In today’s world, we take more photos than ever before. Phones are full, hard drives are packed, and cloud storage overflows with thousands of images—many of which we’ll never look at again.
As a professional photographer specializing in newborn, senior, and family portraits in Fairbanks, I often hear the same question:
“Do I get any digital files?”
And the answer is yes—but let’s go deeper. Because when it comes to preserving your family’s story, there’s something far more meaningful than a file you scroll past in a folder or social media memory. There’s something you’ll hold onto, pass down, and truly cherish: tangible, printed artwork.
Digital Files Are Convenient—But Often Forgotten
There’s no denying the convenience of digital images. They’re easy to share, perfect for posting, and simple to back up. They have a place—but they also have a short shelf life.
Technology changes. Hard drives fail. Phones get lost.
Even the most well-intentioned clients often forget to print their digital files—or never get around to it at all.
And years down the road, when your child is graduating or your family has grown in ways you never imagined, a digital file won’t make your heart swell the way a framed portrait in your hallway does.
Tangible Artwork Tells Your Story—Every Day
When you invest in fine art prints, albums, and wall portraits, you’re not just buying images—you’re building a visual legacy.
Imagine this:
- Your baby’s tiny hands displayed in a handcrafted album you flip through together at bedtime.
- A black and white portrait of your teen on the wall, reminding you how fast the years flew by.
- A multi-generational family photo hanging proudly in your parents’ living room—telling the story of love that spans decades.
These are the pieces that become part of your family’s home and history. You see them every day. Your children grow up seeing them. Your guests comment on them. They’re a presence—not a file.
What You’ll Cherish 20 Years From Now
Twenty years from now, your children likely won’t scroll through an old Dropbox link or remember where the USB went.
But they will treasure a portrait they saw every day growing up.
They’ll run their fingers over the cover of a photo album and remember how loved they felt.
They’ll pass those prints on to their own children.
This is the real value of what we create together.
What My Clients Say Years Later
Over the last 12+ years in business, I’ve had families return to me with stories I’ll never forget:
- A house fire took everything—but the client was able to reorder their framed portraits because I had the images safely archived.
- A loved one passed, and the family created an album using portraits we had taken years earlier.
- A child grew up flipping through their family's albums, now can proudly share with their own families.
These moments are why I do what I do—and why tangible artwork matters so much more than we often realize in the beginning.
The Best of Both Worlds
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to choose one or the other. With every portrait you purchase, you’ll receive a complimentary digital file, so you can share your images online while still preserving them as fine art.
That way, you have both the instant joy of sharing and the lasting joy of legacy.
Let’s Create What Lasts
My studio is built around the belief that your images deserve to live beyond a screen. I’ll walk you through selecting the right pieces for your home—whether it’s a statement wall portrait, an heirloom album, or a keepsake print.
So when you ask, “Do I get digital files?”—I’ll say yes.
But more importantly, I’ll help you answer a better question:
“What will I want to see, hold, and feel 20 years from now?”
Ready to create something lasting?
Let’s start planning your next session and the artwork that will come from it.