I have a bad habit. I take a LOT of photos. And then I never post them.
Seriously. I have more than 150 folders of photos sitting on my smartphone and computer from the last few years. Photos that have never made it to social media.
And these aren’t just random photos of my lunch. They’re memories of things I genuinely enjoyed.
- Professional events and conferences
- Work events
- Get-togethers with friends
- Workshops where I learned something new
- Community events where I volunteered
- People I’ve met and connected with along the way
Some folders have just a handful of photos. Others have dozens, sometimes hundreds. I take the photos, organize them into folders, and tell myself I’ll go through them later.
And then later becomes next week. Next month. Next year.
Before I know it, I’m looking at photos from an event that happened two years ago and wondering why I never shared them.
So, What’s the Block?
I really don’t know.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy social media. I do! I’ve built a career around communications, storytelling, and helping people and organizations share their stories.
I spend a good part of my professional life thinking about content, planning posts, finding the right photos, and figuring out how to tell stories that connect with people.
You would think I’d be pretty good at doing that for myself. Apparently not.
And it’s certainly not that I don’t enjoy the events. Quite the opposite.
I LOVE going to in-person events. I love seeing people I haven’t seen in a while, meeting new people, learning new things, and having conversations that aren’t happening through a screen.
Some of my favorite moments happen at events that have absolutely nothing to do with work. Others happen at professional gatherings where I run into an old friend, meet someone doing something interesting, or learn about a project I want to support.
Sometimes I go to an event expecting to stay for an hour and end up spending half the day there because I keep running into people I want to talk to.
Those are the moments I want to remember. And apparently, I want to photograph every single one of them.
Technology Is Great. But People Are Better.
I’m a big fan of technology. I use it every day, both professionally and personally, and I love exploring new tools and seeing what’s possible.
Social media has allowed me to connect with people I might never have met otherwise. I’ve built friendships, discovered organizations, learned new skills, and found opportunities through online connections.
I appreciate all of that.
But for me, technology will never replace the experience of connecting with people in real life.
There’s something about sitting across from someone and having a conversation without worrying about a camera, a microphone, or whether the internet connection is going to freeze.
The conversations. The hugs. The laughter. The unexpected connections.
And sometimes, the conversations that happen after the official event is over are the ones I remember most.
I love that.
I love being part of Houston’s professional and community circles. I love showing up for organizations and people I care about. And I love seeing what happens when people get together to share ideas, celebrate accomplishments, or support a cause.
I have thousands of photos documenting those moments.
You just haven’t seen most of them.
Maybe It’s Time to Change That
I’m not going to promise that I’ll suddenly become the person who posts every photo within 24 hours of an event.
Let’s not get carried away.
But I would like to start sharing more of those moments, even if they’re weeks, months, or years old.
I’ve been thinking about why I feel the need to post something right away or not at all. If I don’t share photos within a few days, I start feeling like I’ve missed the opportunity.
And then I move on to the next event, take more photos, and add another folder to the collection.
It’s a ridiculous cycle, especially for someone who regularly tells other people that storytelling matters.
Maybe I need to take some of my own advice.
Not every post has to be timely. Sometimes, it’s enough that the memory matters.
A photo from two years ago can still make me smile. It can remind me of someone I haven’t seen in a while or an experience I enjoyed. It can bring back a conversation I’d almost forgotten.
And maybe sharing it will remind someone else of that moment, too.
So, don’t be surprised if you start seeing some older photos pop up in my feed. I may even share a few stories about what was happening when I took them.
I’ve got plenty of material to work with!
And Speaking of Photos…
Here’s one selfie I’ve already shared.
I was playing with AI, which is hardly unusual these days, and decided to turn a photo of myself into a watercolor painting.
I loved the result so much that I kept playing with it. Different versions, different layouts, more flowers, and eventually a version without my glasses.
It was fun. It was creative. And it reminded me how much I enjoy experimenting with technology.
Now I just need to spend a little more time sharing the real-life moments I’ve been collecting.
Maybe I’ll start with those 10 folders from Social Media Breakfast Houston. Or maybe I’ll find something from three years ago that makes me laugh and share that instead. No promises about chronological order!
What about you? Are you someone who shares photos right away, or do you also have hundreds (or thousands!) of photos sitting on your phone waiting for their moment?
