" Our Family Never Took Many Pictures "

" ...And we never went to a studio to have pictures taken ". And now you are sitting with a small shoebox trying to remember what they looked like - there are a few pictures in the shoebox, but not many. There's nothing written on the back of the prints. Who are these people? Well, we won't sit by the window on a rainy day and sigh. There's little that can be done about the past, save apologise or hide the evidence. But we can look at that shoebox and learn a lesson: there is no reason, profit, or happiness in going unrecorded. This is not the 11th century - we are not society that only has a few religious paintings to look at. We can ALL be a face in a photo, and a name on the back. " But I take terrible picture..." You mean you don't like the way you look in the photos? Well, there are very good professional studios that can make you look good for your portrait. They charge money, but it is a very good investment in self-esteem and future happiness. If you are concerned that you do not look like one of the current crop of motion picture stars, take some comfort - they don't either. They are plain and flawed when away from their professional make-up artists and studio lighting, as well. The tabloid paparazzi have discovered quite some creatures out doing their shopping - you need not pattern yourself on their professional image. You probably wouldn't like their politics, either. A deliberate portrait session and a number of prints is a good decision for both individuals and families. The thing can be commercial head-shots, a photo essay, family studio sets, or environmental portraiture. It can sometimes be cloned off a special event like a wedding or anniversary, but this may not allow the care and attention that a studio can give. Of course, there is always the spontaneity and social connection of a group at a function, but combine this with deliberate art in your family gallery. You'll probably have noticed that Camera Electronic sells digital and film cameras...You need not spend a fortune, and you need not become a professional photographer to benefit from the modern camera. You can be sent out from the shop with a modest camera hanging round your neck and be taking excellent photos as soon as your foot is out the door. The family recordist or the curious novice can set many of the cameras we sell to " automatic " and discover just how simple it has been made by the photo designers. It can be equally surprising just how easy the rest of the process is when the files go back to the user's tablet, phone, or computer. Sure, there is a whole technical world for the professional or enthusiast to tangle themselves in, but the novice user often needs to look no further than in-built programs in the computer or tablet they already have. People are one of the most rewarding of subjects - and unlike the landscape or the sports or the architecture that form the subject of so much good photography, people can be pictured nearly anywhere, in any weather, and in any light. And sometimes they're grateful...