April 2017 Moms

Photo Storing/Printing Solutions

With #2 on the way, we really need to get our system figured out. 

So far, we've relied on Google Photos for storing pics from our cameras because we have a shared account and it's an automatic backup.  The major Con is that you have to download each pic if you want to then print it from somewhere. It's so cumbersome. 

I tried just using the Shutterfly app to store mobile pics but it messes up too often. 

We also have pics form a real camera (although less of them lately), so we really need streamlining. Someone that will automatically backup pics from both DH/my phones and then something that we can connect to easily from our regular computer for the camera pics. 

Confession: I'm about 2 years behind in printing pics to scrapbook.  I've printed some for the walls but not many. I was good as a SAHM but when I went back to work, it just fell apart.  Need something less time consuming that what I've done so far. 

Ideas?  What works for your families?  What hasn't worked?  We are Prime members and I saw that they now offer picture printing - has anyone tried it?  
Me: 31
DH: 36
Married 5 years
DD born 8/30/13
#2 expected 4/25/17

Re: Photo Storing/Printing Solutions

  • We use Shutterfly (used to be This Life) and haven't had issues with the app. After several years I am pretty committed at this point. I like it because it arranges everything in a timeline and you can order prints or books or whatever - though I'm over six years behind, so don't feel too bad. ;)
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  • @teamla hahaha that does make me feel better!!
    Me: 31
    DH: 36
    Married 5 years
    DD born 8/30/13
    #2 expected 4/25/17
  • I also use shutterfly and haven't had any issues. I did switch to making photo books instead of scrapbooking with DS because I knew I would fall way behind with scrapbooking. I try to keep up with the photo books throughout the course of the year by adding a few pages at a time when I have time. Then at the end of the year I wait for a sale or coupon code to order the book. I also have a box for items that I would normally put in a scrapbook that cannot go into the photo book.
  • I wonder why Shutterfly was not working well for us when we tried the app.  I've still always used them to print but I've had to do a crazy download/upload thing to the website. 

    I just downloaded the Amazon Photo app and that seems pretty similar if you already have Prime.  I may do a test batch of prints to see how the quality is. 
    Me: 31
    DH: 36
    Married 5 years
    DD born 8/30/13
    #2 expected 4/25/17
  • @cafedisco if you do, let me know. 
  • We use Google Photos to back up from our phones in addition to both of us storing our stuff on iCloud. For family, we have a Google Drive that we'll occasionally upload photos to for other family members to see and download if they want, and our parents will often put pics up on there as well if they've had DS for babysitting or a trip out or something like that. DH and FIL are both wayyy into photography, so that's where all of their "fancy" photos wind up as well.

    For printing, I use Shutterfly, but I don't like the app...I feel like whenever I use their app to get prints they come out super dark (whether they're my phone photos or the "fancy" photos that DH and FIL have edited), but I don't have that issue when I order them online. I'm trying to get in the habit of making a family "yearbook" on shutterfly for some of the best photos, buuuut I'm now 2 years behind on that. :lol: I do also have a family scrapbook for things that are not able to be printed in the Shutterfly books.
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    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I love Shutterfly photo books. I don't know how make money, pretty much everything I've gotten from there has been free. They send me coupons constantly and so does Pampers. The app is doing free unlimited prints right now.

    Babysizer Geeky Pregnancy Tracker



  • @SnarkasaurusRex is there some shortcut about getting the pics from Google to Shutterfly that I am missing? I just find it so so tedious. I agree about the app printing quality, among other problems. 

    @Virginialeigh I wish that was on the site too!  I've been uploading all out pics from the past 2 years to finally print. 

    Maybe I need to give up the idea of keeping up with scrapbooking and just do the photobooks too.  I like scrapbooking now because I use DD's "art" as the background and I think it's just so stinkin cute to see her work develop. 
    Me: 31
    DH: 36
    Married 5 years
    DD born 8/30/13
    #2 expected 4/25/17
  • @cafedisco I think on the site it's 101 free prints. I got a email about it today but I deleted without reading.

    Babysizer Geeky Pregnancy Tracker



  • @cafedisco Why not take pictures of her art and put it in your photo books? Either as the focal point of some pages or even as backgrounds/designs?
  • @teamla it's a good idea - but it is an extra step!  I'll play around with it and see.  TBH I've always found making the online photobooks to be quite difficult. I'm not sure why. 

    All I know is my mother has a gigantic box of pictures from when all 4 kids were little and they are just crammed in there, she doesn't even know which baby is which in most of them and it's a hot mess.  I don't want to end up like her!!!!
    Me: 31
    DH: 36
    Married 5 years
    DD born 8/30/13
    #2 expected 4/25/17
  • @cafedisco There's no shortcut that I know of. It is pretty tedious. Honestly, I just have a folder on my desktop titled "Pictures to Print" and I'll download whatever I want from the Google Drive or the Cloud and just upload that folder to Shutterfly.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • That's smart to put them in one folder. Sometimes I really don't think technology makes life any easier. 
    Me: 31
    DH: 36
    Married 5 years
    DD born 8/30/13
    #2 expected 4/25/17
  • We use Snapfish.  I like it because we order our photobooks from there.  And really the only time I make them is for something important, like a birthday-christening.  Other than that, I make our yearly calendars.  I use last year's pics to fill in that month and then i save the calendars.  Those will serve as our scrapbooks and we can see how busy we were at that time in future years!
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