How do I send my photo album?

Sending a photo album can seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple with the right tools and knowledge. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process step-by-step, from choosing the best way to share your album digitally to actually getting it to friends and family near and far. By the end, you’ll be a photo album sending pro!

Decide how you want to share your photo album

The first step is deciding how you actually want to share your completed photo album with others. Here are some of the most common ways to digitally send photo albums and the pros and cons of each:

Method	Pros	Cons
Email	Simple and easy Most people have an email address	File size limits on email Need recipient’s email address No way to track if it’s viewed
File sharing site	Can handle large files Share via link Can see if it’s viewed	Recipient needs account to download Files not private
Social media	Already connected with friends & family Instantly shareable	Lower quality images Not downloadable Public sharing
Cloud storage	Easy sharing via link Can control access Store in one place	Recipient needs account to download
Printed album	Tangible memento Full quality	Mail delivery needed Not easily shareable

As you can see, each method has its own pros and cons. Consider who you want to share with, if you need high resolution files, and how tech-savvy your recipients are. Typically, email, cloud storage links, and social media are the easiest digital sharing methods.

Organize and edit your photos

Once you’ve decided how to share, it’s time to prep your photos. Organizing and editing will make your album look polished and professional. Here are some tips:

• Pick 100-200 of your best photos to include. An album with too many repetitive or poor quality shots can dilute the experience.
• Organize photos chronologically or by event/theme. Arrange photos so the album tells a story.
• Use photo editing software to color correct, crop, straighten, and adjust lighting on photos.
• Give photos descriptive filenames like “Jane_Birthday_Cake.jpg” rather than generic names.
• Add captions to provide context for the photos.

Taking the time to thoughtfully curate, edit, and organize your photos makes a huge difference in the enjoyment of the final album. You want each photo to add value for the viewer.

Design your album layout

Now it’s time to design the actual layout for your photo album. Whether you use a physical album or digital book, you’ll need to arrange your photos and text into an aesthetically pleasing design. Here are some layout tips:

• Use consistent fonts, colors, borders, backgrounds and photo treatments.
• Align elements properly and space things out evenly.
• Vary photo sizes and arrangements from page to page.
• Use 2-3 photos per page spread to avoid clutter.
• Balance photos and white space.
• Use full bleed pages sparingly for impact.
• Add designer elements like frames, drop shadows, and borders.

Photo album software makes it easy to drag and drop arrangements until you find a layout you love. Play around with different design options just like you would for a scrapbook page!

Choose your photo album format

If creating a digital photo album, you’ll need to export your layout to the appropriate file format. Here are some of the most common:

• PDF – Universal file type, maintains image quality, allows printing
• JPG – Smaller files, easy to email and share online, lossy compression
• MP4 / Video – Dynamic animated album, requires video player to view
• EXE – Self-running executable album, only works on Windows computers

PDF is the best format for sharing high quality albums digitally in most cases. JPG also works for informal sharing. For a keepsake printed album, you would export a PDF and send it to a photo printing service.

Print your photo album

To create a printed photo album or photo book, you have several options:

• Local print shop – Print albums in store from files
• Drugstore photo counter – Basic print albums from files
• Online printing service – Design albums online, order prints & album binding
• Home printer – Print on photo paper at home, hand bind album
• Mobile app – Design on app, order printed album by mail

Online services like Shutterfly offer the best quality printed photo albums with professional hardcover binding options. However, local printers and drugstores work fine for basic softcover albums. Print quality, paper types, and binding options vary, so review each place before ordering.

Save your photo album files

Before distributing your photo album, be sure to back up your files! Nothing is worse than having your files corrupted or computer crash. Save an original high resolution copy of your album for archiving. Here are some tips:

• Store album files on an external hard drive or cloud storage service.
• Save edited individual photo files in case you ever need to re-edit.
• Backup any album design files from your projects.
• Save multiple versions of the album file (low/high resolution).

DVDs and USB drives work for storing album files. For ultimate protection, use a secure cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive to backup files remotely.

Share your digital photo album

Once your album is complete in your desired file format, it’s time to send it digitally if you’re not printing. Here are some tips for sharing your files:

• For email, split album into 10MB or less attachments to avoid bouncebacks.
• When sharing via cloud links, disable public access and set expirations.
• Share albums privately on social media or set visibility to “Friends only”.
• Send the shareable link rather than attachments for large files.
• Instructions for downloading may be needed if recipients seem confused.

Doing a test share with a tech-savvy friend can help spot any issues before sending your album to everyone. Test that your files open properly on different devices and operating systems.

Mail your printed photo album

To mail a printed photo album or photobook, carefully package it to avoid damage during shipping:

• Use sturdy boxes or mailing tubes if mailing an album.
• Wrap album in tissue paper first so cover isn’t scratched.
• Pad interior with bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or crumpled paper.
• Seal box securely with strong tape designed for shipping.
• Address package clearly and include return address.
• Pay for tracking and signature confirmation if desired.

USPS media mail is the most affordable way to ship photo albums and books domestically. Talk to your local post office about the best mailing options for fragile items.

Give your album a memorable opening

Personalize your photo album with a warm dedication, quote, or story on the opening pages. Here are some ideas to make your album special:

• Write a touching dedication to the recipient detailing your relationship.
• Include a meaningful quote about memories, family, or love.
• Tell the unique story of an experience captured in the album photos.
• Include signature lines to make it like a yearbook.
• Add decorative album title page or photos.

Make sure to date your album if it chronicles a specific event or time period in your lives. Your personal note sets the tone for the rest of the album so the recipient understands the significance.

Add captions to all your photos

Captions make a photo album infinitely more meaningful, enjoyable and informative. Write concise captions to provide context for every photo. Here are some caption writing tips:

• Explain who is in the photo and their relation to you/others.
• Describe the exact location, event names, dates.
• Tell a backstory for candid moments.
• Use humor to caption funny or silly shots.
• List people’s names left to right or clockwise.
• Reminisce about beloved places or pets.

Getting people, places and events right is crucial. Ask for help remembering details if needed. Variety keeps captions engaging – mix facts with feelings, stories and humor.

Close with a thoughtful conclusion

Wrap up your photo album with a nice concluding paragraph or pages. This provides closure on the experience shared within. Some ideas include:

• Reflect on the memories and what they meant to you.
• Express your feelings or gratitude to the recipient.
• Tell what this time period or relationship has meant.
• Close with well wishes, encouragement or your love.
• Include a final thank you to the person who inspired the album.

The conclusion brings everything full circle. Cap off the album on a poignant, positive note that complements your opening dedication or story. This thoughtful bookending makes the album complete.

Follow up after sending your album

Be sure to follow up with the recipient after sending your photo album. Here are some ideas for what to communicate:

• Ask if they received the album okay.
• See if they had any issues opening files or viewing photos.
• Ask what they thought of the album overall.
• See if it brought up any old memories.
• Check if they need any help re-downloading files.
• Offer to send again in a different format if needed.

Following up shows you care about their experience receiving and looking through the album. It also gives you helpful feedback for creating albums in the future.

Preserve your physical photo albums

To make printed photo albums last for decades, proper storage and handling is crucial. Here are some preservation tips:

• Store flat on shelf away from direct sun and moisture.
• Avoid attics, basements and garages with extreme temperatures.
• Wrap in archival plastic if storing long-term.
• Handle gently when viewing to avoid tearing pages.
• If scanning, do so carefully without bending photos.

Inspect physical albums periodically for any signs of damage or deterioration. Be especially careful with old magnetic and sticky albums. Migrate photos to newer albums as needed to prevent damage from old supplies.

Convert your physical album to digital

To backup or share a physical printed photo album, you can digitize it. Here are some tips for converting physical to digital:

• Take high resolution scans of each full album page.
• Carefully scan individual photos without reflections or glare.
• Edit out any album page edges, borders or backgrounds.
• Touch up and color correct old photos if needed.
• Recreate album digitally to share online or reprint.

Scanning services are also an option if you don’t own a photo scanner. Take your time to cleanly capture and edit each photo for the best digitization results.

Conclusion

We’ve covered the A-Z of sharing your cherished photo albums with friends and family. From choosing a sharing method to designing your layouts to packaging and mailing printed albums, you now have all the knowledge needed for a seamless experience sending your albums to recipients near and far. Just remember to add thoughtful personal touches and captions to make your photo album truly special. With your newly digitized albums, you can now also easily preserve these living memories for generations to come. So go forth and start sharing those magical stories captured in photos with your loved ones today!