I have been a photo-taker for as long as I can remember. More specifically, since I graduated from high school. I never picked up a nature knack in the photos I've taken...my photography centers around drinking and parties. Ninety nine percent of the photos are in albums, and the rest that are stored in a plastic drawer are HORRIBLE.
The other night, while brainstorming ways to rid my life of clutter, these pictures got me thinking. When is it alright to dispose of old pictures (if ever)? They aren't pictures I would be excited to show little man (or ANYONE), nor are they pictures I've looked at in YEARS.
Like I said, I have a small amount of these pictures in photo books, but most of them are still in the original paper folder from the Target Photo department. Little man has discovered the photo books, and really enjoys flipping through the pages. I'm not super enthusiastic about this, but the books he's pulled so far are a family trip when I was 10 (filled with crappy pictures taken by a wanna-be 10 year old "photographer"). The other are pictures of a family trip to Mexico (but still contain a few drinking shots since the family trip was when I was 19).
I'm all torn up about what to do. Any advice would be helpful!!!
4 weeks ago
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Go through them and be ruthless. If there's nothing redeeming about them, toss them.
ReplyDeleteThrow away anything involving jello shots, tequila or keg stands. :) Keep anything that would be a cute, fun or sweet memory you could share with little man sometime down the road. Even those pics from your budding photographer years. And of course any photos with him in them or you when you were pregnant with him!!! Maybe you could scan the ones you decide you want to keep and keep them electronically rather than taking up physical space. Only keep the most special ones in albums or frames. I do have to say though, I really enjoy sorting through old photos from my family and even my fiance's family. Good luck with your decision.
ReplyDeleteI can't bring myself to throw away any of my old pics. I have them stores in boxes and on cds. Every once in a while I take them out and go through them. I love coming across old pics that my mom thought were long gone. They remind that she had a life before me, in a way. Help me see her more as a person, and not just a "mom." If that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI am a photographer, so I am obviously biased. But I agree with Mandy. Keep everything. At least don't throw out the negatives.
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