We all remember to document the big stuff: weddings, graduations, trips abroad. The camera comes out almost automatically. But new research shows that the moments we regret missing are smaller than that.
Our survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults shows that 41% of people wish they'd taken more photos of candid moments with family or friends. Not milestones. Not vacations. Just the moments that somehow slipped by undocumented, like weekday dinners and playtime with the kids.
To help you capture (and remember) what actually matters, we explore what moments Americans wish they'd preserved, how accurately their photos represent their real lives, and whether those images ever get looked at again.
Key takeaways
- It’s the little moments that matter. Many people (41%) regret not capturing photos of candid moments with family or friends from the past year.
- Only 21% of Americans think their camera roll captures the full story of their year, including both major events and everyday moments. Nearly a third (32%) say their camera roll is mostly random photos.
- One third (33%) of people report rarely or never revisiting photos from the past year, even though 20% feel that they should.
- Without an external nudge or a specific mood, many of our memories remain in the dark. Over half (51%) of people revisit their photos when feeling emotional or nostalgic, and 41% rely on social media prompts to reflect.
We want more photos of our favorite people—but we don’t take them
The biggest photography regret isn't what you'd expect. When asked what they wished they'd captured more, 41% of Americans pointed to candid moments with family and friends.
This is far more than any other type of photo, including shareable wedding and vacation moments we're typically so careful to document.
- 27% regret not photographing everyday routines
- 24% regret not capturing milestones like birthdays and weddings
- 18% regret not photographing vacations
This tracks with a previous Mixbook survey on gratitude. We found that 68% of Americans are most grateful for everyday moments, outranking holidays, travel, and even major life milestones. The regret comes from not preserving memories of the people at the center of those moments.
Women and younger generations feel this regret the most
Regret over missed candid moments spans every demographic, but clearer patterns emerge when the data is broken down by age and gender. For example, most Americans say there were moments they wish they had photographed, including:
- 65% of adults ages 18-34
- 64% of adults ages 35-54
- 56% of adults ages 55+
But the nature of that regret shifts by generation. Gen Z and millennials are more likely than older adults to wish they had captured everyday routines and quiet moments with loved ones.
- Among adults 18-34, 42% regret not photographing candid time with family and friends.
- Another 34% wish they'd documented more of life’s small joys like meals, walks, and their hobbies.
This could suggest that for younger adults, the "Instagrammable" moment is losing ground to the authentic, lived experience. They're craving documentation that feels real, not curated.
Gender identity adds another layer. While many people regret not photographing certain moments over the past year, women feel this more acutely than men (66% vs. 56%). This broader sense of missed opportunity often boils down to not capturing memories with the people closest to them.
Nearly half of women (46%) regret not taking more candid photos of family and friends, a sentiment shared by only 35% of men. These figures may suggest that women feel a greater sense of responsibility to document and preserve the family’s history.
Ultimately, this collective regret reveals a profound appreciation for the small moments that define our lives. By taking the time to capture these "unpolished" moments, we can turn small joys into lasting memories.
Are your memories sitting in the dark? 20% said yes
We take photos to hold onto our lives. But capturing the moment is just the beginning.
When asked how well their photos represent the past year, nearly one-third (32%) of Americans say their camera roll is mostly random photos with no real story.
Another 27% capture the highlights but miss the everyday moments in between. Just 21% feel they've documented the full story of their year—both major events and the small, meaningful memories.
And the quality photos we do capture? Those can get lost in the noise. One in five Americans (20%) rarely revisit their photos from the past year, and 13% never look at them at all.
Our report on digital clutter could help explain why: 48% of Americans have more than 1,000 photos on their phones, and 21% feel overwhelmed by that volume.
When your camera roll feels endless, it's hard to know where to start. Still, finding those hidden gems is worth it. Here's what gets Americans scrolling through old photos:
- 51% of people look back on photos from the past year when they’re feeling nostalgic or emotional
- 43% look when someone mentions an event from the past year
- 41% of people are reminded by social media
- 26% are organizing photos or making a photo book
- 18% are looking around the holidays or the new year
Perhaps surprisingly, younger generations are feeling the most nostalgia. Gen Zers and millennials are more likely than older generations to revisit photos when feeling emotional.
The digital-first generations are also more likely to look back when organizing photos or creating photo books, suggesting that they want a physical keepsake that doesn’t require endless scrolling.
Preserve everyday life, not just milestones
We don’t always think to snap photos when we’re grabbing lunch with friends or spending a lazy evening on the couch with a partner. That’s only natural, especially if you’re trying to unplug and live more in the moment. But once the year is over, around 2 in 5 people say they wish they had preserved those quiet memories of loved ones.
Taking photos won’t break your screentime goal. It keeps a piece of that perfect moment with you forever. Consider capturing more of the candid shots you want to remember by:
- Making a New Year’s resolution to take at least a couple of photos when you spend time with friends or family. Take photos of your partner’s reaction when they beat you in Mario Kart, or take a selfie with your grandparents the next time you visit them. What you’re doing isn’t really important. You’ll just be grateful to have photos of your favorite people.
- Asking your loved ones occasionally to send you photos of your time together
- Set a day at the end of the year to go through all those snapshots, so you can remember the moments you spent with the people closest to you
If you want to use photos to make a clear timeline of your year, you can always turn to Mixbook. Printing and displaying photos—like with a year-in-review photo book—is a tangible way to reflect on your favorite memories year-round.
Methodology
The survey of 2,609 adults ages 18 and over was conducted via YouGov Audience for Mixbook from November 20-24, 2025. Data is weighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
