I really do.
I realize I am in the minority, but I can’t seem to give up my habit of ordering photo prints.
With the boom in digital photography, the desire to make prints of favorite photos has significantly dwindled.
However, for me, the value of having tangible pictures in hand to frame, add to a scrapbook or place in my wallet far outweighs the 15 to 20 cents it cost to make a 4×6 print. What’s more, when you have parents like mine, who are stuck in the pre-digital age, having prints of their grandchildren to cherish is priceless.
I’m not sure what it will take to get me to go cold turkey on prints. After all, I still think the best way to share your photos is to print them and give them to friends and loved ones, so they can hold the pictures in their hands and examine nuances of certain shots. The images tell a story and by having them around to view up close, you are better able to share memorable moments without having to rely on electronic devices.
Another bonus of printing photos is that you are safeguarded from technical malfunctions. How many times have you heard horror stories of people losing thousands of precious photos due to computer issues? By printing photos you are assured that your memories are safe.
Finally, without printed photographs how can you decorate your walls, refrigerators, desktops or end tables with images of your favorite people? Framed photos help personalize rooms and remind us of life’s happiest times. In addition to portraits, framed photos of landscapes can double as inexpensive works of art. For example, I still have an enlarged photo taken of a Hawaiian sunset hanging in my bedroom. The image was snapped in 1993, but thanks to professional matting and framing the photo is in mint condition, and each time I look at it I am transported back to my place of birth.
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