“I believe that leaving a photographic legacy is just as important as leaving a monetary legacy.”

Marshelle Cartwright

How many generations of your family have been photographed? If you aren’t preserving each generation it’s time to start! Your children and grandchildren will cherish having images of themselves as babies and children alongside their parents and grandparents, and these photos will also become an irreplaceable part of your family’s legacy.

We ALL have or had four grandparents. In my case, I never met any of my biological grandparents. I was told that my paternal grandmother Clara came to see me when I was about 6 months old. She is the only grandparent I have a photograph of. You see, my father was adopted by a wonderful woman in North Carolina. Her name was Nancy Johnson. She married Otis Osborn Johnson after adopting my father. The two of them loved the ground he walked on. They were the grandparents I grew up with and loved, and for that, I am so grateful. I have photographs of them both. However, my need to know what my other grandparents looked like has become an obsession for me. Unfortunately, there are no photographs of any of them except my grandmother Clara. I want to know who I look like other than my parents.  Who do I get my short stature from?  Who did my sister get her beautiful dimples from? Do my nieces and nephews look like their great grandparents.

Take them while you can

Don’t worry about whether or not you have time for it—when it comes to a portrait of your family, you can’t take it later. These moments in time will become your family legacy, and taking pictures of those precious times is so much more than just capturing a moment: It’s creating one. What better way to remember all of these wonderful things that make up your life? And what better way to share them with future generations? This is something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime, but if you wait too long, it might be too late. We encourage everyone out there to get their portraits taken while they still can!

Create a legacy

Because it’s easier than ever to capture images with smartphones, you may think that you don’t need professional portraits taken. But, in fact, now is a better time than ever for capturing your family’s legacy. Beautiful portraits of your children and grandchildren will be treasured by future generations—and also create priceless keepsakes for yourself. . And finally, make sure everyone looks their best! Getting hair styled ahead of time and choosing flattering clothing options can help ensure that everyone looks great in every shot.

Capture your family story

There is something about seeing your family—those you love and who love you—in photos that makes them seem more real, more tangible. Whether it’s a current portrait or one from many years ago, looking at family photographs helps keep your loved ones close when they can no longer be physically present. Not only will your family treasure these photos in 50 years, but you may even find yourself taking a trip down memory lane with a photo album filled with pictures of parents and grandparents who have passed on. It’s amazing how much a picture can tell us about what life was like for our predecessors.

Share with future generations 

And so, I speak from experience. Don’t let this happen to you and your family! Don’t let it happen to your future generations! Take the time to leave a lasting legacy for your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Get those photos printed, put them in albums, have canvas prints made to hang on your walls. Stop worrying about the perfect time to do it. The perfect time is now! As this pandemic has shown us, life is fleeting. 

And Remember, Sometimes Later, Becomes Never, Do It Now!