What happens to the memories that are left behind in photographs when the person who’s memories they are passes away? After the passing of both my mother and my grandmother, I began to notice the fleeting significance of photographs. I spent time going through boxes of pictures they had saved and every so often I would come across an old photo of someone or something that no one in my family could find a meaning behind or attach a significance to. This paper reveals how the meaning and importance of photographs shift over time from the perspective of the photographer to that of the preserver. I discuss the history of photography and its evolution from a purely scientific method of recording to fine art. I also discuss the psychology behind ...