Typically on Photo Forward, we’re sitting down for long form interviews with a new visual creator each week and gaining some big insights about their history, their work, and their visions for the future. And, don’t get me wrong, I *love* crafting those interviews. But I think there’s room on this show and in this community to share some of my own insights as a photojournalist. That’s why I’ll be periodically sharing shorter-form, more bite-sized stories of visual storytelling like the one you’re about to hear today. If this is a format you’re really enjoying, let me know by dropping a rating or review on the show or tag us on Instagram with the hashtag #photoforwardmedia to share where you’re listening to the Photo Forward podcast!

Anyways, without further ado, here is our first solo Photo Forward Podcast episode all about how your cellphone is ruining your memory — and how thinking like a photojournalist can help fix it.

Photography and neuroscience. To quote the Sound of Music: “These are a few of my favorite things” I’m going to come out and say something that might seem pretty controversial, but the science is out there: Your cell phone is ruining your memory… but don’t worry, thinking like a photojournalist when you take pictures can change all that.

Okay, so as some of you might know, my formal education background is actually in Biochemistry with a focus in Neuroscience. So, when I see research like this that can make a difference in people’s lives, I love sharing it out.

Let’s get into it. Do this for me: Close your eyes and think back to the last big family event, birthday, party, going out with friends, you pick. How much do you remember about it? — The people you were there with, how much time you spent where, what you ate or drank while you were there, or what was your favorite part of it?

Alright, now open your eyes.

Did it feel like things just weren’t as clear, like you just couldn’t quite remember all of those details? Well, it’s not just you. Thanks to neuroscience, we now know why that is. It’s called the “photo impairment effect” and chances are, if you’re one of the billions of people around the world constantly documenting your life on your smartphone, you’ve probably experienced it.

Let’s look at the science behind what’s going on. So, you might think that taking photos would positively affect your memory because it focuses your attention...hence increasing how memorable the event is. But on the other hand, you’ll often pay less attention when you take photos, counting on the external device of the camera to “remember” for you. There’s a lot of research out there suggesting that people are much less likely to remember information if they expected to have future access to it — like on their camera, computer, or the behemoth of social media.

There’s a great little piece of research that was done in 2014 by psychologist Linda Henkel that dives right into this issue and presents some results that, as a photojournalist, I’ve known for years as a way to mediate this photo impairment effect. In the study, participants were asked to walk through an art museum exhibit and were instructed to either A) Just walk through and observe the artwork, B) Take mostly general photos of the artwork and the space or C) Take photos of specific parts of the artwork (like faces, swords/helmets, etc.)

So, when those three groups were tested afterwards, which one do you think recalled the artwork’s details the best? Well you might be surprised to find out, but the group that simply just walked through and observed the artwork was able to recall details of the museum exhibit the best! And, although photographing whole objects led hurt participants’ memory for visual details about the objects, zooming in on one aspect of an object preserved memory not only for the part they zoomed in on but also for the part that was not zoomed in on. Even though they took extra time and attention angling the camera and adjusting the lens so as to capture the best photo they could, the act of photographing the object allowed people to dismiss the object from memory.

And, chances are, you’ve probably felt this very same thing. And when you think about it, it kind of sucks. Let’s fix that.

When I’m out on assignment, whether it’s a crowded public event or an ongoing feature project, as a photojournalist, I’m always looking for details in the environment, fleeting moments in people’s faces, and dramatic lighting that elegantly captures the scene. Basically, I’m constantly in that third research group that’s tasked to focus on photographing details of the scene. And as a result, I definitely feel like I’m able to remember a lot more about those assignments when I keep those goals in mind.

So, when you’re out photographing your next birthday party, halloween costume or family get-together: think like a photojournalist, focus on the details, focus on the moments, focus on the light. Your future self thinking back on those fond memories will thank you.