How to Get Online Photo Storage

Access photos from any computer with online photo storage.

Storing your photos online is a great way to back-up your work as a photographer. Three websites are often used to store photos--flickr, Picasa Web Albums and Carbonite. The first two sites store in jpeg format and have free options. Carbonite stores raw and other file types and charges for storage. To get storage you have to register for a site and learn how to upload a photo by following the directions.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Flickr

1. Sign up for Flickr. You can do so at the flickr website. You'll actually be creating a Yahoo account for yourself because it owns flickr. The Yahoo website prompts you to type in your name, birthday, country, postal code, ID and password.

2. Sign in to flickr by typing in your name and password.

3. Click on the "Upload Photos and Video" link on the right side of the window. A "Your Photostream" link is also on that page. Once you upload photos, you can click on that link to see the icons and input information such as title, description and a link that sets the photo according to whether you want it private (seen only by you) or public (seen by anyone).

4. Click on "Choose Photos And Videos." Navigate to the photo you want to upload and click on its name. Click on "Open". Your file will be listed in the "Upload to flickr" window that comes up. If you want to add more, click on "Add More" at the bottom of the file list in that. You can also select "Public" or "Private" options for the photo(s).

Picasa

1. Create a Google Account. Google prompts you to enter your email address, password, location, birthday and word verification. It also requests that you accept their "Terms of Service".

2. Sign into your Google account. Picasa Web Albums is a service offered by Google.

3. Click on the drop down menu "More" then click on "Photos".

4. Click on "Upload". In the "Upload Photos: Create or Select Album", name the album in which you will put the photo. If you have an another album already created and want to put that photo there, select the link "Choose An Existing Album". You can also choose to whom the photo will be visible. Click on "Continue".

5. Click on "Select Photos From Your Computer". Navigate to the photo and click on its name. The photo appears in a new window. If you want to add more, click on "Upload More" at the bottom of the window. If you're finished click "OK".

Carbonite

1. Navigate to the Carbonite website.

2. Click on "Start A Free Trial" in the "Home and Home Office" category. Fill in the information (email and password) requested for a free trial. You do not have to input your credit card information initially. Last, click on "Start My Free Trial Now."

3. Install Carbonite on your computer by following the prompts given, which will have you downloading a file onto your computer, opening it and then giving you options for installation windows that come up. After the installation, Carbonite will automatically back-up files on your computer, including photo files of all types.

Tips & Warnings

• Free flickr limits photo files sizes to 150 MB and the file sizes of all your uploads can only be 300 MB.

• If you want more space and the ability to upload photos at their original size, you can pay a yearly fee for a "flickr pro" account.

References

• flickr
• Carbonite
• Picasa: Web Albums Help