How to Buy Online Photo Services

With digital cameras and camera phones, it's easier than ever to take tons of photographs each and every day. The problem lies in where to store and display all of those moments we have captured. Luckily, online photo services have stepped in to help us manage our photo collections. To choose an online photo service that works for you, follow some of these steps to ensure you go with the service that meets all of your needs.

Tips for buying online photo services

1. First, ask friends who have digital cameras which online photo service they use. Friends and coworkers are often great sources of information that we often forget to tap.
2. Next, check out some of the online photo service web sites. You want to see how much storage each site will allow. For instance, does the online photo service allow you to store as many photo images as you want, or is there a limit? If you are constantly taking photos, then you will want unlimited storage.
3. A very important factor is ease of use of the web site and the storage process. Most of us are not technical wizards, so it should be very easy for you to upload your photographs directly from your camera to the online photo web site. This process should involve a few simple steps.
4. Once the photos are uploaded, you should be able to organize them as you see fit. The quality online photo services will give you the ability to display your digital photos in online albums. Make sure the service you pick has this option. Also, you should be able to easily point family and friends to your albums, and to send selected photos from your album to individual email addresses.

A good online photos service will also print and mail photos to you from your digital collection. So, there may be a few digital photographs you want to frame and hang on the wall, or have in an album at home. There's no longer any need to print every photo in the series just to obtain the one you want. You should be able to order just the photos you want, with the option of having it printed in different sizes for a very small fee per print.

Caution

Be wary of buying a year's worth of services from an online photo company. There are many online photo companies right now, and not all of them will last. So, subscribe to the service you choose at a few months at a time until you are confident the company will be there for you long into the future.

Where to buy online photo services

Here are a few of the best online photo services to consider.

Ofoto is run by Kodak, the venerable American camera and film pioneer. Features include being able to transmit photos directly to mobile devices like cell phones.

Shutterfly provides great prints on high quality photo paper. You can also order gifts like coffee mugs with your favorite photographs printed on them.

You'll find an easy-to-use interface and free software at Snapfish. This company will also develop your rolls of film and post the results online for you to share with others.