Why Do We Take Photographs?

As a child, the idea of photography seemed almost magical to me. My parents documented the whole of my childhood as a token of
memory that lasts forever. The flash on every click, and the camera click sound looked fascinating to me I used to hang a Handy cam around my neck all the time to snapshots. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve noticed a shift in the way we engage with photography.
What was once a meaningful act has, for many, become a habitual, almost mindless gesture, especially in the current generation. Our smartphones allow us to capture images with ease, and this convenience has led to an explosion of photography that often lacks thought or intention. Looking at a photograph would evoke nostalgia, helping us reconnect with the past. And the purpose of photography has evolved—or rather, devolved in some ways. With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, the focus has shifted from documenting life for personal reflection to curating a version of life for public consumption. Instead of capturing memories, many people capture moments they think will garner likes, shares, and followers.

Photography has become a form of social validation. We take
pictures not for the joy of remembering but for the approval of
others. There’s a sense of urgency to post the perfect shot, the
idealized version of a life that might not even feel real. It’s not
about the memory anymore; it’s about the momentary of a
heart-shaped notification.

We’ve gone from taking a handful of meaningful photos to snapping hundreds in a single day. The intent has shifted from creating lasting memories to contributing to an ever-growing digital pile of content. The irony here is in the process of photographing every moment, we are losing our ability to fully experience them.

By returning to the core purpose of photography, capturing moments that matter to us, we can balance the need to document with the need to experience. The beauty of photography is that it allows us to reflect, to connect with others, and to see the world in new ways. As we navigate a generation awash in images, it’s essential to remember that the value of a photograph lies not in its ability to impress others but in its power to evoke meaning for ourselves. After all, the most important audience for our photos is not the public but our future selves.