Camera capers: Picture your world carefully to prevent loss

MILLERTON — With the world getting increasingly complex, a quick snap on a cellphone can simplify life and protect what is personally important.

Following are some tips from insurance expert Vicki Benjamin, who recently joined Marshall and Sterling, Inc. of Millbrook following that company’s acquisition of her former Millerton business, William J. Cole Agency, Inc. Benjamin said property value can sometimes be diminished if claims for all items are not made.

“When people have a major loss, many items are forgotten,” she said. “It’s an excellent idea to take pictures and store them in the cloud.”

High-value items with agreed-upon values can “be scheduled on their policy,” noted Benjamin, with photos of items and, if possible, receipts.

She also suggested taking close-up photographs of every treasured item — no matter the monetary value — that turns the house into a home. If those are destroyed by a fire, the photos can provide “something to look at” providing “good memories of some things you can’t replace.”

The images can also document how many plates are actually in that set of china passed down through the generations; how many gadgets and necessities are in the kitchen drawers; and which knickknacks brightened the everyday of life.

Close-ups that zoom in on cluttered shelves can document titles of books, DVDs and even old LPs.

A close sweep of cupboards, closets, dressers and drawers would document what might need replacing if catastrophe strikes. Document everything — from clothing to china, toys to TVs.

While important papers should always be stored in secure, fireproof locations, close-ups of the pages can provide an easily-accessible backup to information that otherwise might require a trip to an attorney, bank or safe deposit box.

If the goal of a photo is to provide detailed information,  be sure the writing is legible.

Beyond insurance claims, quick snapshots can be a real aid to families making a move. There’s not always time to list what items are in which boxes, but a hurried packing job can mean a tough splash down at a new home. Instead, number boxes. Then take a quick photo of the items going into the box with its number also visible.

A young child who is concerned about favorite toys disappearing might be reassured by “helping” and crayoning the numbers themselves.

Photos can be saved in a file for each room to help prioritize unpacking. Knowing which boxes should be opened first and which can wait will make that job a lot less stressful.

Students setting up their dorm rooms at the beginning of their college stay can make the return easier. Photo references can help remind students of important items perhaps loaned to dorm friends, so they’re not left behind when returning home.

Photos also help record achievements of day-to-day life and details which can too often be forgotten. Close-ups of a culinary success with a copy of the recipe can create a private cookbook that could become a family treasure. If the dish is to be shared with a friend or neighbor, a copy of the images might make it even more memorable.

As years quickly pass, photos of toys can also become an album; supplement it with stories written by your child for a special memory of their youth. School projects and works of art may be memorialized without taking up massive amounts of closet space filled with deteriorating memories.

Crafters, too, can keep a record of projects completed with copies of instructions and material labels.

The possibilities are endless, so take a close peek at the ways in which life can be a snap, so those memories can be visible in the future.

For insurance questions, call Benjamin or Cathy Shanks at 845-677-3434 or visit the agency at 3269 Franklin Ave., Millbrook.