Photo Edition: New Year's Resolutions

This time of year can be wonderful, with all the giving, the family and friends, and the delicious food.  It can also be extremely hard as we realize that the year has come to an end, our resolutions have not been met.  Whether you wanted to lose thirty pounds or have $20,000 in the bank, often times we come up short handed.

New Year’s resolutions are meant to be productive. The purpose of them is to help us be happier or better off in some way during the coming 12 months.  While they have a bad reputation for being pointless or unrealistic, they can be attainable and very healthy when the reacher understands their limits and capabilities.

Now I know what you are thinking, "Why is a blog about photography, technology, family, and preserving memories talking about New “Year's resolutions?!"  Well fear not- I am getting there.  Here we will talk about New Year's resolutions you should make this year concerning your film, photos, and memories!

1- Convert your memories to digital.  Isn't it about time?  I can't stress it enough- the longer your old movie films reels, photos, videos, and other types of film sit in storage, the worse off they are.  They can become damaged by mold, unforeseeable events, children, being lost, etc.  When you digitize your old film, you gain freedom to do what you want with our memories.  Film is tangible and can be ruined in an instant.  Digital will last forever.

2- Sign up for a cloud service on which to store all your converted film.  This will enable you to view and share your memories anytime, anywhere with anyone you choose to.  Some vendors include Dropbox, SugarSync, and Google Drive.  Cloud services are also awesome because they help back up your files and images in the event that your computer crashes, or something else unfortunate happens.

3- Make a digital photo book of the previous year.  It is truly like a personal yearbook for you and your family. Not only are they super cute, but they are very reasonably priced as well.  The quality and look of them will go with any decor, and they are so fun to show to guests.  My favorite photo book companies include Shutterfly, Picaboo, and Paper Coterie.  You could also purchase digital scrapbooks software allowing you to do the same, but also enabling you to make entire scrapbooks to keep on your computer as well.

4- Get crafty with your photos!  Make a goal to be better at displaying your favorite photos in unique ways.  One look that I love is that of photos modge-podged onto stained or painted pieces of wood.  This look goes great with a traditional style home and adds a lot of warmth to the environment.  Another idea would be to transfer your family's past photos onto canvas or fabric and make drapes or curtains out of them.  What a statement piece!  Great for a modern or eclectic home.

5- Learn how to take better pictures by educating yourself in photography.  There are classes you can physically take, or even courses online.  We can talk all day about what you can do with past photos, but you also need to make sure you are doing the best you can with current happenings, and making sure you are documenting your life's greater moments regularly.  Knowing how to take better pictures will heighten the emotional response to your photos, and make them more pleasing to the eye.

Now you have a great place to start when it comes to planning your New Year's resolutions. Photos and memories are irreplaceable, and these suggestions will help you make the most of them.