What’s a Kodak moment?

Geoff Weber, CEO
January 3, 2023

A Kodak Moment is a term that has become synonymous with capturing and preserving special moments in time. The phrase was popularized by Kodak, the iconic American photography company, as a way of promoting its cameras and film products. The concept of a Kodak Moment speaks to the idea that there are certain moments in life that are so precious, they deserve to be captured and preserved forever.

‍

The term Kodak Moment was first introduced in the 1980s, during a time when photography was undergoing a major transition. Film cameras were becoming more affordable and accessible, and the trend of capturing and preserving memories through photography was rapidly growing. Kodak saw this trend as an opportunity to market its products, and the term Kodak Moment was born.

‍

At its core, a Kodak Moment is a fleeting moment in time that captures a special moment in a person's life. It could be a family gathering, a wedding, a graduation, or any other significant event. The idea behind a Kodak Moment is that by capturing these moments, people can preserve their memories for years to come and relive the special moments that make life so meaningful.

‍

Kodak's marketing campaign was a huge success, and the term Kodak Moment quickly became a household phrase. The concept of capturing and preserving memories through photography was so powerful, it resonated with people all over the world. Kodak became synonymous with photography and capturing life's special moments, and the company's cameras and film products became a staple of family life.

‍

One of the key elements of Kodak's marketing campaign was the use of relatable, heartwarming scenarios to show the value of capturing memories. In many of the commercials and advertisements, the company used scenarios that depicted families and friends coming together to celebrate life's special moments, and emphasized the importance of capturing and preserving these memories for years to come. This message was communicated through the tagline "Kodak Moments: the memories you can keep forever."

‍

As photography technology evolved, Kodak continued to innovate and adapt to the changing landscape. The introduction of digital cameras and online photo-sharing platforms presented new challenges and opportunities, but Kodak remained at the forefront of the industry. Despite the challenges it faced, Kodak continued to promote the idea of capturing and preserving life's special moments through its products and marketing campaigns.

‍

Today, the term Kodak Moment still carries a lot of meaning and significance, even though Kodak itself failed to understand the full significance of the trend to digital photography. The concept of a Kodak Moment continues to be a powerful way of capturing and preserving memories. However, preserving memories now means digitizing the old media to a portable digital format. Nonetheless, the concept of the Kodak Moment will continue to live on for generations to come.

More from the Heirloom blog...

February 6, 2023

The Iconic 5.25-Inch Floppy Disk: Nostalgic Computing History

The 5.25-inch "floppy" disk evokes fond memories for those who experienced the early days of computing. This diskette was a major evolution of data storage!

September 12, 2023

What happened to the Google Reviews for Legacybox?

Discover the mystery behind the vanishing Legacybox reviews on Google. Explore possible reasons and where to find reliable alternatives.

September 12, 2023

Legacybox Google Reviews: A Disappearing Act

Discover why Legacybox Google reviews are disappearing. Explore the mystery and find out where to seek reliable feedback.

Millions of memories preserved.

2020INC logoThe Paak logo

Lost & Found

Memories from thrift stores, flea, markets, and abonded storage lockers.

Older couple in front of mountain viewing spot looking at each other

Yosemite Valley, ~1960s

We found this picture of a beautiful couple standing in front of Half Dome, one of Yosemite Valley’s most recognizable landmarks. Yosemite Valley in California sees millions of visitors each year (a record 5 million people visited in 2016!). Even though the park sees so many people, each person typically only sees it once…and it’s always a special memory. This picture was nestled in a collection of photos from all over the world – from California to New Orleans to Paris, Germany, Africa, and more. But despite the awe-inspiring view behind them, the couple seems more entranced with each other than anything around them.

An image of highschoolers about to attend prom with their dates

Prom, 1966

The charm and beauty of prom captures the hearts of young men and women across the country every year. For many, it’s their first formal affair, their first step into a glamorous world built only for them. But perhaps more memorable are the days and moments leading up to the ceremony. Before the first song ever plays, ladies are shopping with friends to find the perfect dress, gentlemen are building up the courage to ask for a date, and both are speechless at the first sight of each other. The laughter and smiles found in these moments often planted roots for love to blossom.

Mother showing toddler in a crib their reflection in a mirror

Love unbound, circa 1966

Every generation faces unique challenges. To meet them, we stand on the shoulders of our loved ones and become more than they ever could. In time, we do the same for our children, lifting them higher still to achieve what we could only dream of. While we were busying admiring those who guided us, candid memories like this remind us of the care they took to show us the world we live in. Hairstyles and fashion choices come and go. Pop culture changes with the wind. But the excitement that comes from these experiences – whether learning them for the first time or passing them along to the next generation – creates unforgettable feelings that deserve to last forever.

2 men holding animals a chihuahua and a donkey side by side

Sharing laughs, circa 1965

Some of our memories are defined by the times. We proudly showed off our bellbottom pants and 8-track tapes, wore loud clothes and big hair, and proved that grunge wasn’t just music, it was a way of life. These were the times of our self-expression. But our most important memories weren’t shaped by self-expression, they were shaped by mutual expression, by the friends who stood beside us. Friends have a way of bringing out the best in us. They help define who we are through the experiences we share. The smiles, the laughs, and even the tears create a bond stronger than time.

Children on a swing set looking at the camera

Swinging, ~1965

Autumn brings about a time of great change. Like the trees that shed their leaves, we put the summer behind us, trading t-shirts for sweaters and beaches for playgrounds. And it was on the swing sets of our youth that we learned we could touch the clouds if we but yearned to fly. As Robert Frost once told us, “Nothing gold can stay.” Nearly a century later, his words remind us that true beauty lives only in the moment, and those moments are worth remembering.

Man sitting on a giraffe statue

Riding Giraffes, ~1965

Life has a way of forcing our focus on the future. We plan and schedule and organize and hope that it all helps us get to where we think we want to be. But when the meetings are over and the offices close, we escape to the places that make us forget it all. Places like the Nut Tree in Vacaville, CA, offered retreat to residents and tourists and foreign dignitaries alike. At its height, it was “the ‘go-to’ spot no matter your passions or your age. We all had a place like this, somewhere we could be ourselves among friends that always made us smile.

Image of people at a table in a home smiling at camera

Change, ~1970s

We often take pictures to capture the moment, to relive the happiness and joy we felt in years past. But when we look back on them decades later, we find that pictures are so much more powerful. They preserve the smiles, of course, but they also chronicle change. We all experience it. The laughter and tears, the wins and the losses, and at every turn we love and mourn and grow. Pictures like this show that as we grow, so too does the world.

Image of a teen boy holding a soda while 2 elementary boys make silly faces

Choices, ~1977

Just because we were there together doesn’t mean we had the same experience. We remember things differently because our priorities were different. Some of us let the experience define the memory, while others chose to define it themselves. We often rush through life, bouncing between the big moments and taking ourselves too seriously. We move from one day to the next with little regard for the small moments that fill each one. Meanwhile, those around us are having the time of their lives in every moment they can. So, we have a choice: we can wait for the memorable moments to find us, or we can create the times that are worth remembering.
When you look back at your own pictures, do you see a defining moment, or a moment defined?

Image of a boy wearing a blue power ranger costume

Transformations, 1994

As we get older, holidays tend to take on new meanings for us. New Year’s Eve becomes less about the party and more about spending another year with friends, Christmas less about getting gifts and more about giving them, and we understand the things we’re thankful for during Thanksgiving more than ever. But no matter how old we are, the excitement of putting on a costume for Halloween never changes. Whether we’re giving the candy or getting it, Halloween allows us to transform into whatever we want. We can be spooky ghosts wrapped in sheets or wear plastic teeth and threaten to suck the blood from our friend’s necks.

Image of an older man showing his fish catches of the day

Showing off, 1996

We all have our own hobbies. Some of us like golfing with friends, or painting a comforting picture surrounded by idyllic scenery. Others enjoy playing music, writing stories, or woodworking. But almost everyone has spent at least a day on the water with nothing but a fishing pole and the hope of catching the big one. Whether you’re bragging about your amazing hole-in-one or that giant fish that got away, we all love sharing our adventures. That’s why memories like this are so important. Our friends won’t always believe us when we tell them how big that fish really was, but they can’t argue when we show them the picture.

Black and white image of US Navy Sailors

Camaraderie, 1954

When we remember significant events in our lives, we remember the friends who supported us the most. As we get older, these memories become more caricatures than factual, and many of the people we enjoyed being with are lost in the fog of our minds. Military members meet a significant amount of people all the time. Whether through the constant rotation of personnel through a unit or the many classes that provide networking opportunities, service-members often remember events more often than names or faces. But when we look back on pictures like this, a flood of memories comes rushing through. Suddenly, we’re a part of the conversations all over again. We see the faces and hear the laughter and we remember the smiles that carried us through those important times.

Subscribe to Heirloom.

Thank you! We're adding you to our communications!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Looking for something?

CompanyPressCareersSkillBridge
Services
BlogUPS Pick Up or Drop OffPrivacy PolicyTermsHelp Using Heirloom

Forever enjoy with friends and family.

The Heirloom box is the safest way to ship your old media for digitizing. It's an 18" x 12" x 6" media container that can hold up to 30 large VHS cassette tapes. The Heirloom box includes three-way shipping, secondary labeling, waterproof pouches, packing materials, and tamper-evident security tape. Best yet, there's no need to sort and count your media. Just put everything in the box and let Heirloom professionals do all the work. You'll receive an email with digitized samples of your media within a few days!
Buy - $29.99