If you’re like many families in Bountiful, you probably have a few boxes of old photos tucked away in a closet—and thousands more sitting on your phone.
When people think about preserving family memories, they often picture antique family portraits or carefully labeled photo albums. Those photos absolutely matter.
But as someone who helps families organize and preserve their memories, I’ve noticed something surprising: the photos your family will miss most someday may be the ones you took this morning.
The sleepy selfie with your child before school.
The picture of Grandma laughing at Sunday dinner.
The video of your teenager dancing in the kitchen.
The snapshots of everyday life that don’t seem important right now.
Today’s ordinary moments become tomorrow’s treasures.
The challenge is that most of our memories are scattered everywhere. We have photos on our phones, old pictures in boxes, videos on outdated media, and family stories that exist only in someone’s memory. The sheer volume can feel overwhelming.
Families often tell me, “I know I need to do something with all of this. I just don’t know where to start.”
The good news is that preserving your memories doesn’t require perfection.
You don’t have to organize every photo before you begin. You don’t need a color-coded filing system or an entire weekend set aside to tackle it all.
You just need to take one step.
Make sure the photos on your phone are backing up automatically.
Write names and dates on the back of a few unlabeled photographs.
Scan a handwritten recipe from a beloved family member.
Share an old photo with a relative and ask them to tell you the story behind it.
Choose one small task and start there.
As someone who also loves genealogy, I’ve learned that family history isn’t just found in census records and family trees. It’s found in the everyday moments that show us how our families lived, loved, celebrated, and connected with one another.
Preserving memories is about more than organization.
It’s about making sure future generations can see the faces, hear the stories, and understand the people who came before them. It’s about protecting the pieces of your family’s story that only you can preserve.
You don’t have to do everything.
You just have to start.
So this month, choose one memory task. Back up a folder. Label a photo. Ask a relative a question you’ve been meaning to ask.
Your future family will thank you.
Free Resource
Ready to take that first step? Download my free Photo Organizing Guide for simple, practical tips to help you protect and organize your family’s memories:
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