Valar Morghulis[1]

Leave it up. I don’t have kids, so my work is my legacy

Time perhaps to realise that no-one cares about your photos - yourself included, if you waited until death to consider doing something with them.

Photowallah said

Time perhaps to realise that no-one cares about your photos - yourself included, if you waited until death to consider doing something with them.

Odd thing to say.

I can care all I like about my photos or care nothing for my photos and the outcome will be absolutely identical: I'll be dead.

Photowallah said

Time perhaps to realise that no-one cares about your photos - yourself included, if you waited until death to consider doing something with them.

I think there are more nuanced expressions at variance with that, among the replies zbove from people who declined to make provision. Any consideration is in advance of death, no?

I think most 25 year olds in the UK have not received that jntimation of mortality, and even those who have probably don't feel urgency about reacting to it.

The situation in Ukraine, or among Americans who have not yet finished high school, may be different.

But the models here of that age seem quite engaged with their images.

MidgePhoto said

Photowallah said

Time perhaps to realise that no-one cares about your photos - yourself included, if you waited until death to consider doing something with them.

I think there are more nuanced expressions at variance with that, among the replies zbove from people who declined to make provision. Any consideration is in advance of death, no?

I think most 25 year olds in the UK have not received that jntimation of mortality, and even those who have probably don't feel urgency about reacting to it.

The situation in Ukraine, or among Americans who have not yet finished high school, may be different.

But the models here of that age seem quite engaged with their images.

You are quite right Midge, death is (in broad terms) a remote idea to the young, also they have little inkling how few chances they will get in life to make their mark. But that's what we're talking about here, right? The possibility that one's oeuvre will get some place in posterity? Which does not deny that creators may get day-to-day enjoyment from what they do. My point is simply that if you want your work to be appreciated by others in years to come, the time to do something about that is now, not on your death-bed.

Better things to do in bed, indeed.

The possible reasons include that and are laid out at the head of the thread.

If you have given assurances as to use of any images which remain in your effects then your executor or inheritor may need those, and certainly should have them in some organised fashion.

You'd want to make them binding on those successors.

When giving assurances, it may be worth thinking of the things which your successors might do with images - give to local museum, library, camera club, university department of art or Anthropology - and include, exclude, or mention, such things in your assurances. 

Death & your digital footprint definately can have consequences, on a related note 10 years ago my web designer & good mate died unexpectedly, he looked after everything for me, it took me about a year & countless phone & email conversations, copies of documents etc to get control back of domains, hosting. email acounts etc

It had never occurred to any of us including his partner to keep track of passwords, online accounts etc in the unlikely event of his death,

The whole benefit of dying is not having to worry about such things

andysphotographic said

The whole benefit of dying is not having to worry about such things

Provided there is nobody in the world you care about, yes.  

Many people do things they do not have to do for assorted motives, reasons etc.

Extensive collections of (own) prints present slightly different problems from digital collections. 

There is the sheer volume to store, and the effort of shifting them. And as physical objects some of them may have easily realisable value.

MidgePhoto said

Extensive collections of (own) prints present slightly different problems from digital collections. 

There is the sheer volume to store, and the effort of shifting them. And as physical objects some of them may have easily realisable value.

Speaking from the perspective of one who is clearing a house of the keepsakes and possessions of a departed parent, I suspect that a box of one's hundred favourite prints is considerably easier to triage for quality than hard disks full of images.

Unless the collection at a glance is obviously remarkable and preserved as such, what it comes down to is the decision to keep a few things and try not to dwell on the rest going into the bin/recycling. 

None of us should want the next generation to uncritically keep all our stuff. 

I expect everything I have done to go in the bin, but I am considering how I might identify the things I have done that I am actually proud of. And that is going to come down to a box of prints. A very small one.

Edited by Unfocussed Mike

This NVFAQ arose again at https://purpleport.com/group/bugs-errors-suggestions/189574/purpleport-after-death-/page/2/

Consider setting your affairs in order, it isn't a bad way to live, even if you are going to do so for a long time.

Don't make or leave a mess for other people to clear up.

Give instructions, or give permission, or give discretion.  To someone who can make sense of it.

Volunteer.

I left clear instructions -if I'm the first to go all digital family photos are on a separate portable hard drive to be kept - all other images are on different portable hard drives which are clearly marked and will be destroyed by massive hammer blows from my wife and any on line the accounts will be permanently deactivated.

Should I be second to go everything should be destroyed and closed.

Edited by photofervor

An article touching on this topic, with particular reference to password managers and thier provision for nominating and agreeing digital executors, emergency contacts, etc etc

https://uk.pcmag.com/security/147526/how-to-prepare-your-digital-life-for-your-death