Well today is school picture day for my youngest two! Even though I am a professional photographer, I still love getting their pictures done by the school photographer! No only do I love it, but I am grateful for it!! So today I am thankful for Lifetouch!! I know it seems crazy- why would I want to spend that money when I can just do it myself. Well, for me- it's just what you do - you get your school pictures made!! We didn't have a lot of money growing up but, my mom always made sure we got our school pictures made. It was a big deal for her and it was a time during my childhood that I felt special because I knew the pictures meant so much to my mom. Last night I pulled out my school pictures with my daughter and we compared each other year to year. We quickly realized- we don't look anything alike!! LOL!! But, just having those pictures and being able to share them with her and reminisce was priceless!! I just love that I get a printed pack of images ready to be hung up and that I know the photographer picked what he or she thought was the best one. I realize sometimes the pictures don't come out that great- but there is always picture retake day! :) 

This whole idea of getting printed school pictures is partly what has led me to be a print photographer. I so want my clients to be able to sit with their grandchildren or other family members in years to come and remember the time they had a special photoshoot and have actual printed images in their hands or even just be able have the printed images to pass down to the next generation in their family. There is something about holding the pictures in your hands versus just seeing them on a digital screen. This generation of children is the most photographed generation of children ever- but sadly they may not see much of the images from their childhood- simply because people have stopped printing for the most part. Is your child going to be able to fire up your computer, access your hard drive, your iPhone or other electronic device and 30 years and view these precious images? I'm not so sure. 

I do understand that not everybody is in the market for a print photographer and I also realize that families are not printing images as they once did- if this is the case for you, I strongly encourage you to at least try to get those school pictures made!!