How can we hold onto time and freeze special memories? Professional photographer Yaakov Katz of Queens shared his passion for photography with this writer. He started Photography Organizing & Managing, a business that helps people preserve memories and hold onto their stories.
Yaakov shared that the best part of his new business is affording people the opportunity to relive memories and experiences through photographs. “I like being able to freeze a moment in time and helping people to re-experience that moment.” He explained, “My goal is to help people retell their stories.” His business provides a way for people to hold onto their memories and preserve stories and experiences that are important to them.
The catalyst for this idea was when he saw his grandmother’s many boxes of photos. He said that in his family, she is the lady with the camera, so he helped her to organize her photos. While going through these photos, he discovered a photo of his great-grandfather for whom he is named. He discovered that his great-grandfather was a motion picture operator. He even found a license from 1916 stating License to operate a camera. This does not guarantee he’ll take a good photo.
Yaakov shared that this was something he never knew about his great-grandfather, and he was so excited to learn this information, especially to see how they shared a common interest – a love of pictures. You just never know what you’ll find going through old photos and memorabilia. His great-uncle had a Canon camera that Yaakov has now, that his father recalls his great-uncle taking photos with. Through this experience, Yaakov came to understand how photos create a connection to family and the past, giving him the desire to begin this journey to help others preserve their memories, as well.
He explained the process of how he helps his clients to organize their photos and memorabilia into something they can forever treasure.
To start the process, first he has a conversation with his client about his or her end goal. Some want to back everything up for a keepsake, while others want to re-experience their photos by making them into photo books, framing them, or creating a video. Once he determines what they want to do, he sends an extensive list of where photos can be found. For example, old computers, old hard drives, old phones, CDs, tapes, memory cards, USB sticks, etc. This helps to remind clients where most photos are and how to consolidate their photographic memories. Sometimes people have plaques or awards they want to preserve but they don’t have physical storage space, so Yaakov photographs these items in order to preserve the memory.
He also helps clients back up and utilize the thousands of digital pictures on their phones through various photo storage and sharing apps and by creating photo books.
He shared that he just finished a job of 50 albums, which involved scanning 15,000 photos from childhood through when his client’s children were married. He did her entire family history. During Pesach, all the grandkids had a chance to look at photo books that retold their family story.
Yaakov said that this is something you can do yourself. There are many helpful websites and apps like Ancestry.com, Photomyne, and Google Photos – all great ways to look back in time and create memories that can be viewed and shared at any time. Photos help connect us to our pasts, while reminding us of people and places, while creating a lifetime of stories to share and pass on.
Yaakov Katz can be reached at 646-300-1811, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or at Instagram@yaakovkatzstudios.
By Susie Garber
