Sharing Photos Online & Ordering Prints

Posting your photos to an online service is the best way to share your photos. Please risk the temptation to attach photos to an email – if you do there is a good chance you will max out your friends’ and family’s email accounts so that they will no longer be able to send or receive messages until they delete your photo. If you want to print a lot of photos for frames and albums – these services are great too.

Flickr

Picassa

Shutterfly

Snapfish

Memory Books

One of the best gift ideas around today is a memory book. The quality of the books I have seen is fantastic. They actually look like real hardback art books. All it takes is the time to actually select the photos. If you can find a couple of hours to devote to the project, the results are more than worth it.

Heritage Makers

MyPublisher

Pixtorie

Shutterfly

Birth Announcements

I love receiving birth announcements, but I am so disappointed when there isn’t a picture of the baby. Everyone wants to see that first photo so they can ponder the big question, “Does your little cherub look more like mom or dad?” Luckily, creating really cute and simple birth announcements is a snap.

Cool Dog Productions – video birth announcements

Minted

Shutterfly

Tiny Prints

Digital Cameras

As nice as it is to have that little lipstick size camera that you can fit in the pocket of your skinny jeans, SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras are the way to go. I wasted the first year of my son’s life with a small digital camera only to capture hundreds of pictures of the side or back of my son’s face. The shutter speed just wasn’t fast enough. I LOVE my Nikon D40x and many of my friends have purchased the same, or very similar cameras. I have heard that all of the Nikon SLRs as well as the Canon Digital Rebel are all excellent options. With so many megapixels you will be able to enlarge your photos and keep the crisp edges too.

Amazon

BestBuy

Video Cameras

I’ve talked to all of the gadget guys in the office for tips on video cameras and I consistently hear the same thing – get a high definition Sony or Canon model with a memory card. The prices vary due to the lenses and the size of the memory. Some people think you should try holding it before you buy it so it feels comfortable in your hand. Some of us don’t have time for that… Just grab yourself a video camera and go. You certainly don’t want to miss that first step, the first swing at the golf ball or the first time your child moonwalks across the kitchen floor…

Printers

It is hard to go wrong with a color printer these days. They are especially nice to have on hand when you need to print photos a certain size to fit in odd size or circular picture frames. I have heard that Epson is the best for skin tones. I bought an Epson and I love it. I’ve also heard great things about HP and Kodak. Don’t fret the decision – just make sure to stock up on ink and paper.

Amazon

BestBuy

Frames & Albums

You can never have too many frames – it is as simple as that. Buy frames in multiple sizes and colors so you have them on hand when you get that perfect shot. Frames also make great gifts for almost any occasion.

Bloomingdales

Crate & Barrel

Christofle - For exceptional silver picture frames, Christofle is a wonderful source. You can’t order directly from their site but you can call one of their stores and have the items shipped to you.

Gearys Beverly Hills

Paper Source

Pottery Barn

Real Memories – online custom frame shop

Smythson of Bond Street

Online Scrapbooks

To create an online scrapbook that you can easily share with friends and family near and far, try one of these services:

Multiply – “Multiply combines the fun of social networking with the usefulness of photo printing and photo-management software, making it the ideal home for your most cherished memories.”

Scrapblog – “Combine their designer content with your photos to make scrapbooks, slideshows, greeting cards, and everything in-between. Then share or print the results. With Scrapblog, creativity is a snap!”

Smilebox - Create, share, and preserve digital scrapbooks in minutes! You can email it, post it, print it, or burn it to DVD.

TotSpot – “Create a private website about your baby, toddler, or child, and share it with friends and family.”

Wee Web – “Wee Web is more than an online baby journal or baby scrapbook…it is focused on getting your family involved in your kids’ lives.”

Cool Things to do with your Digital Photos

I am so excited about all of the cool things you can do with photos today.  From pendants and handbags to note pads and yoga mats – you will certainly find something you can’t live without.

allPopart - personalized, digitally hand illustrated custom pop art canvas portraits from your photo

Animoto – send a singing telegram via email

Anya Hindmarch -  gorgeous custom handbags

CanvasOnDemand.com-Your Photo on Canvas as Art! Click here!

Ceiva – connected digital photo frame

Photo Stamps

Pic Pads - customized photo note pads

The Fine Art of Family – jewelry & keepsakes

Preserving Old Photographs

If you have boxes of old photos stashed away that you want to preserve, check out ScanCafe.  They are “preservation fanatics” and will ensure your family memories are treasured for generations to come.