Bringing back the family album with a modern twist!
As a child I loved nothing more than the days when, weeks after our summer holiday had passed, an envelope would come through the door containing all of our photos and we would all sit down to look through them. Admittedly, without digital technology, we would be lucky if my Mums thumb wasn’t covering the lens for at least half of them, if not cropping out our heads entirely, and yet still, there was something pretty special about going through those photos and remembering the fun we’d had.
I loved to watch as my Mum meticulously stuck each photo in a leather bound album, carefully peeling back the cellophane and slotting them in, proudly printing the title on the front, Torquay 1985, Christmas 1989, Laura’s birthday 1991, before slotting them onto the book shelf with the others. And I remember thinking that when I had children of my own, I would do the same.
And I guess I did at first. When Lewis was born I had albums carefully arranged and labelled, first smile, first steps, first birthday. And yet somewhere over the years, as I uploaded my photos from my digital camera to the laptop, I stopped popping to the supermarket to have them printed off, I stopped organising them into special occasions, or holidays, or even years, and before I knew it I had thousands of photos, draining my computer memory, in one big jumble of moments which I never find the time to trawl through.
And it turns out that I’m not the only one. Western Digital My Cloud Home have released research, taken by YouGov between April 10-11 2018, which shows that despite 71% of people saying that family albums were very or fairy important to their family growing up, some 39% have never created family albums of their own and a quarter have not looked at a photo album in over a year.
Amongst all adults who don’t make their own family album (a whopping 47%), the main reasons for them stopping was having too many photos (20%), not having enough time (19%), and not knowing where to start (8%). And I can totally relate to that, it can feel so overwhelming to see tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of photos to go through. So many times I have considered creating albums and then realised that with four children, there will never be enough hours in the day to even attempt to start!
On average although most parents have 4,470 photos on their mobile phones or digital devices (I personally have over 30,00 on my mobile phone alone!), only 30% of parents back up their photos! That thought actually terrifies me to think that, should they lose their phone or accidentally wipe it, those photos will be gone forever.
The research also shows that 39% of UK parents with digital devices are not printing any of their photos, 43% don’t share in social media, 34% don’t send them to others, and 65% of parents are taking the photo rather than appearing in them. This is something I am hugely aware of with being the main photographer in our every day moments, holidays and days out. I sometimes look back at photos and think, in years to come, there is very little to suggest that I was even present? I regret that I have allowed my own insecurities prevent me from being captured in those special moments, and I am trying hard to put that right.
I also found it interesting that 45% of parents who do actually make family albums, use photos that other family members have taken. In that way we aren’t really seeing the full picture of family life, just one perspective. I guess it’s the same as having professional family photo shoots done which, although utterly lovely to have, aren’t always a fair representation of family life looking back. For me, my favourite photos are not the ones where my children are pristine and smiling angelically at the camera, but the ones where their hair is disheveled, their knees are dirty, and their eyes are full of mischief.
With all of this in mind, Western Digital are launching a campaign to bring back the family album, and I am right behind it! Using a My Cloud Home device, an easy to use personal storage device that plugs directly into your Wi-Fi so you can save all of your digital content in one central place, I am hoping to bring back our own family album. I love the idea of establishing old fashioned family values but in a digital world, and I think that’s where My Cloud Home really gives us that advantage.
I will also be joining Western Digital’s idea of a Screening Sunday, where you sit down together to share photos, reminisce and enjoy family time. After all, some photos are way too precious not to share.
I’ll be back next week to let you know how we get on with the My Cloud Home and, in the meantime, if you’d like to join me you can find out more over at My Cloud Home.
** I’m working in a paid relationship with My Cloud Home and BritMums on their Bring Back the Family Album campaign, encouraging families to share and experience their photos and video together. *
The only thing that has kept me printing photographs has been my own grandparents nagging me for pictures of my daughter, because they’re not that computer literate and can’t see what I’m posting on social media, etc. I’m glad though because I always end up getting big batches done and then putting together an album for the year! 🙂 #KCACOLS
Ahh sounds like you could use the My Cloud Home! Solves that problem! xx
I love printed photographs, and we always have them up and around, I also update them regulary it is something that seems to be dying out now though sadly x
Me too, love having them in our home! xx
This is a really interesting idea to cover.. I remember still in school how our teacher used to say that now all photos are digital and will inevitably be lost when your pc breaks, unlike real photos. Well, since then things got really digital. 🙂
Yes!! That’s why having an external device is so important! xx
We still have old photos black and wite from 1985 and it’s always nice to look at them. Nowadays, its like have to pay extra to get them printed out, much more comfortable to look up on phone or other devices.
Yes Im the same! That’s why I love the My Cloud Home, it’s so easy to look through them like an album, but digitally! xx
I had photo albums for my first child when he was born but my second got a bum deal out of it. All my photos are on my PC or external hard drive. The kids love looking through them and I do worry about something happening to them – and it just isn’t the same looking at a screen. I think I need to make an effort to print off more photos!
Yes! I think we all do that!! xx
I loved albums and still do. Going through a carefully curated book of special memories with a parent is really special. I’ll continue to have physical books in my home when I become a Mom. Thanks for sharing your family with us.
Thank you Natalie xx
What a great campaign and how cool of you to back it. I love proper photo albums – what else will I use when my children bring their first partners home!!
Hahah so true! xx
Such a great campaign. I love looking through old photo albums of us growing up and those girls holidays. It is not quite the same now is it? I definitely need to make more effort to print some out. #kcacols
Me too! It’s not the same but we can still share them digitally, the My Cloud Home is FAB! xx
I remember sending off for photos or dropping them off at Boots to pick up the next day. This made the whole idea of taking photos really special. Now I have photos lurking around on so many devices, literally thousands! I love the idea of a family album, it’s a lovely tradition to bring back.
Oh me too! It was so special! xx
This seems like a great way to keep photos of the littles. I know I am terrible about printing the pictures I take of the kids!
Its such a good idea Jessica, and so important that we protect those photos too! xx
For me there is nothing better than having family photos printed its so much nicer to view them than on a computer screen -loved this x
Yes I agree, but times have definitely changed! xx
I was great about printing and keeping photos when my kids were younger. I’m not so great now. I tend to load things to my computer and let them sit. I need to start printing my pictures so my family can look back through them and remember those special memories.
Yes it’s hard to maintain it sometimes! xx
Completely agree with you! I so miss having my photos developed and I’m terrible at just downloading them to our computer and doing nothing with them. Great campaign
Ahh me too! I love that there are devices out there to help share though! xx
Im useless at getting photos printed and really I ought to know better – particularly as a few years ago one of our cameras was stolen (and for some reason I had it stored with all of our memory cards!) and so we lost pretty much all of lily’s baby photos!
Oh no!!! That’s just devastating!! xx
I am very much a fan of printing photos and I have a lot of albums but the storage is the main issue for me x
Yes they take up a lot of room! xx
It looks like such a nice idea, and your photos are absolutely precious! Thank for sharing this awesome idea!
Thank you! xx
I have albums from when my kids were little, but after we got a digital camera…it’s on line now. I think they’re backed up. No really sure!
I’m the same, but if something happened to my computer I’d lose them all! xx
I love looking through old photo albums, especially the ones my grandparents have. They really transport you back in time and it’s a shame that families aren’t doing it as much. This may be a good way to keep that tradition alive.
Yes! I love this campaign for that reason! xx
I’m one of those parents who rarely prints photo’s anymore. I post them to facebook but never have a real copy. I used to love looking through photo albums too. Hmmm maybe time to start printing!
Yes! I used to do exactly the same! xx
I think that with too much technology rising up, many families don’t have the time to keep family albums since may will have the photos in their phones. Anyway, you are so right! It feels so good when you get to receive all those photos of beautiful memories captured over a long holiday…that reminds me of years back when I was young and we’d visit grandma…aaaw!
Oh yeah, the good old days! xx
With the technology today, not many people are putting efforts in creating an album. I personally think that it’s sweet and more personal to print the actual photos out!
Xo, Sondra
Cuisineandtravel.com
Yes me too, although not always practical! xx
This has inspired me to have my photos printe! I have so many on my phone, I have no idea what I would do if it packed up on me! Thank you for sharing! Great campaign!
I know its quite scary! xx
I agree that nowadays people are printing photos less and less but I much prefer holding a photograph in my hand than I do looking at them online
Yes I do too! I’m the same with an actual book! xx
Loved reading the stats, Laura – I fall into all of them. It’s something I’ve written about myself and definitely one of those things I always say I’ll do and never do. And the longer I leave it, the more overwhelming it is to start. We’ve been thinking about a similar solution too, which would be perfect, so we could capture my husband’s photos as well etc. Thankfully my photos are backed up, but they’re not organised at all. And not all of our photos are in one place, so definitely one to look into! Looking forward to finding out how it goes for you! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
Yes I think that’s the thing, learning to organise them in storage! This is such a great idea! xx
It’s astonishing how many images we all keep on our phones isn’t it? And what if we lost them – doesn’t bear thinking about. My Cloud Home is a great solution.
Yes! I feel super nervous about that, thank god they are all safe and backed up now! xx
Yeah I definitely made more effort with my eldest but my younger boy asks where are his baby albums? Embarrassing to admit that mostly I’d given up on all that by round 2! I’m just getting used to our My Cloud Home myself, and I’m amazed at how much it can do, and how much easier it is to find old photos and start to create a system for them. Really impressed!
It’s fab isn’t it!! I really love it! xx
This is such a great idea! I love looking through my photos, I lovingly organize them on my iMac so I can then view them on all my apple devices. #bigpinklink
Yes that’s a great idea! xx
There’s something so special about looking back through pictures together. I love combining the old-fashioned photo album with the modern version. x
I agree, it takes me right back! xx
This is so true. I need to find the time to print my pictures. I have not printed pictures in ages now.
Yes I’m the same! xx
I too remember the feeling of heading to Tesco to get our pictures printed and put together in an album. These days I would be lucky if I was able to print any of my pictures off my computer but I want to restart that for sure
It’s just about finding the time isn’t it! xx
Great ideas! I’m guilty of banging photos straight into cluster albums but the poor kids dont get to just look at them! #bigpinklink
Yes me too! We love our screening Sundays! xx
I really need to start printing photos again. I feel my photo collection are not viewed enough siting on the cloud or pc.
Yes, although the My Cloud Home has a sharing facility which makes that possible digitally! I love it! xx
Yes, I need a proper album for all of our pictures! I have so many it seems overwhelming to get started!
Exactly that !! xx
This is such a lovely idea, I like that the family album is making a come back with it’s own more modern twist.
Yes! It’s a great campaign! xx
This is a great idea! Tell you the truth all my pictures are sitting in my computer, I really need to start printing them and put them in the album.
Yes! It’s just hard knowing where to start! xx
The WD My Cloud Home seems like the next addition to our home, we’ve been struggling to keep our images off our phones and cams and organized safely somewhere. Thank you for sharing.
Yes! It’s a great idea!! xx
I really need to get my act together on this one. I back up all my photos but have hardly any printed out and even on the walls let alone in an album. We used to do an annual photo book at Christmas, and that was pre-kids, but it was very time consuming and fell by the wayside. Photo sites have some great apps for making books though and there are often great deals. I must print more photo books. I loved family albums as a child, of us and of my other family, back through the generations. Important post. #bigpinklink
Oh that’s a lovely idea! It’s hard to find the time these days though! xx
I still love to go through old albums once in a while. They bring back so many great memories. I have tons of photos on my phone too and I try to do a backup every month, just in case. I have to check out the My Cloud Home device!
Its fab and really easy for those who still want to view a family album digitally! xx
It actually saddens me because I realize that you are right. When was the last time that I actually printed photos out? Far too long ago and I really do need to create more albums to cement my memories more effectively. I do love trawling through other people’s family albums I think that it is rather special x
Oh me too!! I am super nosy like that! xx
You’re so right, it is becoming much rarer now to have printed pictures and it really is a shame. I have been meaning for a long time to get organized and print family pics. It would be lovely to be able to look through albums – it’s just not the same when everything is on the pc in no order at all!
Yes I don’t really know anyone who does it! xx
I think that’s a great campaign idea! I love photo album and it’s always so nice to get back to them and have a look at all those beautiful photos! My parents have many albums have my brothers and I when we were young. i should make albums too!
Me too, I need to organise my life! xx
This is such a great and special idea!! I love to print and gift photos! I really don’t do it enough! Sx
I’m the same, there’s just never enough hours in the day! xx
One of our big regrets is that so much of our lives happened pre-digital so we don’t have so many photos or albums to share of the Tubblet’s earlier days. Now everything’s backed up to the cloud so it doesn’t get lost 🙂
Ahh yes, I feel the same about my teens! xx
Very important to keep sharing these images. My Mum always moans at me that I don’t print my photos enough and she is right. I take so many that I get over whelmed at he thought of sorting them. I always say I should do it monthly and keep all the best ones and not repeats! Look forward to hearing a update
Yes! I am always saying I’ll do it tomorrow! And never do! xx
This sounds like a brilliant campaign. I know we don’t print nearly enough of our photos off. But we do have ours cloud based, and the automatically curated moments (that we can watch through our TV) are everything! xx
Yes! Thats the same as this, it’s such a good idea! xx
This is a great idea! I just purchased a digital frame that’ll allow me to display thousands of photos, but in one frame.
Oh I love that idea!! xx
great article full of ideas having a family article is very nice and sound legit for the purpose of past memories. nice post great job.
Thank you! xx
I love flipping through family albums! Now people usually just scroll their phones – it’s convenient but I still love the tangible feeling of a photo. Albums should definitely have a comeback!
Oh me too but a digital version is definitely easier to compile in this day and age! xx
That survey I can totally see why families have trouble making albums with so many pics to choose from. It’s not like before where you had to take pictures and then have them processed. Now you take a ton more of them and always have more. So hard to choose. But I still think it’s important doing it to capture the memories. I did a powerpoint presentation once of all my pics for my daughter. I loved doing it.
Oh I love that idea! That’s so sweet! xx
Ahh amen to this, Laura! I haven’t been printing off half as many photos as I would like and I’m making a conscious effort to change that. I recently put some photos in an album for Pickle and even though he’s not yet even two – he LOVES flipping through it and pointing at the people he recognises. It’s a great tool to encourage him to learn names!
Yes! Harry found an old album of Lew’s and is obsessed with it! Even though the ‘Daddy’ isn’t his Daddy….awkward! hahah! xx
The funny thing is we progress and then miss the very things that we wanted to leave behind. Fond memories of photography and dashing to the processing place often paying extra to see pics quickly. Recently received my late Dad’s snapshots album from his Navy days and it will be forever cherished. #BigPinkLink
Oh how precious is that! xx
This is something I would really love to sit down and do. I lost the vast majority of my eldest baby photos when my external hard drive failed and have had to gather back pictures from other people which just isn’t as good as the ones I had. #kcacols
Ohh Amy that’s such a shame!! xx
I love the idea of a ‘screening sunday’. I can still remember waiting in Boots for my prints to be handed over and having to chuck out all the ones with smudges and thumb prints.
Hahah yes!! xx
This sounds really interesting and something i would defo look into to. I am the same – when my first son was born< i would get my prints from Boots and stick them in an album. Four albums later and there is so more!! I am really good at getting photos and canvas up in our home though!! Looking forward to your next post! #Bigpinklink
Thank you! xx
Screening sunday is a great campaign and I’m looking forward to sitting down all together and sharing our family memories together. My Cloud Home has been so handy to have too
It’s a real must have for families! xx
I loved having family photo albums. I really still want a printed album of pictures of my kids. I love that there are those ones that you can print the book and you upload the pictures to it. I want to do that but haven’t taken the time to do so yet.
Yes! I love those too! xz
Oh this sounds amazing. I have over 20,000 photographs between my external hard drive and my phone. My phone has 7000. It’s shocking actually. All mine are backed up on iCloud and sync between my Apple devices which is great but I would love a central space for all our photographs! 😀
Yes! I am always shocked by how many I have on my phone! I get scared to delete them, even when they are in iCloud! xx
What a wonderful campaign! I just bought one of those new polaroid cameras for my birthday because I wanted to be able to print pictures and put them in an album. I have thousands of pics on my phone…but they never get developed
Oh what a fab idea! Enjoy it! xxx
I tend to actually print my photos of the lady out. But there are times when I forget. I love this idea tho.
Thank you! xx
Great campaign. I used to love looking through all my mums photo albums. The only time I print out photos now is for relatives in thank you cards! #Bigpinklink
Yes I need to do it way more! xx
Oh, I’ll have to visit My Cloud and see what kind of service they have available! I download, print, share and make albums of my photos! I love pictures!
It’s great Milena! xx
This is a great campaign, I love the idea of this. I never print photos off but it’s something I should really do! X
I think we all struggle to find the time! xx
love the idea of Screening Sunday! Great way to connect with your kids!
It’s a great campaign! xx
You have 30,000 images on your mobile phone alone??? You must have a phone with a lot of GB! Shows the need for something like the My Cloud Home though doesn’t it? We do all take so many more images and having them in the one place makes it so much easier to look through them or do something like a Screening Sunday, which is such a nice idea.
Hahah yes! I have a 128GB phone, it’s totally necessary!! xx
I religiously did baby books and photo albums when my older ones were little, but with the little ones I don’t and its such a shame. I guess I have my blog to look back on but I do miss a good photo album
Yes I think I use my Instagram as a family album these days! xx
I love printing my photos, having them in albums and all around the house. Sweet memories from the past, beautiful moments to remember, I’m so romantic when it comes to pictures ahahah!
Ahh me too!! xx
Great campaign.I have so been meaning to get my photo shit together.I’m feeling inspired!
You should try it Jenny, it;’s fab! xx
I have so many photos on all different devices and I can never find a photo that I particularly need. I definitely need to take some time to sort my photos and print into albums x
YES!! That’s why I love the My Cloud Home, it’s perfect for that!! xx
My baby and childhood photos are in two photo boxes at my parent’s home back in the Philippines. Photos during my high school-present are saved on my external hard drive. I do look at it at least twice a year. Last year, when we moved to the Pacific Northwest, I started to make yearbooks with all our memories for each year of our new life here in Washington. Josh wasn’t a fan of taking pictures, but since we’ve been together, he always stops to take a picture now with me.
Oh that’s a great idea to make yearbooks, it’s lovely to document the years! xx
I’ve been making an effort (and I’m sorry to say it is an effort!) to look through the digital pics and choose one a month from the past 8 years. The idea is to dwindle them down to print them off or maybe use a digital photo frame. But at least we’ve got them there in the first place i suppose! #kcacols
Yes! It can be time consuming though! xx
I love the idea of this campaign. One of my favourite things to do is look at photo albums. I print my photos but I have packets and packets of photos I have done nothing with ? x
Ahh I miss the days of packets of photos! xx
I keep meaning to print out our photos in an annual book or calendar but have yet to do so. #bigpinklink
Yes its hard finding the time isn’t it? xx
I absolutely LOVED our family albums as a child, and also remember the excitement you describe, when an envelope of freshly developed pictures arrived in the post! But I also am a failure at keeping the family album going… The thought is there, but WHEN am I going to fit it in? ? Best of luck with this, I hope it will be of great help for organising all your photos, to be enjoyed for many years to come xx #KCACOLS
I have a lot of photos in albums from when my boys were little. Now, most of their photos are in my phone or in the cloud.