With the proper camera and vision, photography can make your life much better. Below are just a few of the many benefits of developing a love of photography.
“Young Photographer” captured by Muha
1. Photography affords immortality
Don’t believe it? Look at all the old photographs your mom or grandmother had around. I personally have a picture in my china cabinet of a newly married couple in 1911, and I have no idea who it is. (No, Cousin Ann, I don’t care to know.) I mean, it has their names on the back, but I’m not quite sure just where in the family tree they belong. I just think it’s cool. They looked so stiff and formal back then! It sure is different than how we take such natural pictures today. I personally will be immortalized laughing or smiling in many pictures.
1911 Wedding Portrait, Carl & Nellie (via flickr/josh phillipson)
2. Photography documents your journey through life
From your childhood pictures to your child’s pictures to your grandchild’s pictures. From first smiles to first steps to first dates, life can be documented and preserved. Photography captures personal communication that would otherwise be lost forever.
Many times I’ve noticed something in a photograph that wasn’t apparent when I was snapping the picture. Sometimes it’s a look on a child’s face or an arm around a lover or something that would have been lost forever if not captured in that very moment in time.
“Quanto ci costa sorridere?” captured by Andrea Floris
So, whether it’s that child saying “Puhleeeese, I’m soooo sick of you taking these stupid pictures” or the lover feeling that “connectedness” right at that very moment they both are conveyed for eternity. Captured. Never to be lost.
3. Photography is a wonderful stress reliever
I mean, really, how much can you concentrate on that all-consuming problem when you turn your focus instead to the petals of a flower, the wings of a butterfly, the graceful curves of a majestic mountain, or the dimples of a smiling baby?
“Monarch Butterfly” captured by Shandi-lee Cox
Go ahead. Take your blood pressure before and after spending just 30 minutes focusing on getting that perfect picture. You’ll be amazed at the difference.
Then, for better overall health, just rinse and repeat often. It’s okay. I promise the problem won’t go away. It’ll still be there when you’re ready to start worrying again.
4. Photography inspires your imagination
My sister is a professional photographer and her creativity while taking photographs of the kids is what moved her (slowly) toward a career as a photographer. She loves finding and replicating such creative poses as a newborn in a net seemingly hanging from the sky. She also loves taking a couple and creating romantic ways for the shared love to be shown.
“Engaged” captured by Bùi Linh Ngân
It has inspired my own creativity, as I help her come up with new ideas. For instance, one day I was walking on a road with plenty of random cracks in it. The sun was behind me casting my shadow forward. We were talking on the phone about how to capture this one particular couple and the strength of their union and I mentioned the cracks all around them (symbolizing life in general). However, when it came to their shadows, they were solid. In this way it showed the strength of the union as well as how life couldn’t “crack” them.
5. Photography as a career is possible for anyone with a true passion for it
There are people who make a living being a photographer. Imagine, if you will, that every picture you’ve ever seen, whether it’s on a billboard, in a magazine, or on TV, was snapped by someone. There are schools, classes, books, and websites where you could learn much more than I could ever tell you. Remember, you have your whole life in front of you. Why not aim for a part-time career on the side?
6. Photography is a wonderful, safe, and natural self-esteem booster
My 14 year-old loves the feeling of pride she gets when she takes pictures of her friends and they turn out good. When she downloads and sees them on the computer she’s in seventh heaven. And, of course, she loves sharing them with her friends.
7. Photography brings you closer to your natural spirituality
Look around at the wonders of nature. Whether you believe in God or not, you can’t help but feel a stirring at the beauty surrounding you. You simply can’t help but understand how very small you are while you are realizing how very vast everything else is.
“Rainbow Valley” captured by Roy Wangsa
8. Photography lets you see things that you may never notice otherwise
When I look at something I can’t possibly take in every aspect that is within my vision. For instance, a beautiful sunset only lasts so long and I may not notice all aspects of how the colors play on the water (I live in a beach town). The look of the sand (such a simple thing) changes as the sun lowers. All of these aspects are much more evident in a picture, and I can concentrate on the overall view while knowing that the individual components will not be lost forever.
“Gong Beach Sunset” captured by Tony Heyward
9. Photography preserves new and old memories
Think of the wife or husband who has lost a spouse. Or the child who lost a parent. With pictures not only can they have no fear of forgetting their loved one’s face but can remember exactly what was going on when that picture was snapped, cementing the memory forever.
These are only a few of the many, many benefits of photography. They are so many, it would be impossible to fit them into one article. What’s your favorite benefit of photography?
About the Author:
Mary Segers from theremustbeabetterway is a home time management expert and coach.
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Taking photos is my favorite pastime. During my college days, I used to bring my camera and take photos as a remembrance in every new place I visited. I mostly like to take photos of sunrise and sunset, same with the beauty of nature. Thanks to the latest technology, we can now preserve those old photos and make those old memories new again.
I remember back in the days. I used to bring my camera and took photos as a remembrance in every new place I visited. I mostly like to take photos of sunrise and sunset, same with the beauty of nature. Thanks to the latest technology, we can now preserve those old photos and make those old memories new again. Photography now is more enhanced with its output and results of quality pictures.
Thanks to the latest technology, we can now preserve those old photos and make those old memories new again. I appreciate the technology more in having this photography industry bloom.I love photography. I remember back in the days. I used to bring my camera and took photos as a remembrance in every new place I visited. I mostly like to take photos of sunrise and sunset, same with the beauty of nature.
I love photography. I remember back in the days. I used to bring my camera and took photos as a remembrance in every new place I visited. I mostly like to take photos of sunrise and sunset, same with the beauty of nature. Thanks to the latest technology, we can now preserve those old photos and make those old memories new again. I appreciate the technology more in having this photography industry bloom.
Thanks for sharing this , Totally agree with you
Totally agree with you! This is a great article!
In my opinion, photography connects us to people, places, and even emotions. That’s what I learned throughout my journey.
helped with my assignment
thanks!!
Photography is such a Creative Field.
Thanks for sharing this blog
My cousin has been thinking about looking at some pictures from New York to see what it is like to live there that is realistic. Looking at a blog, and pictures made with the help of a professional could be really useful for her. I liked what you said about how they can document the look on a kid’s face that would otherwise be lost forever.
Thanks for sharing this great article Mary!
Photographs are very much useful, especially when you get old. They can serve as a reminder of how beautiful of a life you have lived.
Please read my blog: The Importance of Taking Photographs
Hope this will also help, Thank you!
I didn’t realize before that with photography it is somewhat like making us and our families immortal since we are forever captured in photos. My husband and I have been wondering whether or not we should wait to do family photos until later on. I think we should find a photographer who specializes in family photography and have him capture our forever right now.
That is nice that photography can bring in joy by replicating creative poses. That is something I would want for a photographer if I were hosting an event. Soon it would be good to get a photographer for my kid’s bat mitzvah so they could have creative poses and memories.
Whether it’s a family vacation, wedding or a happy moment, photography preserve each memory. Superb article! I totally agree with the wonderful benefits of photography after reading this article and explains the same to clients. :)
It would be really nice for us to have professional pictures taken as a family so that we can keep the memories forever. If one of my kids passed away it would give me comfort to know that we had pictures taken to keep a remembrance of them. This is something my wife and I are going to have to do soon.
We will be getting a family portrait for my son’s graduation, and I do agree that photography affords immortality as you said since we get to permanently record his life’s milestone with us. Since photography documents our journey through life as you mentioned, getting a great portrait photographer can really capture the essence of our happiness for that part of his life. I do agree that photography lets us see things that we may never notice otherwise as you pointed out since my children are growing up fast, and I was surprised that it felt like I held them for the first time yesterday.
I liked what you said about how photography can help preserve and document your life story. I have been considering getting family portraits done with my family so I can see how we all grow together. Thank you for the information about how photography captures personal communication that would otherwise be lost forever.
It got me when you said that photography is a great stress reliever and that is because instead of focusing on the problem, the person will focus on flowers, butterflies, and the like. If so, then I guess my brother was on the right track when he started carrying a camera everywhere he goes. He said that is his way to motivate himself. Anyway, if he gets better at it, then maybe he can join galleries and such. Now that would make him even happier.
I appreciate how you mentioned that photography helps to immortalize you if you are stiff and rigid or natural and smiling. My wife and I have a son who is going to be getting married soon. Immortalizing his special day is something that is a high priority for us. We’ll have to hire a good photographer to ensure that we get pictures that will help us to remember.
I have been thinking about taking up photography as a hobby and I am glad that I found this article because I had no idea that there are so many benefits! You make a great point that photography allows you to feel closer to the beauty of nature around you. This would be a great benefit for me because it will allow me to slow down and actually look at the beauty around me. Also, the fact that photography inspires your imagination is great because it will expand your ideas and vision.
I love how you said that your daughter feels great when she takes a good picture! I think that another benefit is when someone takes a picture of you and you look great as well! Portrait photographers have the opportunity to do a lot of that because they get to be up close and personal. Maybe I should get one of my kids to pick up the hobby so we can all look great and feel great!
My 11 years daughter has passion for photography n she has decided to make her hobby of photography as proffession thats why I want to know more about photography
I loved all the great tips Mary gives us… I have learnt a great deal.
Such a great read and so true!
I see truth in these 9 benefits. They raise my morale. I am 74.
Thanks for the great article all nine points well taken. Photography is more than just pushing a button.
Growing up my mom always loved taking pictures of us, so I have been wanting to do the same for my kids more often. It is so interesting to me that we have the ability to take a picture of a moment and then look back and notice new things like you mention in this article. In my opinion, you can never take too many pictures. Thank you for the article!
LA TOMAS FOTOGRAFICAS REALIZADAS DESDE CUALQUIER TIPO DE CAMARA, TE PERMITE SER MAS OBSERVADOR, DONDE DESDE TU IMAGINACION TE PERMITE IR HACIENDO TOMAS DESDE DIFERENTES ANGULOS DE LA CAMARA Y DESDE TU MISMO OJO, LO QUE NO LE PERMITE A LA MAYORIA DE LA GENTE VER ESAS PEQUEÑAS PERO GRANDES DIFERENCIAS DESDE UN GESTO, UNA MIRADA Y MILES DE TONALIDADES, SIMPLEMENTE UNA MARAVILLA DEL UNIVERSO QUE PERMITE PRESERVAR GRANDES MOMENTOS QUE SE CONVIERTEN EN UNA GRAN CADENA DEL TIEMPO
I like how you mentioned that with photography, you are able to capture moments that may end up forgotten in the future. One things I’ve always loved to do is go back on my school pictures and see past classmates as well as the changes I’ve made each year. Keeping hold of all these moments brings back great memories, and ones to tell future generations.
Great article.
Photography lets you search for and finding beauty in the world, gets you out doors instead of bing stuck on the computer.
I think its so great that you talked about how life can be documented and preserved through photography. I was recently talking to my daughter’s school picture photographer, and I think that she hit on that very important point as well! I think that documenting and remembering things cant be done any better than through capturing moments as a photographer.
Mary Segers I totally agree with your thoughts concerning the wonderful benefits of photography. After reading the article in PictureCorrect I just had to respond to it on my blog too. Those of us that love the beauty of nature and those around us need to show others why we enjoy photography. I’d love read more of your thoughts.
http://thomasandersonphotography.com/can-photography-extend-your-life/
great advise. Citing this for a school paper. i think your format is great
Excellent article that reflects many of my experiences over a half century of fascination with photography. The one I’ve probably enjoyed most is your #8, seeing things in greater detail. Being a retired geography teacher and a photographer lets me enjoy more of the world around me than the non-photographer will ever see. I thoroughly enjoy sharing those visions with others.
Totally agree. Since getting into Photography I see everything differently, look at it from a different viewpoint, notice smaller details. It’s a great hobby to teach yourself to look at and appreciate more the things around you. I look at landscapes and architecture for that little bit longer. I’m constantly “framing” photos in my mind’s eye. I have a renewed appreciation for cinema where I’m not just noticing the acting, plot, SFX etc, but also the camerawork and angles, and the colouring. It’s improved my attention to small details, not just in photography but everyday life. It led me to set up my own small business. It’s genuinely changed my life.