At some point, every parent realizes the same thing:
We take more photos than ever…
and print almost none of them.
They live on our phones. In camera rolls. In folders, we swear we’ll organize “someday.”
And slowly, without meaning to, they disappear into the background of daily life.
Not because they don’t matter — but because everything feels urgent, and this doesn’t.
Until it does.
Digital Is Convenient. Prints Are Protective.
Phones are wonderful for capturing life as it’s happening.
But they’re not archives.
They get replaced.
They get lost.
They get backed up… until they don’t.
Printed photos don’t rely on passwords or updates or remembering which cloud you used. They sit on shelves. They get flipped through. They get found by little hands.
They stay.
That’s not nostalgia — that’s protection.
You Don’t Need to Print Everything
This is usually where people freeze.
They think printing means: sorting thousands of images, picking “the best ones”, and finding the perfect album.
Doing it right, you don’t need to do any of that. You just need to start.
One small batch. One season. One simple box of images that says: this mattered.
That’s it.
A Simple Way to Begin (No Overthinking Required)
Years ago, I put together a simple guide for families who wanted to start printing but didn’t know where to begin.
The idea was intentionally low-pressure:
- choose a small window of time (a few months)
- print a manageable number of images
- don’t worry about perfection
One of the easiest entry points I’ve shared is using the Shutterfly app, which often offers 100 free 4×6 prints — you just cover shipping.
No commitment. No fancy decisions. Just a way to get photos off your phone and into your hands.
Printed Photos Change How Kids See Their Story
This is the part that matters most to me. When children grow up seeing themselves on the walls, in boxes, and in albums, they learn something quietly but powerfully: I belong here, my story matters.
They don’t scroll through their childhood — they hold it. And that matters more than we realize while we’re in the middle of it.
From Me (Your Photo Bestie Moment)
If printing feels overwhelming, you’re not behind.
You’re just busy.
You don’t need to do this perfectly. You don’t need museum-quality prints or matching albums. You just need to start somewhere.
Future-you — and your kids — will be really glad you did.
That’s how memories survive.
Photo Bestie tip: If you’re reading this and thinking, “I should do this,” that’s your sign. Pick a small batch. Order the prints. Put them somewhere you’ll see them. Done.
xo, Tiff
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