How COVID-19 has changed the way we capture memories
The pandemic has changed everything. It has changed the way we work, date, travel, and socialize. And because we normally capture all those things on camera, that part of our lives must’ve changed as well. But did it? And how?
To find out, we asked 1,300 people who use our app Gemini Photos (a photo gallery cleaner for iPhone) to compare their photography habits before the pandemic and since it began. We also asked four psychologists to help us better understand the trends we saw. Here’s what we’ve found.
Key Takeaways
23%
take photos
every day
18%
take selfies
every day
38%
look at old photos
every day
30%
organize photos
every day
Less reaching for the camera
As life slowed down to a halt, the number of shutterbugs plummeted. People don’t pick up their cameras as often as they used to — whether it’s because they don’t have much to capture or for deeper emotional reasons.
23%
take photos
every day
174%
only take photos 1-3 times a month
Users:
“My photos don’t bring much happiness these days. It’s hard to see things returning to their former glory.”
“Just don’t have much to capture besides the moments that make the pandemic easier to get through.”
“I don’t share my photos of what’s going on in my world to social media anymore, which is something I had always done.”
Psychologist:
"The pandemic has created a newform of judgmental thinking specific to COVID19 risks. Individuals maybe more resistant to take/post pictures due to fear of being judged for inappropriate measures with regards to social distancing, [such as] taking agroup picture without masks, attending a social event, or even goingon a vacation. People may also be more resistant to post photos onsocial media or even take photos, as these photos become a reminder ofone of the most difficult times in this country, a reminder of painand suffering."
It’s (not) selfie time
The front cameras are used even less often, with more people saying they never take selfies. But those who still like to snap a picture of their own face seem to be doing that a lot.
18%
take selfies
every day
22%
“most of my photos are selfies”
Users:
“Pre-pandemic I never posted or sent anyone selfies. Now I post selfies and have even begun sending “private” photos, which used to be something I’d NEVER do!”
Psychologist:
“The people who are taking more selfies are probably using them more to connect because they can’t connect in person. People are working hard to find new ways to keep their relationships going or have some kind of human contact.”
Trips to the kitchen
Travel photography is in decline for obvious reasons. As Bali and Paris remain out of reach, people are turning to stay-at-home subjects: family, pets, and food.
80%
“most of my photos are travel photos”
112%
“most of my photos are photos of pets”
68%
“most of my photos are photos of food”
15%
“most of my photos are photos of family”
Users:
“I think the type of content has changed but the volume has increased. Even more of my kids and food and pets and nature than before.”
“I document more everyday things.”
Psychologist:
“People became more authentic of the small things they appreciated such as flowers blooming in one's garden or a local park, images of their pets, books they were reading, or throwback images of the past. Some people became more real with sharing photos of themselves without makeup or allowing their grays to be seen. Vulnerability was emerging, because we were all in the midst of having our lives changed.”
Nostalgia for the better times
Time and again, people are finding solace in nostalgia for the past. Whether it’s nostalgic music or old photos, looking back at simpler times seems to make the present more tolerable.
38%
look at old
photos daily
52%
look at old photos
every week
9%
post old photos
every week
10%
post old photos
every month
User:
“I am trying to organize my library, which also becomes an excuse to cherish old memories.”
Psychologist:
“Reminiscing about the past is a great way to take a little mental vacation, and bring positive feelings from that past into the present moment. At a time when unhealthy escapist behaviors are spiking — when use of alcohol, marijuana, opioids, pornography, and gambling have all seen dramatic increases — looking at old photos is a healthy way to provide a little bit of relief.”
Organize it all!
The world may be a mess, but photo libraries aren’t. People organize their photos more often than ever — even those who never used to do it are rolling up their sleeves.
30%
organize photos
every day
65%
organize photos
every week
45%
organize them
every month
25%
never organize
photos
User:
“I've started using Gemini to check my library and it really helped to revisit old moments and create a more efficient storage for my memories! Thanks ♥”
Thank you to all participants!
Full survey data can be found here.
Questions and feedback are welcome at [email protected]