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We’ve all heard the old and well-known adage: ‘A photograph speaks a thousand words,’ but now, with trillions of images being taken per year in the digital age, do these words still ring true? Are photographs still as powerful as they once were? Does one single image have the ability to speak volumes?
Kira Pollack, director of photography and visual enterprise at Time Magazine, says “YES!”
In a 2017 TEDx Talk, Kira said:
“I believe that a photograph, a still image…Has an extraordinary power. It has the ability to brand itself on the back of your brain, and to distill down a scene, to one split second.”
When it comes to a family legacy, our lasting memories of moments and people, our family photographs become some of the most powerful visual and emotive tools we possess. As we become older, and our memory of certain moments in time begins to fade, a photograph can brand that memory on our minds, drawing forth vivid recollections of experiences long gone.
Not only does family photography transcend time, but it also allows us to be connected to the stories of our own families. Stories that have taken place long before us, allowing us to learn from their journeys, joining us together with our history and ancestry.
In a 2015 YouTube film on the stories we leave behind, 95-year-old husband, grandfather, and friend Joe Bucholt asked the question: What legacy will you leave?
In the film, Joe speaks of a book he created for his grandchildren and family to be passed down through their generations, which tells his story and consists of photographs from his life and experiences. He believes photographs are some of the most valuable things you can pass down.
“One of my objectives (for my grandchildren) is for them to know where they’re from, and the people that they’re from. I’m leaving them with values, and I’m leaving them with hundreds of photographs…All of which are very valuable to me. You can’t put a price on that, they’re…Very meaningful.”
Often, we find the idea of speaking about what we will leave behind somewhat morbid; however, we believe this concept all the more heightens the way we embrace and live our everyday lives.
Hamish Blake, Australian comedian, ex-radio announcer, and podcast host, speaks on this theory called the ’80-year-old test.’
“By being aware, and being conscious every day, that they (your children)will never be this little- and that they will never be here in this exact moment again. It forces you to pay attention to the present.”
He said on the Shameless podcast in September 2020.
On ‘Wilosophy’ with Will Anderson, Hamish elaborates on his theory further:
“I’m a bit obsessed with the belief of going ‘if I were 80, what would I give to be back in this moment?”
“Basically, even if you’re a bit sick or a bit tired, think about how much you’d give to go back to this very moment and live it again. I am 36, my kids are babies, and I just know I’d give everything. I’d give all the money in the world to be back right here in this moment, because we will never get this chance to live this moment again. It makes every moment with my kids super valuable.”
Taking in each one of our experiences as we have them, and capturing memories as we are living them, allows us to have cherished moments in time to look back on once those moments have passed. Hamish continues:
“…You don’t have as much time as you think, and you’re probably not spending it the way you think you’re spending it.” For me, it’s about memory making…I really believe my core life philosophy is about creating the best memories and the best inputs for people around me, and for my kids.”
It’s a balance each day between checking off our to-do lists and being present for the people in our lives; however, capturing photographs and instilling those memories allows us to heighten this experience even further. And create treasured moments to look back upon, knowing we embraced the present when we could.
Here at Verve, we believe that family photography or a series of images take us far beyond simply the moment we are in. They allow us to pass stories on, to give stories to those that come after us, and long after we’re gone.
Photographs also allow those to whom we are telling our stories to truly connect with what we’re saying and be transported into those moments right along with us. I’ve seen photos of my great grandparents when I was a newborn baby, feeling like I was there in the room beside them, and I otherwise would have no recollection of those moments at all.
My family has framed portraits of my grandmother on her wedding day, which allows me to have a greater depth of understanding of the type of woman she was. We have seen families come into our studios and connect on such deep levels with one another, as the shared experience of creating memories they can treasure for a lifetime is more powerful than they expected it to be.
Our mission at Verve is to help facilitate those beautiful moments with family photography. Moments of true connection. In an age when we are often so focused on what’s to come, we are changing the status quo by encouraging people to enter into the present moment with us. To watch as with the snap of the camera, moments are captured and time stands still, even if just for one frame.
To book in your portrait session with Verve, or chat further with our lovely team, you can reach out to us via the phone on 1300 083 783, or book online at verveportraits.com.au.
A visual legacy is basically the story of your family, captured in photos that last beyond the moment. It’s not just a nice picture for now. It’s something your kids (and future generations) will be able to look back on and feel connected to. These images become part of your family history.
Phone photos are great for everyday memories, but professional portraits are on a different level. They capture the whole family properly, with flattering lighting, good composition, and a quality that holds up over time. They’re also more intentional, which means you end up with photos worth printing, framing, and keeping.
If anything, that’s the best time to do it. Kids grow and change so quickly, and you never really realise how fast it’s happening until you look back. Having professional portraits from each stage gives you something real to hold onto, not just random snapshots buried in your camera roll.
Most families feel like that at first, so it’s completely normal. The session isn’t about being “perfect” or overly posed. A good photographer will guide you, help you relax, and capture natural moments in between. Once you get into it, it usually feels much easier than people expect.
You can absolutely keep digital copies, but the real value comes when the photos are displayed and enjoyed. Framed wall art, albums, and keepsakes make the portraits part of your home, not something that stays hidden in a folder. It’s also what makes them last for the long term, rather than being lost over time.
