legacy Box and I thought I would share some of my thoughts here and maybe help others to get inspired to create their own version. Maybe not necessarily a box- it could be an album or book or journal or whatever you come up with.
​Mine is just a box. 

What is a Legacy Box?
Simply put, a Legacy Box is just a box of pictures and keepsakes. Maybe a little handwritten note. Maybe a precious drawing. Not to be vague, but it's whatever you want it to be. I'll tell you a bit about mine.
My Legacy Box is just a box with 4x6 printed photos in it and a few hand written notes to my children. This is an ongoing project that I have created for them. It's a bit different than an album because I wanted the experience to be different. I wanted them to have the experience of actually sitting down somewhere with a box in their hands and being able to sift through the pictures and touch them one by one. Pass them around. Talk about them. Read the backs of each picture. 
It's important to me that they are able to have that tangible experience. 

Why? 
Not to be morbid, but one day the only thing left of me on this Earth will be what I physically leave behind. I won't be here anymore and my voice will never be heard again. My hope and prayer is that because I put my heart and soul into my art/photography, that my kids will be able to feel my love for them. That they would see themselves the way I always saw them. I want them to feel my love and hear my voice long after I am gone. I want them to always have a visible, tangible record of my love for them. 
​

What do you do?
Again, this is just my process. You can do a whatever you like, it doesn't have to be a box. Each month, I print out several photos (usually 10 because I have a photo subscription service), and I just simply place them in the box. Sometimes I write notes on the back to give more context to the picture or the date. One thing I also like to do is put their names on the pictures because although my kids will be able to tell who is who, when they pass them down to their children, they will want to know more information about the photos. 
We also have an instant camera and a vintage Polaroid that we use and will put the pictures we don't display in the Legacy Box. 

Is this something you would do for your family? Do you already have something like this in place? 
This is very important to me, so important in fact that I include 10 professionally printed and archival 5x7 prints with each session you book with me. You can do with them what you like- display them, share them, or save them in your box. I just want you to have them. 

To book your session with me, click here to get started or visit the Contact tab above. I can't wait to tell your story with you. 

Did you know each Storytelling Session I shoot comes with a beautiful set of 10 5x7 prints for you to keep or share with loved ones?
It's true! I believe in the power of prints (and here's a blog explaining why- check it out, it's been one of my most popular to date!) and I believe that your photos shouldn't live on your hard drive.  But the sad thing is, in this day in age, sometimes life gets in the way and we simply put it off. And we keep putting it off (no judgement- been there, done that!) and then they sit there some more. Here's the thing- we are not enjoying them if they are sitting on a hard drive. They aren't sparking joy on our walls or in our home.  They are collecting digital dust. 
So, to help combat that and to bring a smile to your face,  each 1.5 hour Storytelling Session with me comes with a set of 10 5x7 prints for you to share or keep for yourself. They can all be the same, they can all be different, or in any combination you want. 
These are printed with high quality inks on archival paper that is meant to last many, many years. These would be a wonderful addition to your Legacy box or a keepsake for your children years from now. 

What's a Legacy Box, you ask? A Legacy Box is a box I keep for my children that has special treasures in it. Handwritten notes, photos, mementos and the like. Here's a picture of ours. It's such a fantastic little keepsake to be building for your children and family members. 

If you'd like to book a session of your own, you can contact me here or by clicking the Contact tab on the menu above. Time doesn't wait and babies don't keep. These days will be gone in the blink of an eye. Document your life the moments that matter. Build a little legacy for your family. It's an investment you won't ever forget.