Show Off Those Summer Photos

Backyard barbeques, family reunions, and large get-togethers are summer activities that feel a little more joyous and significant this year.

Of course, you’ll be taking pictures with family and friends you haven’t seen in more than a year. Then what? What happens to all those photos on your phone?

It’s tempting to leave them there. It’s certainly convenient to have memories at your fingertips, but it’s also worth remembering that we don’t take pictures of special events or special people to store them. Those photos are meant to be enjoyed. They connect us to moments in time and people in our lives – but only if we can see them.

We don’t take pictures of special events or special people to store them. Those photos are meant to be enjoyed, but that only happens if we can see them.

Swiping through thousands of photos is a chore. Frantically finding pictures to delete when you run out of storage right before the big family picture isn’t fun either.

Be prepared to capture the best moments and relive them again and again with these three tips.

1. Create space. The photo folder on your phone is like any other file folder in your home or office. It needs to be thinned out from time to time. Set aside 15-30 minutes to delete duplicate pictures and any random photos of the sidewalk from when you accidentally bumped your phone. Creating storage space ahead of time means you can take all the pictures you want of the cousins doing cannonballs in the pool.
2. Turn off “Live Photos.” This is one of the easiest ways to cut down on the number of pictures/.MOV’s saved on your phone. It’s an iPhone feature designed to bring your photos to life, by capturing a three-second moving image. Those three seconds take up storage quickly, cluttering your digital folders. Often, they aren’t as useful in capturing and sharing the moment as a traditional still photo.
3. Display your favorites. Get into the habit of pulling photos off your phone and putting them someplace you can see. Start by selecting 3-5 pictures to add to a digital photo frame or use a screen saver. You can choose to print the photos and send them to family members as a “Thank You” for all the fun shared.

These easy steps make it easier to snap, share, and enjoy moments from your get-togethers and gatherings because your summer memories should last for years, not months especially when we’re making up for lost time.