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Photos and videos of loved ones

(48 Posts)
Missiseff Wed 22-Jan-25 15:49:46

I've got hundreds of my two when they were young, but as it was me behind the camera, a rare few of us together. I'd love to have videos or recordings of their voices sad

Cateq Wed 22-Jan-25 14:22:51

I spent a few happy hours recently going through a very large box of photos. I have a huge pile of my children and grandchildren, the happy feeling after looking at them stayed with me for a long time. The front screen on my phone is a photo of my DH and DA taken at my DB wedding almost51 years ago.

Mt61 Wed 22-Jan-25 13:58:04

bikergran

Hellogirl1 If you have a look in charity shops the ones that sell electrical items, I am sure you will find a VHS video player.

We have such a shop in the Ribble Valley that still sells old VHS players.

Or if you look on Ebay etc.

I did keep hold of mine for that reasons somewhere in the depths of the videos there are little snippets of my late dh.

Is that in Clitheroe?

Mt61 Wed 22-Jan-25 13:56:48

Took loads of photos & videos of my dad whilst he was in hospital, more really to keep a record of his recovery, (ended up getting a blood transfusion meant for another chap in the next bed) decline was quite rapid after that, he never really spoke or could hardly walk.
Just glad I have all the ones where we could converse with him. I am not in the right head space to watch them yet 😔

bikergran Wed 22-Jan-25 10:04:12

Hellogirl1 If you have a look in charity shops the ones that sell electrical items, I am sure you will find a VHS video player.

We have such a shop in the Ribble Valley that still sells old VHS players.

Or if you look on Ebay etc.

I did keep hold of mine for that reasons somewhere in the depths of the videos there are little snippets of my late dh.

Greyduster Tue 21-Jan-25 18:31:29

I have countless photos of DH, taken over the years, the last of them shortly before he died, but they are stills. The ones that aren’t are ‘live’ digital photos, some with very short clips of his voice on - a few words only. I have a couple of videos on my laptop I took of him when GS was small - around three. One where they were filling flower pots with compost in the garden, and another when pillow fighting on the living room floor. Both are very very funny and bring me to tears now. Precious times. He had a lovely voice. My sister used to say it made her go weak at the knees!
I fight shy of being photographed and so I don’t think there’ll be too many ‘keepers’ and none with my voice on - hopefully!

Grannybags Tue 21-Jan-25 18:24:21

Greenfinch

Grannybags A brilliant response from your Mum. I must remember to take a bag around with me.😂😂

😁

Greenfinch Tue 21-Jan-25 18:12:53

Grannybags A brilliant response from your Mum. I must remember to take a bag around with me.😂😂

GrannySomerset Tue 21-Jan-25 17:17:39

Late DH had a lovely smile and I have pictures of it from babyhood to old age, and they make me happy every day. What I don’t have is a recording of his voice and I would so love to hear him again.

Beechnut Tue 21-Jan-25 16:14:37

Grannybags

I’ve got a photo of my Mum with a brown paper bag over her head as she didn’t want her picture taken! 😂

😂😂

I love photos, always have. I have several short videos of my husband and one I like is when he walks towards the camera and makes a kiss. It’s me behind the camera 😂

Grannybags Tue 21-Jan-25 15:51:54

I’ve got a photo of my Mum with a brown paper bag over her head as she didn’t want her picture taken! 😂

Indigo8 Tue 21-Jan-25 15:25:19

ViceVersa

Georgesgran

There’ll be no photographs of me, as I hate having them taken. However, I hope my family hold me in their hearts - that’s all I ask for.

I am exactly the same. I just point blank refuse to have my photo taken.

I feel the same, up to a point. I have to keep reminding myself that the photos are for my loved ones to look at when I am gone.

I had two grandfathers and I would love to know what they looked like. They both died before I was born. I have not seen photos of either of them.

Greenfinch Tue 21-Jan-25 14:59:10

What a kind post Doodle and it really got me thinking. Both DH and I hate having our photos taken and he gets very angry if anyone takes them without asking and refuses if he is asked. He always looks miserable in photos and I always look fat! I do have photos of my parents but rarely look at them though I often think about the people themselves.I remember my father for his kindness and sense of humour and don’t need photos. However , I do think they might be comforting for some people and I can see why. Thanks for the post.

ViceVersa Tue 21-Jan-25 14:57:46

Georgesgran

There’ll be no photographs of me, as I hate having them taken. However, I hope my family hold me in their hearts - that’s all I ask for.

I am exactly the same. I just point blank refuse to have my photo taken.

Whiff Tue 21-Jan-25 14:55:35

I have lot of photos of my husband but nothing with his voice or movement. He died in 2004 . But I can hear how he phrased things and I see him in my mind . I am glad I don't have anything with his voice as it would be to hard for me to listen too him and seeing him move . I am estranged from my son his choice I didn't even see it coming. I have videos of my grandsons but I can't watch then because I can hear my son's voice and in one see my daughter in law when she was pregnant and hear her. And I can't watch without the sound on because I want to hear my grandsons . So I don't watch. It's self preservation.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 21-Jan-25 14:52:22

This last 2 years I’ve taken more photographs of Himself Doodle and made a couple of mini videos. I hope to take many more (🤞) but those I have now are my insurance memories, should they be needed.

I’m glad you find some comfort from yours. x

Hellogirl1 Tue 21-Jan-25 14:43:08

I have loads of photos and quite a few videos. The trouble with the videos is that I can no longer watch them because of the death of video players. Id love to see again all the ones my hubby and I made on holidays. I know I can have them transferred to DVDs, but it`s the cost! A few years back I had all our old cine films put onto DVDs, and it was expensive, I think the videos would cost even more.

Indigo8 Tue 21-Jan-25 14:31:47

My mother hated having her photo taken and she would
quickly turn her back on you if you tried to snap one.

I hate having my photo taken too but I feel that I owe to my DCs and GCs to let them take as many as they like.

I really would like to have more photos of my mum. Partly because she died when my eldest was only three and my DCs would like to know what she looked like.

eddiecat78 Tue 21-Jan-25 14:17:17

Years ago I heard an interview with the tennis player Arthur Ashe whose mother died when he was very young. He said he knew she had loved him as people had told him so but he had no tangible proof of it. He said he would give anything for a photo of her holding him. After that I made sure there were photos of me and OH being affectionate to our children.
When my children were small video cameras were still quite rare and I do regret not having a record of their young voices.

Judy54 Tue 21-Jan-25 14:01:52

Yes I find old photographs comforting but definitely not into watching videos of those I have loved and lost.

Barleyfields Tue 21-Jan-25 13:49:00

I don’t like looking at old photographs. I find it very depressing. I agree with Georgesgran - I would just like to be held in the hearts of those I love.

Georgesgran Tue 21-Jan-25 13:45:09

There’ll be no photographs of me, as I hate having them taken. However, I hope my family hold me in their hearts - that’s all I ask for.

Doodle Tue 21-Jan-25 12:16:58

I’m on a couple of bereavement groups online and in real life. I have heard several people bemoaning the fact that they didn’t take more photos or especially videos of their loved ones.

One lady clings to a few seconds she has of her late husbands voice on their answering machine. Another who has a short video caught on the security camera of their son.
So many are upset they can’t remember their loved ones voices or have few recent pictures of them.

I have read of many who regret they didn’t make recording or have photos of their loved ones and wish they now did.

I have photos and videos of mine and I don’t know what I’d do without them. It doesn’t take the pain away but it does help.
Just a reminder to think about it while you still have time.