One of the joys of the 21st century is our constant companion, our prime method of communication, our infinite lexicon, our camera: Our smartphone. About 50 years ago, no one would have imagined such an object, now we can barely live without it. Who knows what will be in another 50 years? For now, we spend a lot of our time on taking lots and lots of photos every day. Among everyday things and tons of selfies, there are some truly great pictures in everyone’s smartphone gallery. The thing is, though, that they can easily be forgotten and – if you’re really unlucky – get lost.
These 5 tips for your smartphone photos can prevent these things from happening:
Social media
It seems an obvious choice for many: Posting your favourite photos on social media ensures they will never get lost. At the same time, it’s important to be careful about what to post, where to post it, and who to share it with. Facebook reserves the right to use your photos, for instance for marketing purposes. So if you find your profile picture in a marketing video, don’t be surprised (Don’t worry, it is highly unlikely and as soon as you delete a photo you also take away their right to use it, provided it hasn’t been shared). While your photos are safely backed up, this may not be the best place for storing them.
Cloud backup
All modern phones offer some form of cloud storage. A limited amount of space is available to store your data, including your photos. This is quite practical, as you can access them wherever you are with any device – provided you have an Internet connection. For iOS users, it’s iCloud, for Android users typically OneDrive (or Google Photos), but there are lots of others available. They offer nice additional features that can make it really easy to locate pictures. For example, Google photos make it possible to search for “food” and it returns all images that show meals or food items. Of course, that means that it “scans” your photos. Not everyone is too fond of the idea and if you’re not feeling too comfortable about it, there are other ways to go. On the plus side, if you lose your phone, your pictures won’t be lost!
Computer transfer
A little more classical, but still very reliable is the transfer of your photos to your computer. While it involves actually having to remember it, the files are yours and yours alone. You don’t even have to transfer them using a cable. There are apps available that let you move your pictures using your WIFI or you can use a Bluetooth connection as well. On your computer, you can more easily search and select your photos and have a closer look at them. Once you do, you may notice that you want to do more with them than keep them safe.
Printing
Printing photos is a long-standing tradition and a wonderful way to get those digital pictures back into the real world. They make any room more homely and can bring a little beauty into any office space. Nowadays, the prints barely cost anything at all so you can really go wild. Once printed, there are lots of creative ways to use them as decorations or gifts: You can create collages, garlands, frame them, hang them, and so much more. There really isn’t any limit to your imagination.
Photo books
If prints are not enough, there’s always the good old photo book to turn to. Family photos and travel pictures are practically made to be used for photo books. The best part is that you can tell your stories and look back on the most wonderful times. Also, they make quite a good impression and are excellent gifts. Creating them is very easy thanks to modern technology. Plus, there are lots of different formats and styles to choose from. When it comes to prices, there are usually some good deals for photo books available as well. The more you have, the more impressive your bookshelf will be.
Don’t let your photos go to waste as bits and bytes on your smartphone. There’s always a chance that you lose your phone or the best picture simply gets lost in the crowd. Every now and then, it’s good to go through them all and separate the wheat from the chaff. You’ll be surprised and delighted at what you find and what they make you remember. As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so keep your photos safe and keep them pretty and don’t forget to make the most of them.