What Your Images Say About You

Have you ever browsed through a family photo album?  I generally don't think about the quality of the images because they are "family pictures."  What usually jumps out to me is the personality of the individuals as well as the personality of the family.

Where was the photo taken?  What was the person (or family pet) doing?  What was the mood of the person as well as the scenario they were in?  Are the majority of the pictures in the same spot?  Were there many different people or the same few year after year?  Has the family expanded or changed?

I like to view the family photo albums as a pictorial history.
Family members grow and change and some will have fallen asleep. Friends are brought into the family sometimes only for a while, and others forever.  There may be a broad range of emotions.  The joyous celebration and the sorrow of a passing.

Within all of these is one important element; memories.

Our memories can be some of our greatest building blocks.  As we hold onto them, we can move onward even into uncharted territories.  We see how far we have come and can be inspired to go on and achieve more.

It's interesting to think that when a person is at an event or gathering and someone with a camera comes along and says "Oh, let me take a picture," we almost instinctively know we are documenting our history and our future memories.

The family photo album may contain formal portraits, candids, groups; all of these make up the personality of the family.  It also gives us a sense of belonging.  We have a place to fit in, a family or group identity.

What about the church family?  What do your photographs say about you?

It's Almost Spring

Well, spring is just around the corner and life's pace will be picking up.  This is a good time to be planning for portrait updates in the directory.

Spring brings the feeling of a new beginning. Some things need to stay the same, and some things can do with a little change. 

Would it be a wrong thing to ask the members what they think about their church picture taking experiences? 

• Were they happy with it?
• Pressured to buy?
• Rushed through? 
• How was the flow?
• The Schedual?
• Was the location and setup satisfactory, or confusing and out of order?
• Is there a certain way things have to be done or can a little change be good?
• Would a new look or feel to the directory inspire enthusiasm or more involvement?
• Does the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" apply? 
• How do the young folks feel about their photos in the book? 
• Have the members who can't get around easily been able to get their photos taken?
• How about the business man, or those with two jobs that don't get to show up often, but support the church in other ways? 

Would newing up a directory be a catalyst to bring all the members closer?
It's almost spring, could a new and exciting era be just around the corner?