Written by Cathi Nelson, our Founder and CEO, originally on Nixplay

Every September, Photo Managers, photo retailers, software companies, and service providers collaborate in teaching people how to preserve life’s irreplaceable photos, videos, and documents.

Why do you take photos?

If you are wondering why this is important, ask yourself: Why do you take photos? How would you feel if you suddenly lost them? Can you easily find an image of your daughter’s first birthday or a picture from your high school graduation?

If you are like most people, your reason for taking photos is to remember your life’s everyday events. I always say we are a people of stories, and the way we tell the stories of our lives today is through photos. And when our pictures are an unorganized, chaotic mess, sharing those stories becomes a tough job.

What do you see?

What do you see when you look at this photo? An elderly woman?

I see the woman whom my family affectionately called Aunt Izzie, a German immigrant who came to the USA after World War II. She came here as an indentured servant, working for a family that was cruel to her. It took her four years to pay for her freedom. Only then was she able to marry my grandfather.

Listening to her stories of surviving the war—the hunger, the fear, the incomprehensible losses—impacted me deeply as a young child and likely contributed to my lifelong fascination with stories and photos. It is vital that my children, and someday their children’s children, know these stories and understand their family’s history.

I know most of your photos and stories aren’t about war heroes and tragic losses. Neither is mine. They are mostly a collection of ordinary moments of vacations, celebrations, love, and loss. But these moments are worth preserving too, as they form the threads in the colorful tapestry that is my family’s story.

I have made it my life’s mission to help people around the world preserve their most treasured memories. This is why I founded The Photo Managers: To educate others about the importance of preserving their photos and videos.

Over 40 Free Virtual Classes On Photo Preservation

We hold Save Your Photos events every year to help motivate you to save the photos and stories you care about. In the past years, we had in-person events, but this year, we are going all virtual due to the pandemic. We are thrilled to offer over 40 pre-recorded classes designed for a busy lifestyle. Every week, beginning on September 1, we will release the courses that apply to one of the five key photo organizing elements.

Register for your free pass and choose the classes that interest you. The free pass offers access to all of the classes. Click here to get your Save Your Photos Month Free Pass.

Classes are available through November 1st, 2020. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!