Adding Photos to Family Search or Not?

Truth be told, I just wanted to share these cute photos of our oldest granddaughters, Piper and Julia.  It got me thinking about whether or not one should put photos of the living on Family Search.  I wondered since the information you add for the living can only be seen by you on your own tree, would the same be true for your photos? 

I love that secret language
 between sisters captured here

I couldn't find anything about this on the site, so I decided to call the help center.  1-866-406-1830.  After some deeper digging in their user guides... paraphrasing...this was the answer.  At this time you may not add living people to the database of family photos but this option will eventually become available.

Some of the things they have told us is that there is no limit on the number of photos you can add.  I think that I will however, limit my photo uploading to no more than three photos of an individual if I have them.  I was thinking like a childhood photo, marriage photo and an old age or perhaps a family photo with children.  It seems that anyone seeing those pictures that would want more or something very specific could just contact me individually to get more if I have them.   

The reason I think this is that there are so many other places to keep family photos that will not encumber a huge public site.  Like a blog for instance, or online scrapbooking.  But what about you, what is your take on it?  This is a fun thing because it is new and we are pioneering it.  FS has given us lots of latitude and options for our deceased family members.  Right now I wish I had even one picture for most of the people on my branches, don't you?

I decided to add a photo here for each one of our five granddaughters since here I can.  This is Anyslee, she is the only daughter of our son, Chris, who also has three boys.

 

Ayns

Jennifer, our oldest daughter has four girls

 and the top two are the big sisters

here and here are the little sisters.

Chloe Jane

 Miss Hazie

For me the important thing about photos is that we do something with at least some of them.  We all have so many digital photos now and most seem to remain tucked away on photo cards, flash drives or on the computer.  It is fun to take some out and put them someplace like a blog, blog book, scrapbook or Family Search (for deceased family) so that they can be viewed and enjoyed easily.  There is nothing like a photo to tell a little story. 

In some circles there is a tiny, little struggle emerging between the some of the purest research genealogists and the family historians that enjoys the photos and stories.  I think it is of utmost important to recognize that the research is still the primary thing but embellishing it with stories and photos is fantastic.  Utility and a firm foundation that is accessorized with added beauty is a great thing.  {Ask any interior designer! ;-)}

 It doesn't have to be an either or scenario.  Everyone will find their own way on this journey of leaving a legacy and the beauty of it is that others can add to it. It also doesn't hurt to add here that broadening it does not dilute it.  Not if we keep the discipline of searching and researching our families for the best accuracy we can attain along the way and get our sourcing done.  What a priceless gift to leave and a great way to be anxiously engaged in a good cause.  Carry on...researching, taking photos and writing your story.  If not you...then who?

Andrew Ferrera

4 Oct 1985~31 Mar 1982

This is Jim's maternal grandfather. We just got this old photo from Jim's mom yesterday. It is in perfect condition and we all love it. Jim already has one framed and sitting on his desk. He was quite the dapper young man wasn't he? Our daughter-in-law, Melissa, really loves the stockings. Me, I think the pinky ring is a nice touch. Not too sure about the hairdo but love that we can have this glimpse of what young, Italian men were like in the early 1900s.

Since this is how Jim and I remember him it is
great to see he was once young and fancy too!

Andrew left the old country and sailed for America and better opportunities when he was 18 years old. He came into New York but settled in Montclair, New Jersey the first few years and worked in the grocery business as a fruitier with some brothers and possibly a cousin. He married Marguerite Franchini on February 24, 1924 in New York City, NY. She was also Italian and from the same Province in Italy. She was born in San Colombano, Genoa, Italy. They had one daughter, Gloria Marie born in Monleone, Italy in 1926. She is the mother of my husband, James.

Grampa was the sweetest man and I thought of him as my Grampa too. He was a gentle man in every sense of the word. He adored his grandsons and was a good father and husband. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. He was humble and so kind. He treated me so well, always making sure I was comfortable and happy. One time I remember I was not feeling well while at their house. He insisted I lie down on the couch while he brought me a blanket and some tea. For Grampa a little tea fixed everything.

He loved people and he cared for others all the time. He was a grocery store owner and the entire neighborhood loved him. They knew him as Andy, we knew him as Grampa Andrew, but his real name was Antonio. When he left Tasso, Italy and came to America, his name was changed to Andrew. We found this typed on the back of his naturalization papers. He has a great-grandson that carries his name and a great great-grandson as well. Both of their middle names are Andrew. Both of them have brought honor to his fine name.

This photo was taken in Tasso, Italy in December of 2010, and is what remains of the old homestead where Jim's Grandpa was born! Grandpa painted everything this color of green that he mixed himself and is now fondly known in the family as "Grampa Green." It was a shock to see where he got the idea! Every time he painted that color on something it probably reminded him of home and family left behind.

Family History Tip:

If you have old family photos scan them to preserve them and file them electronically with a good back up system. Your posterity will be glad you did. As you can see it doesn't take a lot of effort to leave a little mini-bio on a loved one and a few photos for them to be remembered by their posterity. Of course you can also do a more elaborate one if you desire and time permits.