The fun of researching your family is enjoying another era and finding answers to the question: What was life back then? Think about how we live our lives and what’s important to us. These are the moments we photograph and videotape. Vacations How were vacations similar, but different to the ones we take today?…
Okay. You’re looking for the phone of your dreams, although if you’re at dinner with the man or woman of your dreams then put your phone research on hold. But I get it. Your smartphone is your tool to capture a lifetime of memories. Research shows that 92% of all images taken in the U.S.…
Photos and videos continue collecting on our phones, tablets, and laptops as we’re out and about, taking trips, going to events like birthday parties, or even shopping in the store while deciding what to use in decorating the house. Taking photos is an everyday, and every moment, occurrence. Have you received a text from your…
Brandi Koehm wanted her family photos, videos and home movies stored in a safe place but felt a “dark cloud” of uncertainty. And then it happened. Her files were uploaded to her computer that she knew “was dying.” Then the hard drive crashed and she lost three years’ worth of meaningful memories, unable to recover…
Researching your family’s history can mean different things depending on your interest level. You can satisfy your curiosity about your family’s past by looking at old photos, home movies, slides, or other media and jotting down your recollections and understanding of what you’re viewing. Or you can dig deeper and travel back farther in time.…
Organizing family photos is challenging when you’ve got photos scattered among traditional scrapbook albums, devices like phones, and different social media sites. I’ve been a photo coach for 27 years, showing clients how to select and preserve the memories that matter the most. You can also contact me and others I work with as professional…
There’s more light in the day and the world takes on a different color scheme. Your routine may stay the same but capture those moments during the summer that you don’t have during the other months in the year. Then scroll down to learn how to safeguard and share your summer memories for generations to…
Personal experience is a great teacher even though the lessons we learn can be painful. The good news is that the pain can lead us to solutions. Meet Michelle Collinge, a photo coach who’s one of my colleagues from around the country and she’s passionate about preserving family photos like the collage above that has…
Your family line is as much a puzzle as it is a tree with roots and branches. Researching your family means answering questions and digging up one person’s story and those findings can lead to more stories. You can make piecing together your family history as detailed as you’d like or as simple as possible.…
Memorial Day weekend is our traditional start of summer but it’s also a time to remember the many men and women who have served our country. Photos and videos remind us of the challenges they faced and the impact on their loved ones and communities. We need to write our family stories and permanently safeguard…
Melody’s note: As a photo coach, I work with a wonderful association of people across the U.S. and I like to highlight their expertise and experiences. Enjoy reading about my friend and colleague Marianna Curran. Marianna uses her digital camera to take photos during vacations and other family events. She…
Easy-to-use tools give you what you need to run a profitable business to organize and permanently store photos for families and small businesses. Operate from your home–or anywhere with an internet connection. I’m in my 27th year as a photo coach and I’m excited about the future of my business. Families across the United States…
If you’re starting to trace your family’s history don’t get overwhelmed. It’s doable if you have a strategy to organize your photos and research your genealogy. Know Your Purpose for Family Research Why do you want to research your family’s history and trace your genealogy? Keep your answer firmly in mind so you can…
The technology you use may seem like a shiny new object today, but it could be dull, obsolete, and hard to manage in the near future. People are looking for permanent storage solutions but they’re not aware of what I’ve found. Look at this 2018 article from The Guardian that a friend brought to my…
Moms who value family will enjoy a gift that brings all ages and generations together—family stories told through your photos like the one you see of my mother, my daughter, and me during a Mother’s Day celebration at my daughter’s preschool in 2004. And the way that they’re done, ensures that the photos will last…
Easter week is here and Mother’s Day is coming up in a few weeks and family gatherings are a great way to begin journaling your family photos. It’s so easy to snap pictures, but it’s so easy to get overwhelmed with how many images are on your smartphone. We naturally think of keeping all of…
A family’s story is a precious way to chronicle life from the early years through life as a senior, aging gracefully. You can see it in the digital album, above, that has photos of my father and mother–from their childhood into their years as grandparents and great-grandparents. Their photos are stored through FOREVER®, a service…
During my 27 years as a photo coach, I’ve worked with many wonderful people as clients helping them learn how to organize and preserve their most precious memories. I’ve also gathered a community of like-minded people who asked me to mentor them in business. I connect with them from my home office. Each client and…
During the past few blog posts, you’ve seen how I’ve handled organizing photos that have helped me reach back to my great-grandparents while connecting in new ways with my grandmother, mother, and my dad. Scroll to the end to see the links to those blogs. But what about my own children? Photo Coaching with Young…
Family photos aren’t static items, but they bring memories to the surface and let us relive some of the most important moments of our past. They also bring joy to our aging parents and grandparents by giving them a sense of joy and meaning that television and crossword puzzles simply can’t. My dad is a…
How many traditional or scrapbook photo albums do you have around your house, the ones with printed pictures neatly arranged showing relatives, vacations, and birthdays from years past? In the early years when I helped my mother and grandmother, we ended up with 60 traditionally made albums between us. We journaled in them and told…
My story of how I’ve built Safeguard Your Memories® began like most businesses do—trying to solve a problem or dilemma. I faced a reality that many young families encounter like raising kids and balancing household needs. In 1992, two months after my daughter was born, I became a stay-at-home mom. After two years, we…
What a great time to tell your family’s history through the photos and documents you collect. It’s now possible to organize them in digital albums that you own and can pass on to descendants you’ll never meet. Learn more for free this coming Saturday, Feb. 26 during an event hosted by FOREVER, a company I’ve…
Organizing your family photos isn’t physically hard, but the memories can suck you in because it’s easy to get wrapped up in a stroll down memory lane. Let’s face it. We’re not folding laundry here. Your family history is unique and it’s worth taking the time to do it right. Tackle the task a little…
Get started on illustrating your family history using photos, videos, and key documents that you find and collect. During February, I’m having a special focus on our family histories that includes preserving the stories for future generations. Your Family History Your family’s story is unique and it’s not just for you to enjoy now.…
You’ve heard colorful tales of the past so you begin researching your family’s history to learn what’s true, but you wonder what tools are the best to use. A listing of free resources below can help you form a complete family tree. Or, you got a good start digging into the genealogy but can’t get…
Cindy Marks has always enjoyed family stories ever since her childhood in Blue Ridge, Texas, home for her and her two sisters. Photo albums and stories were a natural fit for Cindy who has become the “family historian.” As an adult, she enjoyed scrapbooking, turning photo albums into crafted works of art while she…
If you’re looking to start a home-based business or you’re a professional wanting to enhance a portfolio of services then consider being a photo coach. It’s rewarding and you’ll be helping families protect their heritage while safeguarding their memories. Get a closer look at doing more with your photos by attending one of my…
Family photos pulled from photo albums, old bureau drawers, and boxes in closets are more than one-dimensional images. Photos ignite memories and emotions. They also serve as puzzle pieces that reveal a family’s lineage and help future generations learn about relatives they never knew. How do you get the most from your family photos…
If you’re wondering how to connect the pieces of your family’s lineage and genealogy, then here are sites to visit and begin your journey. If you need professional help, then that’s available as well. But what do you do with your findings and how do you safely store them? As a photo coach, I’ve…
As 2021 winds down, I wanted to highlight key blog posts from this year, My very first post this year was in March, focusing on my 26th anniversary as a photo coach. Not many people know what a photo coach is or does. In this post, I describe how I didn’t do scrapbooking as my…
If you’re looking for a home-based business to help people with their peace of mind, then consider becoming a photo coach. I’ve been one for 26 years and I’ve seen the need become greater than ever. Why is this a solid business opportunity? Here are some reasons. Americans take more photos than ever Smartphones…
Kathy Jones’ mother had a special possession that brought her comfort and later inspired Kathy—a Brownie Box camera she bought in 1940. Read on to learn how Kathy combined her interest in family history with organizing and storing photos for future generations. Family History and Photos Family history has been part of Kathy’s personal story.…
Christmas is about family, music, cookies, and lots of lights. And Hannukah has its own special light tradition with the Menorah. Getting friends and relatives to pose, chaotic surroundings and uneven lighting make snapping the perfect a challenge. Read on for picture taking tips during the holidays. Set Your Shutter Speeds Do you see…
Digging into our family’s past has special meaning for all generations. Here are benefits of researching our family history and using the stories we uncover to add special dimensions to family photos of bygone eras. 1. Adds Depth to Older Family Pictures You come across a black and white picture from several decades ago.…
The most meaningful gifts you can give may be stuffed in forgotten envelopes or albums on a shelf: pictures of you and your family today and in years past. Photos connect the generations You can read about the men and women who fought in World War Two, or you can share pictures of…
Once a month, I’m having my friends share their experience storing photos online in a storage system they own and that’s guaranteed for a lifetime, plus 100 years. The above photo is from Margarita Buitrago, who I’ve known for almost 20 years. The picture is saved and will be accessible for generations to…
The time-honored tradition of Thanksgiving often brings mixed emotions. Look at all that Thanksgiving entails: Early U.S. history and lessons of survival An array of traditional American food—or not so American Questions on cooking the food Family blessings Family hurts Awkward conversations Lots of happy talk Wondering how to bring families together Early shopping for…
You come across a family photo that was tucked away in a photo album and wonder who’s in the picture. More questions surface and you decide to research your family history. What you learn about relatives from previous generations will help you weave a story of who you are and connect the past to the…
Here’s why starting a photo-coaching business makes sense. A need exists because we’re taking more photos than ever. Look at the numbers. Here’s how many pictures were taken on a global scale, according to Rise Above Research, a digital marketing consulting firm: 2019 — 1.41 trillion 2020 — 1.12 trillion (drop due to the Covid…
Organizing your photos and them uploading them to online albums that you own isn’t just a task, it’s a way of enjoying relationships with your closest family members and learning new things. Enjoy this account of a daughter, Kathy Storie, helping her aging father re-kindle memories and affection. Bringing memories to life Kathy…
Trick or treating on Halloween night is more than just scary costumes. For many families, it’s a time to stroll around neighborhoods and even many churches have celebrations in their parking lots. Of course, it’s a time to pull out the smartphones or digital cameras and snap away. Since it’s getting dark early, get your…
A picture is worth a thousand words as the saying goes, but many family pictures leave us puzzled. Who’s in it? What’s the meaning of the shot? And how do we find out more information about the generations who came before us? Family research uncovers both facts and stories. If you search the Internet, you…
Our smartphones are amazing inventions, handheld computers with a capability for taking quality pictures and videos to share now and with future generations. It’s easy to snap and shoot, but do you the best ways to capture quality images? Read through these tips that will help you get the best look now and for future…
Placing all your photos in one digital album is an efficient way to store your photos online, in the cloud. Let’s look at the benefits of storing your photos in the cloud—but also the risks. My photo coaching career started 26 years ago, so you can imagine how I’ve adapted while technology has changed.…
You dig in a closet and come across a box that has old photo albums and a round tin can. You open it and see reels of old home movies that you watched as a child. Now you wrestle with some thoughts: There were relatives in that movie and you’d like to know more…
Family photos that we find in shoeboxes, dusty albums and hallway drawers can spark our imaginations and take us back in time—or take us back to well before our times. Those photos come alive even more when they’re part of a real story that’s been researched and supported with credible facts. It becomes a genealogy…
I know that operating a home-based business has challenges, but it also has many rewards. I’ve been a photo coach for 26 years, and one of the challenges I’ve had to overcome has been the changes in how pictures are taken and how they’re stored. Technology changes, doesn’t it? Thumb drives, DVDs, and external…
My passion as a photo coach is: guiding my clients into organizing their photos so they can tell stories while giving them the best possible tools to truly safeguard their memories for a lifetime and longer Think about this: We live in a mobile society where change is constant. Younger families are less likely…
Small business owners wanting to grow and market their company know that images are critical to attract customers and clients. Marketing isn’t the only reason to take pictures. Photos can be a form of record keeping for insurance purposes—and, especially, for home businesses, a source of memories that you want to safeguard. A business takes…
If you like helping people, then becoming a photo coach holds possibilities of: Making additional income Earning a steady full-time income Adding a service to an existing professional business For the past 26 years, I’ve been helping clients store and organize their photos and I’m glad to mentor those who would like to learn…
What’s your favorite social media platform? How many of them do you typically use? They’re great for staying in touch with friends and family, but they’re not great for storing your photos long term. You need a simple digital strategy that will serve you and your family for decades to come. Why? Read on…
“Ask yourself: “Does this subject move me to feel, think and dream?” Ansel Adams Ansel Adams captured America’s grandeur as seen in Yosemite and other national parks. His photographs inspired a movement to preserve the environment and benefitted the work of the Sierra Club. His pictures left a legacy and teach us an important…
Sports are an important part of life in the U.S. Even if you’re the softest couch potato in your neighborhood, you likely have a friend or relative who plays in a rec league, for a school, or hoofs it to the stadium. It only makes sense that some of our fondest memories are focused on…
One of the reasons that early films from Walt Disney were popular was that he knew a secret to storytelling—life’s moments are never totally happy nor are they totally sad. We live in a mixture of ups and downs so why not take photos that will show the various sides of your family’s lives…
If you’re wondering how to convert the photo albums that you cherish into digital storage, then you’re not alone. Many of us might still have four or five hard copy albums on our bookshelves. Do you have VHS tapes lying around? How about slide shows or even older home movies? All of those can be…
If you’re searching for smartphones with the best cameras, then use the following list and reviews posted below as a guide. What you read about here doesn’t mean you have to run out and buy something new and expensive because what’s ranked number one for someone else may not meet your needs. Benefit from the…
A unique moment compels us to snap a photo of our spouse, children or grandchildren on our Androids or iPhones and upload it—usually to our social media accounts. The pictures we take run the risk of getting mixed in with a lot of other pictures, and we never stop to pick and choose as…
This post is a tip to frame your photos and capture a natural look by making sure the subject is placed well. Composition will improve the pictures that you take. When you look into your camera, or your smart phone’s camera, here’s what you need to visualize. The Photo Grid Visualize your lens has…
Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the official start of summer vacations—and isn’t it wonderful that 2021 is so different than what the prospects were last year at this time? What does that mean for your picture taking? You may have places where you’ve planned to visit and you’ll have plenty of unexpected moments to take…
Imagine the peace of mind if you knew your photos and all your other memories were totally organized and stored for safekeeping. Wouldn’t that be nice? If you look around your house, you may think that’s impossible. Do you still have old slide shows? If you’re an older parent, you likely have a collection of…
Now it’s time to organize the pictures you took on Mother’s Day, because more photo opportunities are coming your way. Memorial Day weekend will have fewer restrictions this year than it did in 2020 so get ready. Here’s how you can visualize the entire process: Planning Taking pictures Organizing your photos Storing the photos Let’s…
Mom’s special day is a few days away so plan your photos ahead of time. If you’re the mom who’s reading this, then pass the link along to whoever else is going to be in charge. Don’t sweat the details, but have fun thinking through some candid shots. Start by thinking about your subject—what are…
Since it’s so easy to take pictures in our digital age, there’s a tremendous part-time and full-time opportunity for starting a business as a photo coach. A photo coach offers a system of organizing and storing photos to a client and can give a little input to get a person started organizing their…
As a lifelong Southern California resident, you always hear a word of warning when a wildfire breaks out and spreads near homes: make sure you have your valuables, including your family photos, safely stored and ready to pack in the car. If you lived in a neighborhood at risk for fires, then every year during…
If you’re surrounded by photo albums or old VHS tapes, consider using a photo coach to update all those wonderful photos with their memories. Your goal is to get them into permanent digital storage where they’re easily accessible for decades to come. Look at the benefits: You have a Listening Ear Yes, you may…
Family photos help create a legacy that we value and yet they’re often a chore to take instead of a joy. Here’s the most important tip to remember: have fun and smile! Make Picture Taking Fun Have you seen family pictures where everyone is scrunched together, or the photo is painfully staged, and people…
See how quickly you can respond to this question: What’s your favorite family photo? Take a second. Okay. Got your answer? Do you have a few answers? If so, that’s fine. In fact, if one memory stands out and others roll into your thoughts, then that’s completely understandable. The reason I ask this question is…
The Value of Organizing Your Family Photos We know the challenges faced during Covid-19, but did you have a chance to slow down, breathe and organize around your home? Applause if you tossed old files and broken toys. But what about those photo albums and hundreds of photos on your phone, Facebook or…
Photo by Gemma Evans, Unsplash From Then to Now Since March 1995, I have been living my purpose as a photo coach—helping families organize photos, safeguard their memories and preserve their family history for future generations. That’s 26 wonderful years of helping preserve memories in photos, videos on cassette and VHS tapes, slides and those…