Go to your phone and look at how many photos you have stored there. Hundreds, right? Maybe a few thousand. Sure you could get rid of a few of them but to be honest, how many of them do you want to keep because they’re memories of significant moments?
We’re living in a digital era but if your phone is gasping for more space, it’s time to go back to a quaint idea – printing out your photos. The trend for analog film cameras has been growing among Gen Z and Millennials, who are also looking for materials to develop their photos. According to a recent study by Cognitive Market Research, the market for retro technology, specifically 35mm, is expected to reach £303 million ($409 million Cdn) by 2030. Kodak, who still has that reputation for their point-and-shoot disposable camera, has seen an increased demand for film this year.
If you’re someone who values a well-curated life, the tactile experience of a printed photo is more relevant and meaningful than ever. Here’s why printed photos are a great way to remember, plan and express your aesthetic.
A tangible connection to your memories
Printed photos help create that deep, tangible connection to those cherished moments. It could be from your vacation, concerts, a fabulous flower, that perfect get-together with friends or family. Having them in your hands, displaying them, and keeping them close turns them from memories in your phone that can be hard to find into something even more precious.
An expression of your aesthetic
Turn your printed photos into home decor that means something to you. You do pay more for larger sizes but it’s still more cost-efficient to print photos than to buy art or prints. Frames can be bought at all prices ranging from the dollar store all the way to custom framing. Spending a bit of money to display your cherished moments elevates your living space, showcases your life as art and gives you a topic of conversation when you entertain.
If you don’t want to frame and display your photos, you can also store them in an album or even collage with them.
Plus it can make you happy whenever you’re home. You can create themes as well such as travel or flowers for spring – yes we know, groundbreaking.
Preservation for generations
Remember looking through your parents’ or grandparents’ photo albums and hearing stories about the people in the pictures? As someone who plans for the future, you know the importance of safeguarding your investments—whether they’re financial or emotional. Printed photos are a way to preserve your memories for generations and even for you as you get older.
Unlike digital files, which can be lost to technology changes, data corruption, or device failures, a well-preserved photo album or framed print can last for decades, even centuries. Your memories deserve to be part of your legacy, and printing them ensures they’ll be there for your children and grandchildren. Just don’t forget to write the information in the photo on the back of it so people know who you were and what you were doing.
A thoughtful and personal gift
Printed photos also make incredibly thoughtful and personal gifts for friends and family. We’ve printed photos of graduations, trips with girlfriends and other adventures, popped them into a protective sleeve or frame as a fun gift. They’re the kind of gifts that are treasured and displayed, not tucked away or forgotten.
Where to print your photos?
There are a lot of options ranging from printers with a photo option, little printers that attach to your photo, polaroid cameras though the film is expensive or ordering from your phone. For example, you can order photos through Google Photos if you use Android iOs.
Curating your legacy
Ultimately, printing your photos is about more than just preserving memories—it’s about curating your legacy. In the same way you invest in quality over quantity, you can choose to print and display the moments that define your life. These photos become part of your story, woven into the fabric of your home and shared with the people you love. Also, when you surround yourself with great memories, you feel good and accomplished.
In a world where so much is fleeting, printed photos offer something lasting. They are a way to honor your past, enhance your present, and ensure your memories endure into the future. So, next time you capture a moment that matters, consider printing it. Because some things are too important to be left in the cloud.
