Photo-Sharing Software Review
The evolution of photo sharing
For years, e-mail was the only quick method for sharing digital pictures with far-flung friends and family, but e-mail delivery is far from perfect because image files are notoriously large and can clog recipients' inboxes. Peer-to-peer programs like Hello and OurPictures came next, but those, too, have given way to web-based photo-sharing services. Online services eliminate the need for specialized software, allow for advanced features such as customized photo presentations, and have options for integrating with social networking and other websites. Additionally, photo-sharing sites give amateur photographers an easy way to share their work with the world in online albums, and give professional photographers an easy way to do so for profit.
Though they are not always the most recent, we found great comparative reviews of photo-sharing sites at enthusiast blogs such as FirstTube.com, which compares eight services across fifteen criteria. Photography Bay's coverage is also excellent. StarReviews.com provides a useful -- but not perfect -- round up. Which?, a British consumer-affairs magazine, provides balanced and unbiased reporting, though the discussion could be deeper. The Australian Women's Weekly provides an excellent article on free photo-sharing services. Consumer Reports has not addressed photo-sharing services or online albums.
Free services once provided all of the functionality that most users needed, and some are still sufficient for those with more basic requirements. However, experts say that paid memberships to photo-sharing sites are becoming more necessary. For example, anyone with more than 1 GB of photos will be hard-pressed to find a suitable option without paying for it or making sacrifices in terms of usability or features. Many sites offering free photo-sharing services have either been acquired by other companies or gone out of business, making the remaining ones somewhat risky bets for storing precious photos without worrying that they could someday disappear with the site.
When selecting a photo-sharing web service, it is important to realize that typical users and serious photographers can have very different needs. Experts say that for most, ease of use and the ability to order prints directly from the photo-sharing service can be the most important considerations. Serious photographers, on the other hand, need powerful organizational tools, lots of storage space and possibly a way to sell their photos for a profit. Few photo-sharing services fill both needs perfectly. That's why some users actually use two services for photo-sharing: one for high-quality photography and another for everyday snapshots for family and friends.
