Share a Photo That Means the World to You

We all have a photo that means the world to us. Maybe it’s one we made ourselves – the first photo from our first camera. It could be an old family photo in a beloved photo album. Or maybe it’s an iconic image that hangs on our wall at home.

With World Photography Day coming up, there’s no better time to celebrate the artform we love the most, and to highlight meaningful photos from our passionate community on social media.

We asked photographers to share photos that mean a lot to them. The responses were thoughtful, powerful, fun, moving, and definitely worth sharing!

Read through the posts below and then share your own. Tag us on Twitter (X) @photoshelter, tell us about the photo, and we’ll update our list.

Share a photo that means a lot to you. Tell us why it’s special.#NationalPhotographyMonth

— PhotoShelter (@photoshelter) May 9, 2023

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We were sat playing in the car and I was taking a sneaky photo and my daughter said ‘I love you’ which was the first time she’d said that to anyone. And I pressed click. pic.twitter.com/wNpFqaC2Ou

— Mat Christian Thomas (@matchristiantho) May 11, 2023

This image taking just after halftime during the Thanksgiving game in 2015 with smoke still in the air from the halftime show Calvin Johnson makes a touchdown catch. Image was selected by the #NFL as one of the best photos of the first years of the NFL. #CanonFavPic pic.twitter.com/cjUHj8S5zb

— Rick Oz (@TheRickOz) May 10, 2023

One of the first gatherings of friends when COVID started to settle down. I stepped out onto the porch to grab a beer. When I turned around, I stopped to take in a sight I had missed for so long. It’s just an iPhone photo but it represents so much more to me. pic.twitter.com/mGFDE7c9Fx

— Gavin Liddell (Gav) (@gavin_liddell) May 9, 2023

I’m a third generation Austinite, and got to work for my city’s 1st pro sports team in its 1st season. That meant the world to me.

This is the first home goal. The emotion on his face is exactly what I felt. So much pride, so much excitement.

It’s hanging on my wall. https://t.co/HN7X8sfkkB pic.twitter.com/xGYsKZBkLo

— Rankin White (@realrankinwhite) May 9, 2023

First place I’ve ever gone to where I’ve felt free and 100% relaxed pic.twitter.com/iTsGa7j98H

— Maddie B (@Bmadsvisuals) May 9, 2023

Two parts to the story…

I was shooting my son’s first baseball game, and my wife took a picture of me in action.

The second photo is the photo I shot when the first photo was taken. https://t.co/62SLp17i8P pic.twitter.com/bghiu1Isdn

— Josh McDaniel (@TheRealJoshMAC) May 10, 2023

I have a few I could share over the years but for me it is this one taken at the Women’s Final Four. I put a lot of work over the years and this one reminds me that hard work pays off. pic.twitter.com/iJuZCBF41R

— Michael Johnson (@mjohnsonphoto) May 9, 2023

This is a shot I dreamed of taking ever since I was a young girl watching squirrels dash around harvesting the leftover apples in the backyard of my childhood home. It was adorable watching it nibble away #NationalPhotographyMonth #photography #nature #wildlife #love https://t.co/YgFIo4CIvn pic.twitter.com/r7nLPT48EC

— Evangeline (@hsiyinl) May 11, 2023

2017 Solar eclipse. First one I had a chance to shoot. Sent to AP, lede photo on Australian Broadcast gallery of the event. Didn’t get paid, but own the copyright. pic.twitter.com/KdEa6HahFY

— Tim Gonzalez (@tjgonzalez) May 9, 2023

I took this in 2008 on my Konica Big Mini, ilford delta 3200 and it’s special to me because it was the first photo I ever developed and printed at home in my now gone darkroom. And because it’s Kimbo Slice. RIP https://t.co/ZAEGF3o6tq pic.twitter.com/nTItUylGBj

— esther lin (@allelbows) May 11, 2023

This one. Two high school seniors in the dugout hugging after their last baseball game together. This photo wrapped up a project I did with the small town baseball team that made me fall in love with the process again and got me out a major photo funk. I will always love it. https://t.co/DTqJ6VGLXu pic.twitter.com/odgMLHWMqq

— Kathryn Skeean (@KathrynSkeean) May 9, 2023

Earth’s Disco-Ball.@CanonUKandIE • @Sigma_Photo • ISO 200 • 1/640 • f/9.0 • 600mm

This night made me feel like an astronaut. pic.twitter.com/Ak0XBNffg7

— Revieshan (@revieshan) May 9, 2023

Got to shoot my best friend with the first media credentials i ever got approved for at the college level https://t.co/gzCaeuho01 pic.twitter.com/9iuY7pi422

— Keyshawn Aytch (@KeyshawnAytch1) May 10, 2023

This photo is probably the most meaningful one I’ve taken during my time at WVU. A heartbreaking end to a historic 2022 season, but an experience that I’ll never forget. Love these guys and this team ❤️ https://t.co/WJqk1LgqYL pic.twitter.com/qSztkO1MeB

— Logan Adams II (@loganadams__) May 11, 2023

My late Dad, his Grandson was his world. Dad was a professional photographer as it happens. pic.twitter.com/Asfhi7QAU6

— Robert Byrne (@robertbyrneoz) May 11, 2023

This is 4 generations of my family; grandmother, mom, sister, and niece. I took the portraits individually and composited them together in Photoshop. https://t.co/JRt1EwCMJi pic.twitter.com/LEol4xescx

— Josh Mindemann (@Josh_Mindemann) May 9, 2023

This is me and my Uncle Alton. His wife Sandy and my dad were brother and sister. We lost both of them in 2021. Last year we met up at @IMS for @IndyCar race in 2022. It was a special day and healing for both of us. Love this guy! pic.twitter.com/6ELi4LncKm

— Rodney Hampton (@RHampton09) May 10, 2023

I waited 14 years to see what Tiger Stadium looked like empty. https://t.co/07DBA46vBn pic.twitter.com/ul3BwcnKbQ

— Rob Hataway (@vhdawg) May 10, 2023

My two favorites. Me with my son in my arm after we won our league championship in 8u. The second is my dad holding me after I got a hit to win our league championship 32 yrs ago. pic.twitter.com/SBJjmeBAjw

— Ryan Floyd (@AmpFloyd) May 9, 2023

Most Holy Apostles Peter & Paul Church, #Lviv #Ukraine

During the onset of the #UkraineRussiaWar, I volunteered to help distraught refugees

As a photojournalist I documented my experiences

Within churches I found solem prayer displays- erected to memorialize those who perished https://t.co/AOJN1hg2Tv pic.twitter.com/tqc9EHqsAa

— John Andrew Babiak, a 1st Generation / (@Photog_JohnB) May 9, 2023

Three generations of our Chu family pic.twitter.com/P6aOGuXgRh

— Ricky Chu (@RikDaddy) May 11, 2023

@GCU_TrackXC Kelly
Moodry helps a fellow athlete off of the track. Win humbly, lose graciously. #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/HuwoKOeQe1

— GARRETT OHRENBERG (@gomediakc) May 11, 2023

this is one of my favorite photos from last season, Jarrett Martin is one of the most passionate guys on this team, got his first career pick six, he was emotional after the game i got this right as everyone was going to the locker room it’s not perfectly composed but its special https://t.co/S4LYoW2n1W pic.twitter.com/LlUZhAQokQ

— Connor Caldon (@CCaldonPhoto) May 11, 2023

I kinda just turned to my right and saw Ray Allen sitting 20 feet away from me. That’s it, that’s the story. pic.twitter.com/poEjwIrwhA

— Josh Paiva (@paiva_josh) May 11, 2023

This one was pretty cool too since it was the first time someone actually drew one of my photos. @CraftyCreative https://t.co/svZIqP9EDz pic.twitter.com/z5AZRDBJh1

— Arianna Grainey (@AriannaGrainey) May 10, 2023

My first #ActionFigure photo. My 13th anniversary of #toyphotography is this August. @NikonUSA #Superman #dccomics #80yearsofsuperman pic.twitter.com/Fs4ietwFaO

— Mary Fox (@maryfoxfirebird) May 9, 2023

This is my Aunt who was my second Mother and my oldest. She taught me to fish, and whistle, and read. She was with us long enough to hold my youngest, who is named for her. The favorite person of my whole life. https://t.co/rEjKA2PnWr pic.twitter.com/VzijzARiEI

— Pat Trammell (@pbtide) May 10, 2023

While documenting the Mike Brown protest in St. Louis, MO. I captured this moment between protester and police officer who moments later embraced each other. It was special to me to witness this social movement in American Society. pic.twitter.com/ycroJ7wmMk

— Kevin Duke (@pollo62) May 11, 2023

The day that I realized how fortunate I was to be able to capture such special moments https://t.co/bmN5TVNphp pic.twitter.com/kgEvZgPvnU

— Drew Mathis (@drewmathis_) May 10, 2023

I have taken many, many photos of women’s football matches. But this one I took of a @ClaretsWomen striker scoring a goal epitomises what a sports photography should encapsulate (notice the ball high in the back of the net). pic.twitter.com/v0EUXIpPHD

— Ian Kendle (@footydad) May 9, 2023

First time my son saw Mickey Mouse in person at Disney World. https://t.co/Y4m6JgVwKF pic.twitter.com/32Dd6h6Gay

— Trenton Morales (@TKMorales90) May 9, 2023

Covered President Obama for the first time last year. He was in College Park campaigning on behalf of Raphael Warnock and for just a moment I allowed myself to feel like I finally made it. @BarackObama @ReverendWarnock @theatlantavoice pic.twitter.com/wgEypfiN2P

— Donnell Suggs (@suggswriter) May 10, 2023

This is the last picture I ever took with my mom, she hated taking pictures after she lost her hair I always told her no matter how she looked she was still my beautiful momma https://t.co/IM7zvzdyUV pic.twitter.com/iDI5bdyZAk

— StinkyMinkyMMA (@garrettmink) May 11, 2023

clemson men’s soccer 2022 home opener
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they were ranked #1, won 2-1, and the stadium was completely packed and the energy was insane. it was the first game i shot of clemson msoc and i’ll never forget it pic.twitter.com/wXOunjQq9b

— aralynn (@aralynnminnick) May 9, 2023

my first concert after lockdown ended. Dave’s pose encapsulated how most of the crowd felt hearing live music again https://t.co/RTxaBIyAHG pic.twitter.com/VJqmjGm8ku

— Drew Rich (@_DrewRich) May 9, 2023

First game I ever shot, I had no clue what was going on and lucked into this shot. pic.twitter.com/ZCd5lz29Wt

— Caleb Craig (@Cablesphotos) May 9, 2023

This is my best friend scoring her first goal for @OregonSoccer during her senior year.

Lexi had been thru alot during her collegiate career and you can see how much this goal meant to her. She inspires me and I am so proud of her for not giving up when things got tough. https://t.co/3MI7FaofMj pic.twitter.com/IwebS2BI4N

— Scott Boldt (@scottboldtphoto) May 9, 2023

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Do you have a photo that means the world to you?

Tag us on Twitter (X) or Instagram (@photoshelter) and share your most meaningful photos.