In general, cameras come out of hiding for special occasions. Whether it’s a simple family picnic or a black-tie affair, it is the unique moments of life that get captured. While this creates a wonderful chronicle of the special times shared with those you love, it misses the unique nuances of everyday life, details that are eventually lost to time and faded memories.

I propose deciding on an annual “day in the life.” Pick one day and mark it on the calendar each year, as you would a birthday. On that day, from the moment you wake up, until you go to bed at night, keep your camera with you and keep clicking. I guarantee that, whatever your stage in life, your daily routine will look very different 5 or 10 years down the road.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

– What does the outside of your home look like?
– What do the rooms of your home look like?
– What happens at the breakfast table?
– What do your children like to do during the day?
– What are their favorite toys?
– What outside activities are family members involved in?
– What kind of car do you have?
– Do you walk or drive to school/work?
– What time is dinner time and what does the family dinner look like?
– What is the bedtime routine?

Once you have the images, edit them down until you have only those that really tell the story of your day. You can then print them in their own photo book or incorporate them into an annual family photo album. Either way, print them in a way that they’ll be available in the years to come because that’s when they will become truly priceless.