Family archives are a very common but at the same time a unique topic. We all possess photo albums in our souvenirs, viewing of which is something quite ordinary, however their special nature, which is on the border of many aspects, both theoretical and practical ones, captures the attention of representatives of various fields. Family photography is thus a topic for amateurs and for specialists, generally speaking – for everyone.

The common point connecting the diversity of family archives belongs to the issue of memory. Family photographs without the memory of family members do not perform their main function. We are the memory – we pass our history to the next generations, thereby pointing out what is important for the contemporary ones. While sharing our memories, not only in the family, but also with other people, we exchange our experiences relating to a sense of identity, which constitute the meaning of who we are now.

The topic of family archives is crucial especially in the context of contemporary changes. We are at a special moment in history when not only the materiality of family photographs is transforming from analog to digital one, but also because of different ways of treating this type of material in virtual space. Therefore, all activities related to family archives are not only an individual issue of souvenirs owners, but also a general testimony of contemporary reality.

Each of us has various family photos in our private collections – those of everyday life from our childhood or those of special holidays at grandma’s and grandpa’s, also those taken at home or in the photographer’s studio, and the photos from the black-and-white or colour photography era, and many others. When we meet our family or friends, it is worth sharing memories in the context of family albums. It is a perfect situation to notice how valuable family archives are and how these testimonies of past times are related to who we are now. It is also important to know how to renew old photo collections in a contemporary way. And these are the measures we use at our photography workshops. What is more, we always create a unique exhibition in the gallery consisting of the copies of our archival family photos.