When Memories Matter Most: Why We Keep Your Photos Safe
As photographers, we know the images we make aren’t just pixels on a screen — they become part of your family’s story. Every once in a while, though, I’m reminded just how important that is.
Recently, a friend and fellow photographer shared that she had recently received messages two previous clients. One family had lost their husband and father. Another had a daughter fighting cancer. Both reached out, hoping there were still more photos tucked away in the archive — photos they hadn’t purchased the first time around.
Those messages hit hard. They’re heartbreaking reminders that photographs often grow in value as life unfolds. What once felt like “extras” suddenly become priceless.
So how do we, as photographers, balance compassion with the reality that retrieving and re-publishing galleries takes real time and labor?
Here’s the approach I use:
A simple archive & re-upload fee. Locating, preparing, and re-publishing a gallery takes work. I charge a flat $100 to do this.
That fee becomes a credit. When the gallery is re-published, the $100 fee is applied back as credit toward any photo purchases the family makes.
A clear window. Re-published galleries stay open for a set period (typically 30 days). This gives you plenty of time to look through and make your selections. If you don’t place an order during that time, the gallery — and the credit from the archive & re-upload fee — will close along with it, since the work of re-publishing would need to be done again to reopen.
This approach makes sure I’m fairly compensated for my time, while also giving families a tangible way to move forward without feeling like they’re paying twice.
Because at the end of the day, photography is about more than a transaction. It’s about preserving the story of your family, in all its joy and all its challenges.
