Narrative Perspectives

Looking at strangers’ photo albums can evoke a surprising sense of familiarity. Although we don’t know the people in the pictures, we recognize many of the situations. Family gatherings, outings, or group photos may remind us of moments in our own lives.

At the same time, such albums also shape our ideas about what family actually means. An album’s title influences our expectations, while the selection of images or certain recurring subjects draw our attention.

Handwritten notes further impact what we see in the photographs. Names, places, and dates help us feel a little closer to a past life. Sometimes these notes even include the words “I” or “my,” and suddenly we hear a deeply personal voice between the images.

All of these clues highlight one important point: each album represents the perspective of a specific individual. They decide which moments to capture, which stories to tell, and what to leave out.

Family photo albums, therefore, do not simply preserve a family’s memories. They always also reflect the point of view of the person who compiled the album.