safeman

All you Hoggers out there I want you to take a guess. Out all your photos, some of you must have 10,000 or more, how many are shots do you keep because they mean something personal to you? Regardless of quality, maybe a B&W taken from a Brownie. How many do you occasionally go back and think wow I remember when I took this or I remember her/him. Do you have any that bring tears to your eyes? I have more than a few that bring tears, how about you?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Less and less.

The images taken over a period of time lose value and in the end have very little interest to anyone but me.

As to the pro archives, I long ago gave them to the clients (neg/slides and or prints). These have absolutely zero value to me.

And no, not one image brings tears to my eyes, even the only one I have of my first wife.

Tears equal regrets. I have none. Given a chance I would retrace the exact same steps I took, even those that led me to pain and suffering. I am well were I am because of the path that led me to my present stage in life: Content.

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

I feel the way you do. Here I am content and can say I did it right for the most part, listening to the "The Lonely Shepard" by Inka Gold doing their magic on the pan flutes and drinking Sangria. I am at peace.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I often go back over my collection of images and mercilessly toss out those that no longer meet my evolving standards. Quickest way to save on storage. — Ralph

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I agree, I select very few to keep, and then go back after some time and cull more. Family functions I keep but for the most part I ask if these were some ones else photo what would I do with them and delete or save accordingly.

danniepolley

Yes, I have many thousands of images, and yes there are a few I look at from many years ago that bring not tears but a small smile. Storage is so cheap that I don't delete old images just to save space, I can't count the number of times, I have been asked by friends for copies of old images of loved ones that have passed.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

I have the family photos from as early as 1864. They're in a box, and I have scanned many of them. I have hundreds of prints of my own from abt 1957 on. Now I'm amassing a digital collection. I haven't tossed any prints, and once in awhile go through them for the memories they hold. For the digital ones, it depends. Vacation and family ones I hold onto forever. The rest I'm working on tossing the not so great images, but they all hold memories of my camera outings, so I hoard the better ones for no particular reason. Sometimes they become subjects of post procesding experiments.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I can't give you numbers (never very good at math), but I keep pictures that mean something to me, regardless of quality. They've never made me cry.

leftyD500 Loc: Ocala, Florida

I have for quite a while now, realized that my photography skills are not as outstanding and unique as I thought they were. I realize that a good photographer can take outstanding phots with practically any camera, BUT, modern day camera have made it easy to take good photos. I once had aspirations of selling my photos, but, reality check has made me realize, there is a much greater chanced my photos will mean more to me than they will mean to prospective buyers. So, yes, my photos have special meaning(s) to me, and I do save and keep them.

Vaun's photography Loc: Bonney Lake, WA

I recently went through over 10,000 photos on my laptop and yes I have a few which bring tears to my eyes.

Deanie1113

Last month, my grandson's 8U Little League team was playing in a World Series district final tourney. My grown son was the pitcher to these little players. My grandson was up to bat...WHAM...a super-hard line drive straight to the head of my son. He was knocked to the ground and other coaches swarmed around him. He got up, was OK, pitched again, grandson made an out...and began to cry. He was devastated that he had hurt his dad. My son tried his best to comfort him. Here's the picture that will bring tears to my eyes forever.

(Download)

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Until some four or five years ago, I had all my (keeper)photos printed, then put them into albums, with captions, stories, dates, etc. I've got some 25 or more albums.
Not very long ago, one of the daughters-in-law asked if they could have the albums when my time to leave this earth comes. She told another DiL about that, and that one objected, "because there also are photos of my husband and kids in there."
I am now scanning all the photos in the albums (or their negatives if I still have them), adding the digital images I still have. I also add a white strip to the bottom edge of the photo and type on that the date, occasion, location, etc. Eventually I hope to have all photos done and copied to each of four external hard drives - one for each of the "boys" and their families.
Dividing the pages of the albums for the boys is more difficult, but I'll have a go at it.

I will frequently take one of the albums and just flip through it and dream about "how it was".
The grandkids too, love to look at the photos of when their Dads were kids...
Definitely a lot of interest in my family - including interest in the photos taken before their time (I've got family photos back to about 1890).

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I'm crazy, lazy and probably in the .1% of the population. I keep all photos. In the last 8 years, I tend to keep only the ones that have merit. I have 300,000+ images. Some family images bring tears to my eyes.
Mark

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

I just came across a photo of my Danish grandfather taken in 1883 in Council Bluffs IA when he was 26 years old. My wife and I have detected a strong resemblance between him and me. It was a thrill to find this treasure. No tears in my eyes but elation at the discovery. Careful what you throw out. It may be a treasure for some future person.

alby Loc: very eastern pa.

80% of mine should go in the trash.... but most take me back .. so i keep most, BUT not all