Every day is full of photographable moments: sunsets, a beautiful plate of food, hangouts with your closest friends, and of course, your adorable pets. Many of us have hundreds—if not thousands—of these photos in our phones.
At first glance, these may not seem like our most important snapshots. However, in our new survey of more than 2,500 U.S. adults, we learned that while big life events get flashy photography, it’s the quick snapshots of everyday life that people cherish most.
Our survey shows how Americans want to remember every special moment in today’s fast-moving world. We have countless photos of everyday moments stored in our phones, but don’t always think to print and preserve them. So, let’s remember that keeping memories on display can be an easy way to bring a little more joy into our daily lives.
Key takeaways
- 68% of Americans say everyday moments, like family dinners or playtime, are the memories from the past year they’re most grateful for, outranking holidays, travel, and life milestones.
- 74% of parents or guardians say everyday moments are the memories from the past year they’re most grateful for, compared to only 62% of people who aren’t parents or guardians.
- 73% say physical family photos or old photo albums are their most treasured keepsakes, outranking heirlooms, letters, and childhood items.
- 47% of people printed or preserved photos of everyday moments this year, while 35% didn’t print any photos at all.
Everyday moments top Americans’ gratitude list
Some people may think to frame and display pictures of special events rather than photos of our daily lives. But prom photos and vacation snapshots don’t actually tend to be our most cherished memories. More than two-thirds (68%) of Americans say everyday moments, like family dinners, playtime, and moments with pets are the memories they’re most grateful for.
This is especially true for parents. Kids grow fast, and parents want to savor every moment of their children’s lives. Three-quarters (75%) of parents or guardians of children under the age of 18 say they’re most grateful for everyday moments, compared to 62% of people who aren’t parents or guardians.
“Parents want to capture every moment of their children growing up, from their first steps to their high school graduation. When life goes by quickly, those photos become a very special way of holding onto those moments you might otherwise forget,” says Mixbook Director of Brand and Creative Leslie Albertson.
Similarly, 53% of parents/guardians of children under 18 are grateful for their memories of special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, or graduations, compared to 40% of people who aren’t parents or guardians:
Family photos outrank every other keepsake
While today, most of our photos are buried in our smartphones, the photos we print and display around us are a constant reminder of what’s most important in life. The majority (73%) of people say family photos or old photo albums are the keepsakes they’re most grateful for.
In comparison, 39% of people cited childhood mementos (such as stuffed animals or trophies), 36% of people cited heirlooms (such as jewelry, furniture, or other items passed down generations), and 34% of people cited letters or journals (such as handwritten notes, love letters, or diaries).
Not all generations see their keepsakes the same way. The older you are, the likelier you are to say you value physical photos. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Gen Zers, or people ages 18-28, say they are most grateful for their family photos and old photo albums, compared to 80% of baby boomers, ages 61-79.
Instead, many young adults keep their large photo collection in their phones. Our previous survey about photo clutter showed that 1 in 8 (12%) people ages 18 to 34 keep 10,000 photos or more on their phone, compared to only 4% of adults 55 and older who do so.
Printed photos boost happiness and connection
Whether they’re in photo books, on walls, or in frames on your shelf, printed photos are a great way to keep you connected to the family, friends, and everyday moments that you love. More than half (59%) of people say they feel happy and grateful when seeing printed photos of their favorite memories. Additionally, 57% feel nostalgic or connected, and 45% feel comforted
“It might sound cheesy, but keeping yourself grounded in the here and now by reminding yourself of what you’re grateful for is important. When you keep photos of everyday moments up around your house, you’ll constantly pass by them. And each time you do, you’ll be reminded of why you get up every day,” Albertson says.
The gap between gratitude and printing
Overall, many people feel these glimpses of everyday moments are important enough to display. Nearly half (47%) of people printed or preserved photos of everyday moments in the last year—more than any other type of photo suggested by Mixbook:
Types of photos printed and preserved in the last year:
- Photos of major milestones: 37%
- Photos of everyday moments: 47%
- Photos of holidays and seasonal celebrations: 34%
- Photos of travel and vacations: 34%
- Not applicable – I didn’t print or preserve any photos this year: 35%
Despite the high percentage of people (73%) who say their most cherished keepsakes are family photos and old photo albums, 35% of people say they didn’t print or preserve any photos this year.
One of the main reasons for that may be that 26% of people have more than 2,500 photos saved on their phone, according to our previous survey. (Some (4%) have more than 15,000 saved.) With that many photos on hand, people may find that choosing a few to print is too overwhelming or time-consuming.
You have the photos already—use them to remind yourself of what matters
With the sheer amount of everyday photos we keep on our phones, it can be challenging to pick the best to display in your home. But the joy when looking at them each day is worth it.
Keep in mind—there are many ways to display photos other than hanging them on your wall. You can print your favorite photos in calendars, photo books, holiday cards, or home decor prints, so you can surround yourself with good memories year-round. Or, give them as gifts this holiday season.
When the hustle of day-to-day life makes you feel lost, Mixbook makes it easy to honor your everyday moments and remind you and your loved ones what matters most.
Methodology
The survey of 2,516 adults ages 18 and over was conducted via YouGov Audience for Mixbook on November 6-10, 2025. Data is weighted and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
