Technology has changed how we capture, store, and share our photos. We know we can’t rely on social media to preserve and save our most cherished memories – and the ever-evolving innovations of tech can be tricky to keep up with. So whether you’re looking to start snapping smarter or modernize those archives in the attic, we’ve rounded up the best tips to get you started.
The Perfect Shot
For photos to be “storage worthy,” – they must be good shots. This excellent article summarizes some settings you should seek on your smartphone and a few photography basics. The essentials? Good lighting (natural light is best), balance (use those grid lines!), and focus (pick one subject to focus on).
Some add-ons to help step up your game…
- Filters: They help soften harsh light and shadows and evoke emotion and warmth in photos. Most smartphones come with basic filter options, but there are additional apps that can provide more consistent editing. Fan favorites include Lightroom Presets, Tezza, and VSCO.
- Tripods: Tripods are a great way to get yourself in the shot or create a still photo of landscapes. This one multitasks as a selfie stick and includes a wireless remote control.
- Ring Lights: A ring light can create flattering lighting for shots of yourself, products, pets, flowers…anything you want to capture.
Smarter Storage
Finding the right photo storage system for your lifestyle and needs is important. We recommend you start with a monthly calendar reminder to audit your camera roll – go back over the last batch of new snaps and delete any bloopers or duplicates you don’t need. This helps keep you ahead of the game so you don’t end up paying for pricey cloud-based storage options to support photos you don’t want.
- Find a Cloud: You will want a cloud-based storage service to keep your memories safe and your devices from slowing down. This article summarizes some of the more popular options. Another thing to consider is free cloud storage through your internet provider.
- Tap AI: Use AI-powered tagging techniques to label photos you want to find easily. Many apps – like Apple’s Photo App – use image detection to determine the contents of photos and leverage that data when you perform a search. Depending on what you’re snapping and what you’ll be searching for, read up on these tagging tips so AI can become your official photo assistant!
Showcase Solutions
Ready to take some of your favorite photos offline and into the real world? There are more solutions to feature your photos than ever!
- Digital Photo Frames are a great way to keep fresh photos on display! The SkyLight photo frame allows you to email yourself photos that you’d like displayed…and you can even toggle between photo display and calendar view to add utility when photos aren’t being viewed. The Aura Carver is another popular choice, which allows friends and family who have been granted access to add photos to the frame via their app.
- Framebridge and Mixtiles are great choices if you’re looking to print framed photos to use in a gallery wall or display. This article rounds up these and other options!
Archive the Attic
Okay, so you have some new information for today and tomorrow…but what about the stack of dusty boxes filled with photos and (ahem, VHS tapes) in the attic? Digitizing photos cuts down on clutter, enables immediate sharing with loved ones, and is also a great way to restore and protect the integrity of your photos. Digital photos won’t fade over time, and with editing apps, you can restore color, remove red-eye and brighten shadows.
So, how do you even begin to tackle a big project like this one?
- Photo Scanners: These devices typically pair with an app on your computer or smartphone to scan a digital copy of a physical photo.
- VHS to MP3: Chances are you have VHS tapes but don’t own a device to play them on. Start with a VCR player, which you can find for around $35. Then, you can pair that with a converter that will digitize video onto your computer.
If all that seems way too overwhelming, or you have a LOT of material to digitize, you can investigate a service provider to handle it all for you. For example, you might find a local vendor, but some direct-to-consumer options like Legacy Box, FotoBridge, iMemories, and ScanMyPhotos also exist.
As with most things in life, the upstart may be the hardest, but once you establish a good system, you will have photo and video memories forever safely stored, shared, and showcased for generations.
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