Episode #166 Take More Pictures

Three Problems

• We often create memories for the photo instead of creating memories for the memory.
• If we only ever photograph the extraordinary, we may struggle to remember and appreciate the ordinary.
• Our efforts to document a moment can occasionally dominate the moment.

Five Principles

• The practice of photographing others can create intimate moments that deepen connection.
• Boring scenes are boring in black and white, so changing camera settings to black and white helps us focus on emotion, texture, and light.
• Film photography is to digital photography what a handwritten letter is to an email.
• Taking a picture can cement a memory in our minds as a statement that, “This is a moment worth remembering.”
• Sometimes it’s better to capture an imperfection than to share something perfectly polished.

Three Practices

• Take photos that are meant to be savored rather than shared.
• Before taking a photo, identify the purpose of the photo.
• Instead of instructing someone to “Say cheese,” ask them to tell you a story that makes them smile.