"When Kerynn received her own digital camera for a gift last Christmas, there was no doubt in our minds that she would become our designated travel photographer," says 43-year-old mom and Head Start consultant Kristen Smith. She and her husband Glenn encourage their daughters to take an active role in their trips, and photography fit Kerynn's skills and interest this year.

"When we return home from our travels, we've barely unpacked our bags when we download photos into our computer," says Kristen. "I pop popcorn, play some music, and when we turn out the lights the girls shout, 'Time for the slide show!' We watch all of our previous and new vacation pictures. It's a photo tradition that puts an exclamation mark on our special times together.

Don't let this summer's travel photos hide in files on your hard drive. Here are more snappy ways you can enjoy your pictures.

Fun Post-Production Alterations

Photocopy favorite photos in black and white on plain white paper and change the look of the photo by coloring over the subjects and adding details with colorful markers. What would dad's fishing hat look like with purple polka dots? Paint your car bright-pink, or add a shy bear cub peeking through a branch of a tree.

Write Creative Photo Captions

As you sort photos into events on your computer, or if you print them for a photo book, encourage your kids to think up and write silly and serious captions to capture the memory of the moment the picture was taken.

Share and Compare Across Generations

When your family gets together with grandparents, show off your vacation photos and then take a look at albums from yesteryear to discover what the grandparents did for summer fun and what they looked like when they were your kids' ages.

Decorate with Photos and Souvenirs

As you unpack from vacation, set aside your favorite souvenirs, and for visual impact, arrange them in one place in your home such as on an end table or low shelf. Add a framed collage of travel photos to prompt storytelling and to make the collection personal.