National Photo Month is celebrated each year during May by professional and amateur photographers, and even selfie lovers. The entire month is dedicated to learning the history of photography, mastering its many techniques and skills, and researching which camera is best to invest in. Today, anyone can be considered a photographer in the sense that we constantly take photos of things and people around us. Portable cameras and smartphones have made it easier to click and store photographs on the go. National Photo Month is for everyone who has ever clicked a photo. Share your favorite photos and get your friends to do the same.

History of National Photo Month

National Photo Month was first celebrated in 1987 when Congress recognized the role photos play in our society. The American Photographers Association and other organizations made National Photo Month a time of activities, festivals, photo contests, and exhibits. The celebrations have since taken on a new look in the digital age.Photographs act like time machines. They give us a peek into our history, ancestry, and legacies from the past. Something as simple as looking at old photos can bring back a rush of memories. Historic photos, once preserved in museums and archives, capture iconic figures from history in the most important moments of their careers as well as in their unguarded moments. Photos help in creating legends out of regular people and also humanize those whom we think of as legends.Through photographs, we can relive the most momentous achievements of humankind, such as astronaut Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. Similarly, photographs also capture the injustices of our world. Photographs of wars, prison camps, and illnesses serve as warnings to not repeat history and teach us to be kinder to fellow human beings. People do not only photograph for personal use, they photograph to remember a moment as it is — sometimes becoming the most genuine representation of a time. Photographs are perhaps one of the most reliable ways to document history, and National Photo Month is a celebration of this.

National Photo Month timeline

1888
The First Camera Goes on Sale

The first camera, created by George Eastman, is sold in the U.S. by Kodak for $25.

1948
The Polaroid Camera is Developed

The first camera that generates photos instantly is developed.

1988
The First Digital Camera

The first truly portable digital camera hits the market.

1999
The First Camera Phone is Released

The first phone with a camera, the Kyocera Visual Phone VP-210, is released.

National Photo Month FAQs

When is National Photo Month?

National Photo Month is observed in May.

How can we celebrate National Photo Month?

We can explore our community and take pictures of things that catch your eye. We can also take portrait photos of our friends and family. Setting up a photo booth with wacky props is another fun way of taking photos.

When is World Photography Day?

World Photography Day is celebrated on August 19.

National Photo Month Activities

  1. Take photos

    Celebrate National Photo Month by taking as many photos of the things and people you love. Take photos with your smartphone, digital camera, or Polaroid camera — experiment and have fun!

  2. Sign up for a photography course

    If you’ve always wanted to learn photography techniques, sign yourself up for a month-long course. This is the perfect time to start.

  3. Post on social media

    Post all the photos you’ve taken during National Photo Month to your social media. You can use the hashtag #NationalPhotoMonth to inspire more people to join the trend.

5 Fun Facts About Cameras

  1. The world’s largest camera collection

    Dilish Parekh owns 4,425 cameras, making it the largest camera collection in the world.

  2. The first digital camera was very heavy

    It weighed around eight pounds.

  3. People love uploading photos

    A whopping 95 million photos and videos are uploaded to Instagram each day.

  4. Color photos have been around for years

    The world’s first color photograph was captured in 1861.

  5. Cat photos aren’t a new trend

    The first cat photo was taken in 1870.

Why We Love National Photo Month

  1. All of us can take photographs

    Each one of us is a photographer. We constantly take photos and document our days through candid photographs and selfies. This is why we just love National Photo Month!

  2. Photographs document history

    A photograph is also a historical document. When we celebrate National Photo Month, we acknowledge the many ways photographs capture history and tell stories for future generations to learn from.

  3. It celebrates a marvelous invention

    Today we cannot imagine our lives without cameras. Thanks to smartphones, cameras have become indispensable to everyday life. National Photo Month is a celebration of this great invention.

National Photo Month dates

Year Date Day
2023 May 1 Monday
2024 May 1 Wednesday
2025 May 1 Thursday
2026 May 1 Friday
2027 May 1 Saturday
National Chocolate Parfait Day
Silver Star Service Banner Day
National Loyalty Day
May Day
National Mother Goose Day
School Principals' Day
National Skilled Trades Day
National Infertility Survival Day
New Home Owners Day
Global Love Day
Save The Rhino Day
International Doodle Dog Day
Executive Coaching Day
Beltane
Worthy Wage Day
Frequent Flyer Day
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
National Purebred Dog Day
Couple Appreciation Day
Marshall Islands Constitution Day
National Rotate Your Beer Day
Project Aces Day
National Black Barber Shop Appreciation Day
National Mantra Day
National Blessing Day
Philippines Labor Day
Phone in Sick Day
Learn to Ride a Bike Day
National Interpreter Appreciation Day
Great American Grump Out
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day
Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day
Labour and Agriculture Day
International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day
Lei Day
CSS Reboot Day
Calan Mai
Gianna Bryant's Birthday
Charli D'Amelio's Birthday
Katya Petrovna Zamolodchikova's Birthday
Paeka's Birthday
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National Teen Self Esteem Month
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National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
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National Stroke Awareness Month
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National Recommitment Month
National Walking Month
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International Victorious Woman Month
Indian Heritage Month
Military Appreciation Month
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National Heritage Month
Revise Your Work Schedule Month
Syringomyelia Awareness Month
National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month
Fungal Infection Awareness Month
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Make May Purple /Action On Stroke Month
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National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
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Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month
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Deck Safety Month
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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
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Tennis Month
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National Show Your Smile Month
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Leaders of Tomorrow Month
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Awareness of Medical Orphans Month
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REACT Month
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