The Marketing Diaries Series: From Kodak Moments to Instant Messaging

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But sometimes, it’s worth so much more, a captured moment, an emotion, a memory frozen in time.

There’s always been a certain magic to taking a photo. The click of the shutter, the quiet hope that you’ve preserved something special. And in the days before smartphones and digital cameras, this process felt almost alchemical. You couldn’t be sure of the result until the film was developed and that uncertainty made the reveal even sweeter.

I grew up in Greece, where this ritual was part of life. I remember carefully dropping off rolls of Kodak film at our local photographer. Those little plastic canisters held entire summers, family gatherings, fleeting glances. Then came the waiting, days spent wondering whether you’d managed to capture what your heart had seen. And finally, the moment of truth: picking up those shiny plastic envelopes filled with glossy prints. Holding them felt like unwrapping a small treasure.

When I moved to London, the ritual continued, this time at the local Boots. But the feeling remained the same. That first glimpse of the photos was a moment of anticipation and joy that digital photos, for all their convenience, haven’t quite managed to replace.

Yet as marketeers, we live in a world that thrives on immediacy. Today, we take a photo, edit it, and share it in seconds. The anticipation has been traded for instant connection.

And this is where technology gives us new opportunities. Through our WhatsApp + HubSpot integration, we help clients bridge the gap between storytelling and engagement. Now, rich media, including images, can be sent directly through WhatsApp, linked to campaigns in HubSpot, and tracked in real time. Whether it’s a personalised thank-you message, a product image, or a live event moment, the photo sparks a conversation instantly.

In a way, those shiny Kodak envelopes have become chat bubbles. The delivery has changed, but the power of a great image remains: to move, to connect, to tell a story.

Here’s to embracing the best of both worlds, the immediacy of today’s digital landscape, and the timeless magic of visual storytelling.

Are you tired of being a relic in your Silo?  

#RelicsDiariesOfAMarketeer #DigitalTransformation #WhatsAppMarketing #VisualStorytelling #flloella