Why do we take pictures of our family and friends and never print them? | Woodbury, MN Portrait Photographer
I am a firm believer in the power of a printed photograph. As your full-service photographer here in the Twin Cities, my goal is to ensure every portrait client I work with has the opportunity to admire their family in a tangible way—whether it’s through wall art that greets you every time you walk through the door or a custom album that holds your favorite moments close, ready to be revisited again and again. (Yes, I include a web-version of all purchased images so you can brag about your beautiful family online, too!)
But in this blog, I want to go deeper—past the pretty frames and coffee table albums—and talk about something we rarely admit: Why do we take so many pictures of the people we love and then never print them?
The truth is, life moves fast. We're constantly snapping photos with our phones, telling ourselves we'll print them later. But “later” becomes “never” when the daily to-do list never ends. Between work, errands, school pick-ups, and just trying to stay on top of life, printing those images gets pushed aside. It’s not because we don’t care. It’s because we’re so used to seeing images flash by on screens, we forget that our most meaningful moments deserve more than a quick scroll—they deserve a place of honor in our homes.
You and your family deserve to be celebrated every single day.
Most of us work hard because of the people we love. And imagine this: you come home from a long day, exhausted, and the first thing you see on your walls is a framed image of your child’s joyful smile or a moment of laughter frozen in time. You don’t just see the photo—you feel that love instantly. It centers you. It reminds you why it’s all worth it.
Printed photographs are so much more than decoration. They’re memory anchors. They are what we reach for when we miss someone, when we want to remember how little they once were, or how happy we all looked in that fleeting season. Once a person is no longer here, those printed moments are what we hold onto. That’s the power of print. (You can read more about this idea in another blog post here.)
Our goal at Monda Goette Photography is to ensure our portrait clients enjoy their finished portraits in their home, and help to curate a master plan for future sessions with our studio.
Maybe you’re on a mission. You know it’s time for a new family portrait—the last time you were all in one frame, your now high school senior was barely out of diapers. Life happened, and time slipped by. It’s OK. You’re not alone.
At Monda Goette Photography, our goal is to make sure that never happens again. We help you plan where your portraits will live—from the moment you book your session with our studio. We'll create your artwork with intention, and help you build a master plan for future sessions, so your family's story grows alongside you.
If you've found yourself here, reading this—thank you. It’s a small but beautiful sign that you're giving yourself permission to celebrate your life, to honor the people you love, and to invest in memories that matter. It’s OK to say, I want that joy in my home every day.
And please—for the love of all things—do print those favorite pics from your phone, too! Some of your most spontaneous, raw, joy-filled memories live there. Print them. Frame them. Put them on your desk, your fridge, your nightstand. Make a canvas and hang it on your wall. Surround yourself with the people and moments that light you up.
And when you’re ready to gather the crew for updated portraits—and you want someone to guide the process with care and creativity—you know I’m here for it.
See you soon! Fondly,
Monda the Photographer
