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Photo-sharing Sites

What They Are

Photo-sharing sites allow you to upload and share photos, create slideshows, edit and enhance photos, order prints, and even create customized gifts like photo calendars.  While it’s far from an exhaustive list, some of the big players are Smilebox, Snapfish, Picasa, and Kodak Gallery.

Why Use Them

• Share Photos & Videos – the original purpose of these sites was to provide a way to store and share digital photos. Rather than sending a few photos at a time, or risk clogging someone's inbox by sending several, sites like Snapfish and Picasa became a safe and simple way to share pictures with friends and family members. You can upload an entire trip's worth of photos into one "album" and then send the link to your friends. You can upload and share videos as well.
• Store Photos & Videos – these photos and/or videos are then stored online for you to revisit as much as you like. They're password-protected, so only you and the people you send them to can see them. They're also stored by month and year, so you can keep a chronological account of your family through pictures.
• Edit Photos – most of these sites enable you to edit your photos. They allow you to do things like caption each photo, crop your pictures, correct "red-eye," brighten photos that came out too dark, change pictures from color to Black and White or Sepia, or add themed borders – all with the click of a button or two.
• Collaborate with Others – some of these sites allow you to create a group. These groups allow you to swap and share photos among members of the group, comment on each other's photos, and add your photos to your friends' albums. This is behind a secure login, so you don't have to worry about any unwelcome visitors.
• Order Prints – once you've uploaded, viewed, and edited your digital pictures, you can decide which ones are frame-worthy.
• Many of these sites have discounted rates on prints, so you might save money by having them printed through a site like Snapfish, rather than going to your local convenience store to have them printed.
• Many of them also give you the option of ordering them online but picking them up at your local Walgreens or CVS.
• You can choose the size , style, and finish when you're selecting your prints.
• unlike the days of film-based cameras, you don't have to get doubles of everything just to get doubles of your three favorites. You can pick and choose which photos you want printed and how many of that particular photo you want.
• Create Customized Gifts – most of these sites have an online gift shop. You can order items like coffee mugs, cards, stationary, or calendars adorned with your favorite pictures.

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How They Work

• Decide on a Site – there are a lot of options out there when it comes to picking a photo-sharing site. Visit these sites and look around:
• See what kind of security they have built into their site. Can you log-in? Can you share with friends even if they aren't members of the site? Does the site offer a group option?
• What kind of extras do they offer – do they go beyond mere photo sharing and offer you things like slideshows, ecards, and creating a real photo album?
• How much do they charge for prints? The price for prints and shipping can vary greatly. Do your research and find a price that seems fair and manageable.
• Do they charge for membership? Most of these sites are free, but some offer additional benefits for a fee. Investigate and make sure that if they are charging a fee, that it's giving you access to extras that you'll use.
• Sign Up – most of these sites are free and require only a username and password to join.
• Explore – these sites were designed for beginners. Don't be afraid to wander around the site and play with the various options and functionality they provide. Also, look around the site to see if they have a "learn more" or a demo section that goes over the features of the site.
• Share – log into your photo-sharing site and start uploading!
• Make sure you're on the computer where your photos are saved, or that you have the CD or device on which the photos are currently being stored.
• Most sites have very clear instructions on how to upload, edit, and share pictures. Some sites, like SnapFish, offer a demo that will show you how to use and what’s offered on the site.
• Many of the sites will require you to download software in order to enable their site to access your files. Make sure the site is reputable and trusted – like the sites mentioned above – before allowing the download.
• These sites often offer the option to connect your account to applications like Facebook and Twitter. If your friends and family are already using Facebook, you can connect your account to allow your photos to be shared directly from Facebook, rather than requiring guests to log onto a separate site to view them.

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