" help + bare infinitive/ help + infinitive"

[Odessa Dawn]

"It helps me to remember the happy or unforgettable things and help[s] me to tell people my feelings," says Eli Tang. "And the feeling is so difficult to say so I take photos to tell people how I feel."

"When I asked him why, he said he wanted to show his father, who is a chef, that he can cook as well. He is a shy boy and photography has helped him connect with his family."

More: Eye-opening: Photography brings life to blind students - CNN.com

Is it up to me to use help + bare infinitive or help + infinitive because to in this site has been enclosed into brackets which indicates that to is optional, am I right?

[5jj]

'To' is optional.