Why don't parents photograph their kids?

[candidrachel]

It always amazes me how few parents photograph their kids. We spent 5 days camping and I observed other parents just sitting around chatting while their kids were playing, getting up to mischief, making dens, playing in playground, playing ball games etc. With no sign of a camera.

These are all memories! I had my camera up to my eye practically at every opportunity - rain or shine!

I love flicking through my photos. What have they got to remember their holidays?

Just a vent I suppose!

[freezeframe03]

I gotta say that there are times when I wish I didn't like taking photos. On a trip I often feel that I'm probably missing a lot trying to see everything and everybody and photographing as much as possible. I feel like I'm recording it all and at the same time completely missing the experience of it all. As well as feeling a little left out because they all know while they are experiencing the trip/event/what-have-you, I'll get the photos for their memories while they have the fun of making the memories. But, I just cannot leave that camera behind, so.......

And, maybe those parents think of you with your camera as instead of playing with your kids, you're just off to the side taking their pictures.

[BigFuzzy]

Some people just aren't into thinking that way. I was in the army for some years and never was into photography which is something I regret to this day knowing what I missed out on!

They just don't think like you, that's why they weren't glued to their cameras. Or maybe they saw you with yours glued to your face and assume you'll get them photos of their kids hahaha

[Jojie]

@freezeframe03. I feel you. I often feel that way. I take my camera with me where ever I go and you miss out on the things that they do. In a way you become an observer or as you mentioned recording things all the time. Whilst it's nice and all we're missing the other good bits and that's bonding with them. So what I do is I take some.. but some only... then spend the rest with them. still have photos for as memories from the holiday/event.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

It always amazes me how few parents photograph their kids. We spent 5 days camping and I observed other parents just sitting around chatting while their kids were playing, getting up to mischief, making dens, playing in playground, playing ball games etc. With no sign of a camera.

These are all memories! I had my camera up to my eye practically at every opportunity - rain or shine!

I love flicking through my photos. What have they got to remember their holidays?

Just a vent I suppose!

Hmmm, I wonder what people did for memories before cameras were invented, affordable, and practical?

[ShantDotMe]

Originally Posted by freezeframe03

I gotta say that there are times when I wish I didn't like taking photos. On a trip I often feel that I'm probably missing a lot trying to see everything and everybody and photographing as much as possible. I feel like I'm recording it all and at the same time completely missing the experience of it all. As well as feeling a little left out because they all know while they are experiencing the trip/event/what-have-you, I'll get the photos for their memories while they have the fun of making the memories. But, I just cannot leave that camera behind, so.......

I can't agree more with you! I try hard to find the balance of enjoying the moment & taking photos to immortalize it!!

My kid isn't even born yet and I already have dozens of the kid and all the activities leading up to the birth (get your mind out of the gutter, Sonograms, baby classes..etc)

~Eric

[douglas]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Hmmm, I wonder what people did for memories before cameras were invented, affordable, and practical?

I,m not that old, but when my children were little it was film, and colour had just become popular and expensive. I do have quite a lot of photos from that period, but they are all prints. So much easier now with digital and storage on discs!

[z0mbina80]

For me, with our family moving from place to place for the military I feel that it is important for me to keep and categorize those memories not only for myself but for my kids as well since they are both under 5 and I'm sure won't remember as much about living in the deserts of the Southwest US or in Japan etc...so I want them to have plenty of pictures to look back on and say "hey I used to live here.. or have that cat or favorite toy, etc."

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Hmmm, I wonder what people did for memories before cameras were invented, affordable, and practical?

They bitched about how other people weren't preserving the memories of their children, by learning how to sketch really well, I guess.