Many of us have mixed feelings about sharing our DNA findings. It can feel strangely invasive to have someone reach out and tell you they are your cousin. But, the unearthed secrets can lead to new connections and discoveries, to new family stories and shared understandings, as was the recent case with Pixorium team member, Lilly.

Betsy C. Baker loves to write. After her husband, David, died, the time was right to create a memoir. Holding Fast combines Betsy’s memories of childhood, her high-profile careers, marriage, family illness, death and loss with her imaginative creative fiction. Through its straight-talking, compelling stories told as truth and fiction, we are reminded to “hold fast” to our family history and memories. It was our distinct pleasure to create this book with her!

This summer we met Mihai “Mike” Pop, a talented, up-and-coming, Atlanta-based street photographer. He contacted us to create a book of his Romania photos, a piece to share with his family and others to showcase his work. Together, Mike and Lilly, his photobook coach, crafted this tender and compelling book, Romania Through My Lens.

If you’re a parent, grandparent, or anyone spending time with a special kid this summer – celebrate and save the memories with a kid’s art story book. Here are my pro tips!

We’re in that Spring and early Summer mania – school year endings, graduations and weddings, summer camps and vacations. We’re too busy for another thing in our 24!

Hey, I know BUT I boldly suggest these three simple habits. No extra time – just smart use of it:

Many of us inherit a family recipe collection. What an opportunity! Your recipe collection is a great way to save and share favorite family recipes with family stories and photos. Like these books created by our clients, Liz and Anita.

Your legacy is now definitely digital -- Apple, Facebook and Google, to name only a few. What happens to your data when you die? Who will have access after you’re gone?

Scanning photos and memorabilia – I’ve said alot about it over the years. Spurred on by the contents of a client’s Samsonite suitcase, I thought I’d answer the seven most common scanning questions. But first, the story.

I remember her in a wheelchair, fully dressed every day, in that big apron with the pockets on the underside where she kept her snacks and her .32 pistol. When I was three or four years old, she was my babysitter while my mother was at work. She was also my protector when I misbehaved.

I’d called Ron to check in – we were in the first months of COVID. I’d worked closely with him and his cousin, Barry, the year before on an extensive family history book. Ron replied with an email, which included …

Help! My photos are taking over my phone! I scroll and scroll in Photos and I can’t find the one I’m looking for. Plus, I’m running out of storage space.

Had I seen these leather-bound books before? Five of them, each with “A Line A Day” embossed in gold on the cover? I must have during at least one of the four packing/unpacking sessions of my parents’ recent downsizings. But, I don’t remember them at all.

“Legacy” is following me. I see it everywhere – in emails, conversations, podcasts, articles. And legacy is not being at all sneaky, but making itself known at every turn.

“So, Jiffy, how do I work with you and Pixorium?”

Someone asked me that question recently. Someone I was sure knew the answer. Wow.

If he didn’t know, then I had explaining to do!

“Help me find my story. I’m not sure I have one.” Yes, you do. They’re hard to see in your own life. I often hear, “Really, what have I done? I’ve just lived my life.”

“Help me tell my story in a book that’s loved, not just sitting on a shelf collecting dust.” Sure thing! A loved book always has your reader top-of-mind. A loved book is intentional in all aspects – what you say, how you say it, how it looks, how it feels.

I love dogs. And, I love to have at least one dog in my family. As of this writing, I’ve had seven in my adulthood, often two (and once three!) at a time. No question – I am a dog person. It’s part of my family story.

Can I scan my photos on my printer? Short answer is yes, but should you?

What is DPI? What is PPI? Are DPI and PPI the same? If you’re confused by image size terminology, that’s no surprise. These terms from pre-digital image days are still used to describe our digital image world.

Ordering personalized photo gifts online doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it should be one of your go-to gifts every year. Anyone can give a new skillet, cashmere sweater, or tea pot—anyone. The most special gift you can give are creative gifts with photos.