High-speed Internet lets you share photos fast
I
n the old days, people spent the first few weeks after summer vacation waiting for their photos to be developed. Now, with digital cameras and high-speed connections from providers like Ardmore Telephone, those photos are probably shared around the world before the sand is even out of your shoes.
But what’s the best way to share your photos online? And what’s the best way to be sure you don't lose those photos even if something happens to your computer? Using your Internet connection, you have access to several free services that allow you to upload, store and share photos. Here are some tips for sharing photos online:
USE SHARING SITES TO ARCHIVE PHOTOS
What would happen to your photos if your computer crashed or was stolen? Uploading high-quality versions of your photos gives you an online backup of your images, just in case. External hard drives are also a good idea, but they can also be vulnerable to theft, fire or power surges.
PAY ATTENTION TO QUALITY
Most sites give you options on the quality and size of the photo to upload. A lower resolution photo is quick to upload and share but may not reproduce well if you plan on printing the photo. For archiving or for photos that you may want to print, it’s best to use the highest-quality setting. Even with a fast connection, it may take hours to upload a large number of photos.
PICASA
FLICKR
www.picasa.google.com
www.flickr.com
• By Google
• By Yahoo!
• 1 GB storage limit for free accounts
• Free accounts limited to 300 MB of photos each month
• Premium users pay monthly for more space
Ardmore Telephone Company
• Limits the size of images on free accounts
YOUR PRIVACY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY Once a photo is uploaded, it becomes very easy to copy, paste and share with the world. Most sites have privacy settings where you can determine who can see the photos, but even then, someone you’ve allowed to see the photos could download and repost them.
SHUTTERFLY & SNAPFISH
FACEBOOK & GOOGLE+
www.shutterfly.com www.snapfish.com
www.facebook.com www.google.com/+
• Share online and order prints
• Easiest way to share with friends
• Unlimited storage space
• Some limit the quality of photos
• Allows for large photos
May/June 2014 | 13