In my experience, my own picture does trigger a different response than a basically identical photo from somebody else. I have a wall dedicated to pictures of my various hiking trips, and replacing them with professional photos doesn't have the same effect. I've tried.

I also don't think taking a picture and being present in the moment are mutually exclusive at all. It takes five seconds for me to snap a quick photo. It's really not that big of a deal.

I just returned from a short vacation with my kids and I took a bunch of photos. Every one has somebody from my family in it, often doing something goofy. Yesterday, while waiting at the dentist office I was flipping through them and it was wonderful.

The memory trigger wouldn't be as strong with a stock photo.

What if I told you that taking a picture is itself an experience? Especially if you're a little bit careful about composition; you have to move around and determine how best to position the camera, what time of day to get the light you want, which glass configured in what way, etc.

Some of my clearest memories of places I've been are of places I took photos, for exactly this reason.

This is silly and pure conjecture. That's my opinion. I love taking photos and I love seeing my friends photos of the things they experience. Not some photo from the tens of thousands of photos that exist. People can do two things at once. Take a photo and enjoy the experience.

As already linked: https://xkcd.com/1314/