Living in the Moment While Capturing It Forever
Written By : Jacqueline Rappa
I feel like there are two types of people on vacation: the ones capturing every moment, and the ones who don’t. But honestly? Both are still present, soaking up the trip and the adventure. One just prefers to document it.
I’ve always been the person who documents. I loved taking pictures long before social media even existed in my world. One of my first gifts was a digital camera, and I’d bring it everywhere – school trips to the museum, afternoons at the park with friends. I was too young for Facebook at the time, so none of those pictures were for posting. They were for me. I’d go to CVS with my mom, print them out, and put them in albums.
Social media definitely took that love for capturing moments to another level. Now I get to curate an aesthetic with the photos I take, especially the vacation ones. Add a witty caption, pair it with the perfect song, and suddenly I’ve got the perfect photo dump.
Some people might say taking photos means I’m not “living in the moment.” But that’s not my reality. Because I enjoy taking photos (and being photographed), it’s become part of the experience for me. Some people’s non-negotiable is comfy sneakers for all the walking; mine is getting photos in an aesthetic spot, wearing the outfit I’ve been planning for weeks. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The thing is, documenting actually helps me remember the trip better. I remember how my nail color matched my glass of red wine. I remember laughing with my best friend as we took turns snapping photos of each other in front of the glimmering ocean. And honestly, it only takes a few minutes. The rule: take a bunch, look at them later. If I don’t get the perfect shot, I move on – there’s always tomorrow, always a new backdrop.
When you don’t make it that serious, it stays lighthearted and fun. I love posting Instagram photos. I love editing all my little clips into a TikTok. I work in media, live and breathe media, so of course I’m going to create my own – especially when I’m on vacation in Europe, surrounded by endless inspiration.