1. Your Memories WILL make it across the generations



Although taking pictures has become easier with the advent of digital photography, making sure they are preserved and make it to the next generation isn't always so easy.

According to a national Harris Poll survey commissioned by PicturesMatter, 61% of digital camera owners said they had lost digital images in numerous ways due to computer problems, deletion from a camera or computer or because of lost or stolen hardware. To minimize your risks, frequent backups on an external hard drive and double backups on DVD-RAM storage disks are necessary.

Despite these precautions, however, there are a lot of questions concerning long-term digital preservation and the best way to preserve digital information is still being explored.

2. Pictures are worth a 1,000 words

Not if you rely on oral history alone to tell the story. How many times have you looked at an old photo and didn't know who the people were or even the occasion?

Details keep memories alive in our minds and sensory information transports us to a special time. Recalling the celebratory noise at a graduation, the feel of our child's tiny hand in ours or the warmth of a shared sunset keeps the event fresh in our minds as the years go by.

Written, descriptive narrative should accompany photos in order to increase the chance of memory recall and the likelihood that the people and events in our lives will be adequately remembered.

3. You are the only one with a shoebox full of memories

Almost everyone has a shoebox full of memories from photos passed down or from the time before they switched to digital technology. However, the key is finding something meaningful to do with the images before they suffer the ravages of time. By transferring them to a digital format using a scanning service, you can them start to use online tools and create keepsake items to preserve for posterity.

4. Memories are static snapshots in time

Memories can be dynamic communications from one generation to the next provided they are properly preserved.

Using online mediums can give you the opportunity to go beyond a traditional photo album and take advantage of various computer applications, templates and programs to create a treasure that is uniquely yours. Family history especially can come alive and be passed on in a way that is informative, engaging and personal.

5. Your descendents will know who you are years from now

In our hectic lives, it's easy to put off preserving our legacy until we have time, but unfortunately unless we do, our story may go untold. Future generations can benefit from the path we've walked and the life lessons we've learned.

Memories are more than just snapshots in time; they are the special times and unique stories we alone have to tell. Preserve them now and make sure they make it to the next generation. Years from now, they can give your descendents information on who they are and who they can become.