Where Memories Go to Live (and Die)

  • By Erik Smith
  • •
  • 15 Jun, 2018
  • •

In an age of technology leaps and bounds, where do we draw the line in embracing the future while not allowing the past to completely fade away? Is digital imagery the way to go? Or could we be losing something special in the process? 

Whenever I visit my parents house, I like to find my way over to the mantle and stare at all of the beautiful pictures that have been sitting in this spot for as long as I can remember. I run my eyes along a photo of my parents when they were just teenagers, a few of my siblings and I growing up (those hairstyles were hilarious), and now there are some of my own kids joining the ranks of the family mantle.

As with most days, my eye catches the one of my grandparents taken way back when. This photo has always been my favorite. Not because of the antique imagery or how handsome my grandfather looked in his uniform but because this photo allows me to see my grandparents in a very personal way. You see, neither of them are around anymore but looking at this photo, I can still feel their connection. Plus, it’s simply fun to see them like this - all dressed up with big smiles on their faces. It’s different than my fuzzy memories of them when I was a kid and in a way, this seems more real.

As it is with most families, these old photos are some of the most prized possessions we own and we go to great lengths to preserve them.
Vintage photos HSP Imaging Inc

Where Have All the Photos Gone?


There is a growing trend today in photography and while I will say that we are usually at the forefront of new tech, this one has us stopping to pause and think. Is it really a good idea to join the droves of photographers who are no longer offering hard copy prints but are instead providing a digital image attached to an email?

Thinking of all the photos I have on my phone right now, I can honestly say that this little device holds the majority of my memories. It’s portable, it’s easy, but it is also a photo graveyard.

Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I did something with one of these photos! Have I printed any of these images in the last year or two? No, I haven’t. My life moments have been shared on social media and then either deleted for new image room or lost in the ever-growing noise of apps.  

HSP Imaging Fenton Mi Photographer | Mens photography
Our Moments Are Worth Preserving

While I do think that there is a place for digital imagery (because we take and store all of our images in a digital format), thinking of a time when we forget the printed photo all-together saddens me.

Will my kids miss out on having these professionally taken family photos to cherish? Will my grandkids still have the technology to get these images of me off of a CD or will it cost them a fortune to have them extracted from our ancient tech? As I think about how quickly technology changes and things become obsolete, it makes me want to have something tangible now more than ever.

So to all of this we say, bring on the advancements in photography quality, but please let us keep the professional prints!  Let them and our cherished memories live on.

#SaveThePhotos

Feeling Relaxed and Ready For a Senior Photo Session: How-To Guide 

By Erik Smith • 21 Jul, 2018
Feeling stressed about getting senior photos taken? Not sure what to wear or where to go? Here are a few tips for feeling calm, collected, and ready to get things done!

Meet Jarvis | The Newest Arrival to the HSP Family

By Erik Smith • 29 Jun, 2018
You may have seen us touting his arrival on Facebook and Instagram but we can’t wait to officially introduce you to our newest member of the HSP fam!

Trash the Dress | A Beautifully Mud-Caked Photo Shoot

By Erik Smith • 15 May, 2018
THERE IS BEAUTY IN BEING YOURSELF AND CAPTURING UNIQUE IMAGES THAT CONVEY THIS TYPE OF ENERGY IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO! TODAY I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A VERY PERSONAL AND UNIQUE PHOTO SHOOT THAT WE RECENTLY COMPLETED. IT IS RAW, DIRTY, AND ENTIRELY MARVELOUS.

Get in the Game: How to Take Better Kids Sport Action Pics with Your Smartphone

By Erik Smith • 05 May, 2018
It's spring sports season! Be sure to capture every moment of it - from professional HSPImaging keepsake photos to game day action pics taken on your smartphone. Here's 6 tips for getting the best pics possible.

Hero Round Table : San Francisco | HSP Travels 

By Erik Smith • 27 Apr, 2018
HSPImaging recently traveled to San Francisco, California as the official photographer of the Hero Round Table conference. See images from the event and learn how we can stand together in support of our local communities.

Spring Photos: 6 Tips for Choosing What to Wear

By Erik Smith • 18 Apr, 2018
Because choosing what to wear is the second most important decision you'll need to make! Here are our tips for making sure you shine.

Copenhagen Travel Photo Published

By HSP Imaging Inc. • 11 Apr, 2018
Travel Photography Featured in Shutter Magazine. Check out more photos from Erik's Denmark trip in this post.

Portrait Sizing

By Erik Smith • 10 Apr, 2018
One of the hardest parts of ordering portraits is sizing. What size is the best for your space, what size do family members want, and how will they be displayed?

HSP is here to help, during our ordering sessions here at our studio in Fenton Michigan we have a new system that allows you to see your portraits on your homes walls instantly. This takes the guessing work out of hanging portraits and gives an accurate view of the space. All too often we hear.."8x10 that's too big!" Or we don't need a really big one.

Below is an example of an 8x10 hung on a wall, we think you will agree Grandma is going to have a hard time enjoying this portrait!

Wilson

By HSP Imaging Inc. • 29 Mar, 2018
Wilson attends Fenton High School in Fenton Michigan, he also has spent this school year working with HSP as a part of Senior Project thru the school. All of us at HSP are very proud to have worked with Wilson and wish him all the best in his future.

Last weekend Wilson finally got it together and had a senior session with us! We hit classic downtown Fenton areas and we hope you agree the results are awesome!

Mackinaw Blue Ice 2018

By HSP Imaging Inc. • 19 Mar, 2018
This weekend we packed up the truck and took off to see this blue ice that we had been hearing so much about on Facebook. As a photographer I always want to find a different way to photograph what everyone else is pointing a camera at. In this case it didn't matter where I pointed my camera there was beauty all around us.

The kids enjoyed climbing on the ice and seeing how far they could see, while we also took the opportunity to snap a quick family portrait. While we lacked on the pre planning of outfits and colors we made up for in location!

If you have the opportunity to see this rare occurrence it is highly recommended to stay close to the shoreline, the best viewing we found was right downtown Mackinaw City.  Enjoy a few of our photos from this random adventure!
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