What Displaying Family Photographs At Home Does For Your Mental Health

Would you display family photos at your new home? After six months of waiting, I got the key to my brand-new home last month.

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 Woot woot! It was among the most significant projects I could ever take on in my life, considering I poured all my savings into it.

The house meant two things for me. Firstly, I managed to prove that I did not need a man to become a homeowner. Many women got hitched early just so they wouldn’t need to worry about housing and other issues, but I did not want to do that. I always said that I was a strong, independent woman, and that’s what I showed everyone.

Secondly, it was a reward for all my hard work since I started working full-time at 19 years old while also going to college full-time. Most people around me said that I might need to give up one of them eventually because it was rare to find success when your attention was divided into major tasks. I proved them all wrong when I graduated as a Summa cum Laude and earned a managerial position at work. Hence, I was only 25 years old when I bought a piece of land in the neighborhood and built my house in it two years later.

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My Mother’s Two Cents

My parents were the happiest – perhaps happier than me – when I brought them to the construction site for the first time. Dad hugged me tightly and repeatedly said that he’s proud of me; Mom cried so hard, uttering praises to God for blessing me with intelligence and a good job. When they accompanied me on the day that the contractor handed over the keys, Mom cried some more until we toured the still-empty house and asked her how I should decorate it. I already bought the couch and bed and other furniture – I was merely lost when it came to decorative items.

Mom replied, “You can add whatever decoration you want because it’s your house, not anyone else’s, but you should have family photos on display, too.”

At first, I wanted to protest about having a family photo display. I was a single woman at my prime; I thought it would be awkward to bring a man home after a date and make him see a gallery wall of cheesy old family photos I had since childhood. But since I asked for my mother’s opinion – and she did not volunteer it – it would be rude not to indulge her with a few family photos (not a gallery wall) in the living room. Perhaps I can display family photos in my home office too. I just made sure to use Velcro tape to remove the display photos quickly if I ended up not liking them.

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How My Favorite Family Photos Displayed Soothed My Mental Health

Inhabiting my new home meant that I had to move out of my parents’ house for good. And though it was only a 30-minute drive away, I still felt a little depressed, knowing that I would not wake up to my mom’s delicious meals in the dining room every day. My family members would not always be there, so a photo display actually made a difference. Thankfully, each family photo was there to remind me of the sweet and fun times that we had together. Even when we could not FaceTime or visit each other, I would still see their smiling faces if I turned my gaze on the photo wall in my office or walked around the hallway and saw the mini gallery wall of my favorite photos.

I initially thought that the display family photos on a gallery wall would curb my desirability in front of potential male partners, but the photo display genuinely helped me weed out the guys who wanted nothing more than a one-night stand.  After all, the family photo display on the gallery wall showed how much I valued family, so it likely meant that I would not put it out for anyone (which was true). If I was honest, that’s how I attracted my current boyfriend, John, who also dreamed of building a family of his own shortly.

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One of the things I dreaded about owning a house was entertaining guests because I had never done that – I feared that they would want to leave after 30 minutes out of boredom. However, I realized that the family photo display (on the mini gallery wall and cute identical picture frames) worked well as a conversation starter as people would go straight to them and ask me what we were doing in those natural and real moments. When my coworkers came for the first time, they even made a game out of my baby pictures on the family photo wall space. They picked out each old family photo in the photo display, figuring out how old I was in them.

Soon enough, I found myself printing more family photos and putting them in matching picture frames and original and stylish decor of rectangular photo frames. I even bought a piano that looked like what my parents had in the family room so that I could arrange the black frames on top of the photos. It was a little piece of home away from home, and even my mother loved it. She said, “I can see you decorating your place with more photos once you have a family of your own.”

The best thing is there are so many ways to display family photos on your gallery wall. You can have a gallery wall full of photo displays. You can have white photos and a photo gallery in the dining room, or you can have a photo wall of picture frames in the living room. You can also pick frames that suit your ideas and decor criteria: a photo display of picture frames in horizontal and vertical positions, picture frames in the dining room with black and white photos, and a few floral decorations here and there. You can have a white gallery wall or photo wall full of small photos organized beautifully too!

If you’re not fond of having a photo display or gallery wall in the dining room, you can have a photo wall somewhere else in the house instead. You can go with black and white photos, color photos, random picture frames on the photo wall, whatever you want! The best thing is there are no rules when it comes to displaying photos on your own black and white gallery wall. You can have a photo display, such as displaying family photos at home, however, your heart wants it.

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Hmm, although I have no idea when I can add those types of black and white photos to my photo wall – I think I am still too young to settle down – I can tell that Mom’s prediction was not far off. That’s especially true now that I have seen the beauty of displaying family photos at home in wall spaces as part of the interior design.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Are The Psychological Benefits Of Family Photos Displaying At Home?

Is It Important To Keep Your Family Photographs On A Photo Wall At Home?

How Taking Family Photos And Displaying At Home Helps Mental Health?

What Ordinary Family Photos Displayed At Home Teach Us About Ourselves?

How Important Is Having A Display Family Photos At Home In Our Lives?

How Do Family Photographs Displayed At Home Affect Our Emotions?

What Is The Importance Of Family Photography Displayed At Home In The Purpose Of Memories?

How Does Family Photography Help Preserve Good Memories Within Each Member?

How Taking Family Photos Increases Enjoyment Of Experiences?

Why Do Family Photos Make People Happy If Displayed At Home?

How Does Photography Make People Feel?

Does Your Daily Pictures Reflect Your Personal Life And Feelings?

How Does Photography Inspire People?

How Photography Can Change Your Life?

What Makes An Image Meaningful?

Taking Family Pictures Is Important For A Child’s Development

 

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Almost everyone is bringing along a camera in their purses or pockets nowadays – because almost everyone has a smartphone – but then it is clearly no substitute for a professional camera. It has been and always will be the perfect tool to use if you want to capture a beautiful family picture in your home. If you recall your own childhood home, maybe you would imagine the family photos hanging on the walls of your bedroom or the dining hall, down to the clothes that you wore and the whole family’s faces when those pictures were taken.

 

Indeed, family photos make a significant reference point in getting to know your connection with the family and cherish the memories that last a lifetime. The heritage of family photos could go on through your kids’ own families as well, so it is important to really spend time and effort on them.

 

Here’s why taking family pictures is important for child development.

 

It improves a child’s self-confidence.

Psychologists agree that family photography allows kids to learn who they are and where they belong. Pictures enable them to get sense of awareness intuitively, instilling feelings of compassion, belonging, and self-worth. To help your kids improve their self-confidence in practical ways, it would be great if it is possible for displaying family photos at home in their bedrooms so that they get to look at them before they go to bed and when they wake up.  These serve as visual reminders that will give them a sense of security and relief, to know that they have a family that they can run to despite whatever challenges come their way.

 

It keeps track of their growth.

Annual family photos are accepted when it relates to school photo shoots, so why don’t you do yearly family shoots too? Children grow up so fast, and the ability to seize those changes as they occur, and as a family, is quite a significant treasure. A lot of families regret the fact that they were not able to take enough pictures together over the years. Some parents love to take photos of their kids every day using an identical pose up until their teenage years to keep track of their growth.

 

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It teaches them to instill family values.

Capturing images for the future and to honor family provides children with a healthy sense of warmth, closeness, and family integrity. Particularly for teens growing up in the selfie world, photography is inclined not to be linked to the family as a unit that much. Hence, family photos are a perfect means to rebuild the connection between family and portraits and cherish those connections. There may be times in their lives that they don’t want to get their photos taken, but eventually, they will come to love them as they grow older.

 

It helps children know where they stand in the family.

Parents should be mindful not to ignore the significance of visual clues in strengthening the family, particularly when children are younger and are still learning about the value of family. Yes, you might have many cheerful photos kept in photo albums or on your laptop, but these are only available when they are intentionally opened. A framed family portrait placed in the home functions as a short but perpetual reminder of where you belong. The simple act of gathering together to have a photoshoot will also enable your kids to appreciate the idea of family trees and perks their interest in the whole clan.

 

Suggestions For Taking Awesome Family Pictures

 

  • Be sure that everyone has had a good night’s rest and are full before arriving at the photo studio. Hunger pangs and fatigue will cause impatience and will fill the atmosphere with negative vibes.

 

  • When choosing what to wear, go for matching colors and prints rather than uniform sets. You won’t go wrong if you stay with styles and shades that suit you and your children’s complexion – and by complementing a tinge of bright here and there for divergence.

 

  • It’s okay if not all of the family members want to ‘say cheese’ this time. Though it has been a tradition, it hasn’t been the trend to instruct everyone to look at the camera and smile. Most current photoshoots are candid, with some participants looking at one another while others display a smile directly at the camera.

 

  • Don’t feel pressured. It’s perfectly fine to have fun on the shoot. A picture is not meant to be an official activity that needs military-style discipline. The more fun and relaxed you feel, the less choreographed your pictures will look, and the more your character and your family connection will be visible.

 

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Conclusion

 

A challenge to the usual professional family photographs is often the cost that is associated with photo studios and the requirement to pay for extra images that you can be truly satisfied with. But with the advent of hundreds of photography studios that have opened for business, any kind of style that you want is available, and some are definitely affordable and practical. Book your family photoshoot soon and keep the memories for a lifetime.

 

 

Wedding Sacrifices In The Time Of Coronavirus

In an unexpected situation like this where there’s a Coronavirus outbreak, a lot of people are trying their best to adjust. Most individuals keep track of their health, maintain social distance with others, survive the financial crisis, and many more. And along with all the sacrifices they need to face, the perseverance in dealing with life change is present. For most couples who want to settle and bring their relationship to the next level, getting married becomes challenging during this pandemic. There are a lot of things that couples need to consider.

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Smart Financial Decisions

Surely, couples who are planning to get married already made some arrangements. Probably, some of them previously managed to set up their schedules and everything they need to have a memorable wedding day. But since there is an outbreak, most couples intend to spend their hard-earned money in a more practical way. Couples are aware of the pandemic situation, and they know how important every penny is. Thus, they become smart in making financial decisions. That is why most weddings during this pandemic tend to be small and less extravagant. Couples are putting more effort into saving their money for future use instead of spending too much on a one-day celebration.

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Cancellations And Apologies

As much as couples want to see everyone they love present on their most special day, most of them are canceling and apologizing for the inconvenience. Some of these inconveniences include changes in schedules, flight cancellations, and reservation refunds. Honestly, there is nothing much to do with this unfortunate situation. That is why couples are trying to become open about their situation as much as possible, and guests are okay with that. Admittedly, it is a sad decision to do because some of the guests are maybe expecting to be there and celebrate with the couples. Unfortunately, the need for cancellation is a must.

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Limited Social Connection

Weddings are expected to be celebrated by a lot of people. Family, friends, relatives, colleagues are expected to be there. But in this time of crisis, people attending the wedding are few in numbers. That is because they follow the social distancing protocol. Honestly, it is quite sad to have few people around on a very special day for couples. But considering the situation and the health of the people who are going to attend, it is much better that couples leave it that way and only invite a few individuals. That is why weddings during this pandemic time sometimes only have less than ten individuals in the ceremony. Only those important people who play a significant role in each couple’s lives are given the opportunity to witness a memorable scene.

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No After-Parties

Weddings are supposed to have after-parties. It is the most fantastic part of the celebration where people get to know each other and have fun with the crowd. But since there is an outbreak, weddings in this time of the pandemic are disregarding after-parties. Truthfully, it is a bit sad because that is the most enjoyable time of the wedding. It is where people dance, drink, and celebrate with music. There are games in the program, and guests of all ages can join as well. However, no matter how exciting a wedding can be, couples are trying their best not to put their loved ones in a devastating situation during this health crisis. Thus, most weddings at this time often end with only a ceremony and no after-parties.

Indeed, couples are in a situation where their patience and open-mindedness are tested. But considering the pandemic crisis, they should continue to consider what is best for everyone.

Wedding Day: A Day Of Love And Romance

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I had fun attending the 2019 Wedding Expo I attended in Los Angeles, California. I can say that it was a successful one based on the guests arriving and the different wedding organizers who were present to showcase their wedding packages. The expo was a good venue for some ideas and even for actual planning should you have your dream wedding soon. During the 2019 wedding expo, you’ll get to choose different bridal dresses that may suit your style, including the ones for your whole entourage. It was also a venue to get huge discounts because most suppliers and owners were present during the event so you can gladly talk to them about your wedding ideas and if their package can suit your budget.

Continue reading “Wedding Day: A Day Of Love And Romance”

How Selfies Keep You Sane From This World Health Crisis

Since the world is on lockdown due to Coronavirus, almost all people spend more time with their smartphones. Admittedly, they use social media not only to get the latest information about the situation. But they also use most of the platforms to distract themselves from negative thoughts of this pandemic issue. With that, they somehow manage to indulge themselves in creating clips and videos, as well as taking selfies.

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With the approach of social networks such as Facebook, selfies become increasingly popular. I bet you are also one of those people who love taking self-portraits. Perhaps you find it a popular trend that millennial people used to do. But do you know there is a list of benefits that selfies can provide? Yes, a selfie is a thought and action of taking pictures of you that serves a self-serving bias. Though for most individuals, it represents a narcissistic behavior, some experts view it as a habit that supports a healthy ego. It merely symbolizes love for one’s self.

The Advantages Of Taking Selfies

Real-Time Interaction – Selfies can be used to share who you are to the world. The spontaneous pictures of yourself somehow allow you to broadcast a sense of humor, serious side, and even flattering physical attributes. It meant to give other people a fleeting glimpse of your life and adventures that is sharable to friends and family in real-time.

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Self-Expression – A photograph you usually take can help in expressing yourself in a lot of different ways. It helps in developing your perspective about beauty and confidence. It allows you to share who you are regardless of societal standards of beauty perfection. Selfies intend to bring you the kind of self-awareness that helps you become who you want to be despite the judgment and criticisms of the public.

Self-Presentation – Self-presentation is a part of our daily lives. It is the process of strategically revealing or concealing personal information about our lives. It serves to influence other people’s perceptions of us. So the idea of presenting yourself positively to the world allows other people to feel positive about themselves as well. You can add inspiration to those people who cannot seem to find solace in this pandemic situation.

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Cutting Loose – Selfies are a great way to have fun, especially in this lockdown situation. It allows you to play and forget about the responsibilities and worries you currently have, even just for a few minutes. Despite the situation, it assures you the confidence to smile and not worry about anything. It serves as a positive distraction to the stuck up negative thoughts in your head.

Capturing Creativity – With the use of social media platforms like Instagram, selfies can have a wide variety of upgrades. A picture then has a chance to get shot in a million different ways. In the platform, you can add filters, backgrounds, emojis, and a lot more. It helps in developing your unique sense of style as well as enhances your creativity.

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Self-Love – Selfies are not just about pictures of you flaunting your assets. Well, it somehow relates to that, but in a more profound reason, it means self-love. You find yourself appreciating what you are. The self-portrait you take of yourself represents your self-esteem that engages in a realistic appraisal of your qualities and physical attributes that are necessary for healthy overall development.

Taking selfies is not at all a narcissistic behavior contrary to what others think of it. So if you want to make a self-portrait from your phone, then do it. If that is the only thing that will keep you sane during this global health crisis.