My grandfather and I are celebrating milestone birthdays in August. He will turn 90; I will turn 30. It's a bittersweet occasion, though, as he and my grandmother pack up their house in order to move into a managed care residence.

So, our family has been helping Grandma and Granddad sort through the mementos they have collected over the years.
Their basement is a veritable treasure chest of 1950s-era toys. Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, and Brownie Cameras are arranged in a Teutonic order that would be expected of descendants of German immigrants.

On a recent trip to St. Louis, my sister and I pored over the basement shelves and made an important discovery: a vault of Niesen family photographs that chronicle my grandparents' lives.

As I sorted through boxes of brittle prints, I realized the worth of my find. The value of these images to our family is immense; they are priceless. — The photographs provide a portal for me to know my grandparents from a time well before I was born —. Someday, these photos will enable my children to know their great grandparents.

Everyday I tell prospective clients that there is great value in photography. Our clients' interaction with their wedding photographs will provide an experience that allows them to relive an important day in their lives —. Photographs will give their children a unique glimpse into their parents' lives. The work we produce for our clients will become a foundation for family legacy, and will increase in value over generations.

The print above bears the following inscription: "Eddie, 1929." My grandfather was 13 years old. This is the foundation of family legacy.