Yeah, I’m aging myself again. I’m old enough to remember when not all photos had dates embedded into them. I’m also old enough to remember that I thought I would never forget certain things, so I didn’t bother to inscribe names, dates, locations, or other information on the backs of my photos.
If you don’t want to write directly on the back of the photo, write a message to store with them or to place beside them in albums, keepsake books, and scrapbooks, or slip a piece of paper behind those photos you frame.
It is way too easy to forget the details even though the year is conveniently part of the photograph now. The year will help you figure out your child’s age or what grade he or she was in when the picture was taken, but it won’t help you remember the teacher’s name or other significant details.
Do this not only for your own pleasure and memories, but for your family members and future generations to come. It’s pretty cool to go back and learn interesting little tidbits about our ancestry. Genealogy isn’t immensely popular for nothing. Give future generations a head start in searching family histories by documenting as many details as possible.
Family photos, especially with handwritten notes, are wonderful ways to capture family events and history, especially when they are preserved and organized well. Your children, and their children, and those that follow them will appreciate your efforts.
Keep track of special events and interesting details, from “Documenting Your Pregnancy” and births, birthdays, and anniversaries, to holidays and “Documenting Those Family Traditions and Recipes.” You can offer future generations a wonderful look into important moments from the past. It’s also good to remember family friends. Many times, close friends are just like family. “Celebrate Your Friends” is a good article on this topic.