This article explores the possibilities that photography and videos as documents can contribute to the study of migration.  Consider three cases where images play a fundamental role to maintain the social ties between transnational Ecuadorian families.  Analysis has been made of the photographs that migrants send to their families back home and are published in the  local newspaper; videos record by a popular photograph; and also videos filmed by an immigrant living in Spain.  Through the concepts of community and transnational families one can reflect on the particularities of private photographs and the significance that those images have for families separated by migration.