Above all other things Millennials get a bad rep for, spending too much time on our phones must be the thing we hear most of all. Whenever I would go to concerts in high school, my dad would always jokingly remind me to actually watch the show. I know it can look like we’re all tied to our phones at restaurants, shows, and out at night, or preoccupied with presenting a certain image on social media when we post on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. But taking pictures as you experience life doesn’t need to carry this negative connotation.

The High Museum with Erin, 2/25/17

For better or worse, we’ve progressed far enough into the technological age that smartphones aren’t going away anytime soon. Moreover, the constant new developments (namely with the release of the iPhone 8 and X) are providing users with professional grade cameras in the palms of their hands. Why not use them to our advantage?

A random side street in Paris in what became my favorite picture from my trip, 4/10/16

There is a difference between taking pictures of your life and living through the lens of your phone camera. Don’t watch an entire concert through a video or spend your vacation fussing over getting the perfect Instagram shot. But don’t neglect to document life as it passes you by.

The first time this crazy cool roommate duo hit the town together, 3/2/17

The photos you take in passing, like candids of your friends and family, or of events, like trips and performances, will all hold so much meaning and value in days, weeks, months, and years to come. This is your life! You want to remember the good, the bad, and the ugly selfies you encounter along the way.

The second day of my Spring Break Vermont road trip, 3/8/17

So take pictures of sunsets and pretty streets and things that make you happy. Take pictures of your food so you can show your grandma the next time you see her. Take pictures of the concerts and festivals and orchestral performances you go to. Take pictures of your dogs, cats, fish, pigs, horses. Take pictures of your family when you see them, and your home, wherever that may be. Take pictures of your friends laughing, dancing, posing, being themselves.

Take pictures of yourself to serve as a reminder to surround yourself with the people and things that matter the most.

When Leigh and I suffered a lot together and I realized we were going to be great friends, 9/18/16