Are you taking enough pictures of your family? If you’re not, can you think of any good reason why not? In the "old" days (10 to 20 years ago) there were tons of excuses for not taking enough pictures: no film; disposable batteries died; didn’t have a flash, etc., but now what excuse are you going to use? You have a camera almost everywhere you go. Whether it is a digital camera, a camera on your phone, or a disposable setup like you buy at the grocery store, there are very few physical or mechanical reasons for not taking pictures of your family anymore.

Forgetting
When it comes right down to it, you forget, right? Okay, there is still the odd chance that your phone and digital camera are both out of charge when that perfect photo opportunity comes, but most of the time, it comes down to the fact that people just don’t remember. Call it getting caught up in the moment, having too much fun, or just plain oversight…whatever the reason, it happens to all of us. It is easy to forget to take pictures of your family, but these five ideas that can help you to have your camera ready, so you can take those shots that you would otherwise regret having missed.

1. In Sight and In Mind
Keep the battery chargers for your camera and phone in an easily accessible location. Put your equipment where it can be seen and used easily. If your camera equipment is tucked away in a closet, it is that much easier to forget to bring along when it is needed. Hopefully your phone charger is kept in such a place, and having your camera charger nearby can also make it more available to you.

2. Talk About It
Have a talk with your family about your desire to take more pictures as a family. Discuss your concerns about regrets for moments when great photo opportunities may be missed. Make it clear that you would like everyone to help out in remembering to bring the camera when the family heads out to planned events or even spontaneous activities. Recruiting the family around the idea of snapping more family memories will increase the odds that someone will remember to grab the camera when the time is right.

3. Use Your Glove Compartment
Keep a camera in your glove compartment – not one of the expensive ones but one of the throw away disposable types. This type of camera should be to kept in the car anyway in case of an accident for insurance purposes. Why not keep two rather than one in the glove box. This way a camera will always be available in case of an unfortunate driving mishap, but also a spare will be handy for those times when you’re already on your way to an event, and it is too late to turn around to head back to the house to pick up the camera. Having a spare camera in the glove compartment is a great way to get those shots that you would not otherwise have been able to get. Additionally another spare camera in a purse, backpack, or briefcase can also serve the same purpose.

4. The String Trick
Although it looks a bit odd, people have used strings tied to their fingers to remind them of important tasks for many years. A similar application can be used in the home to remind you to take pictures of important events or spontaneous family activities. By tying a brightly colored ribbon onto a doorknob in a conspicuous location, the sight can serve to remind you of the camera and the goal of taking more pictures. Each time you pass by the decorated doorknob, thoughts of the camera will inevitably cross your mind. The idea is to make thoughts of taking pictures more prevalent among the many other tasks that distract your mind daily.

5. Schedule Time for Pictures
Another great way to remind yourself about taking enough pictures is to purposefully schedule the days you would like to take pictures on your calendar. Set aside at least one day every month that is dedicated primarily for the purpose of taking pictures. The same day can be used for all kinds of activities, but snapping pictures is the main objective. Plan the events of the day ahead of time, so that when the day arrives everyone has their cameras ready for action. This method will assure that you get your pictures at least once a month, and will prevent long gaps in time when pictures are not taken. Of course additional dates can be selected if you would like to take pictures more frequently.

Creating Opportunities
If you are not getting enough pictures of your family, try these methods out and see how they work for you. The main idea is to make opportunities more available to take pictures, and remind yourself and your family in as many ways as possible that taking family pictures is important and fun. Making memories with your family is important for maintaining strength and unity in family relationships. Having the pictures to remember those times can be equally enjoyable and rewarding.