Digital Photo Printing and Storage

I like Snapfish. I've uploaded pics to their site then added backgrounds to make postcards, sent them to Walgreens for printing (it's like an email), then had awesome (cheap) christmas cards!

Hi C.,

When I take pics and am ready to store them, I download them to my computer and then I store it on a disc right away. I also download them to a album on the Walgreen's website. The website is very user friendly and you can order the albums and pic them up or have them delivered to your house. The prices are reasonable and the newspaper usually has coupons.

Anyway, that usually works for me! Good luck!

A. V.

If you're using film, I'm guessing that you're having your pictures put onto CD and then uploading them to your computer? If not, that's the best way to get them from your film to your computer. I use Shutterfly to store all my pictures. Membership is free and all your pictures are online in case your computer crashes. Just storing them on your computer, with no back up, could be fatal to your pictures! I store my pictures on my computer, but use the site as a back up. To store on my computer I have a folder with the year, then a subfolder with the month, then another subfolder with the date. It keeps all my pictures organized and I can find them quickly.

To print pictures, I've used Shutterfly and Walgreens. Shutterfly is nice and they have excellent quality. They always send me coupons via email and the turn around time is quick. Even with out coupons, their prices are about what you find anywhere else. If I can't wait for the pictures to ship, I use Walgreens.com. I can upload whatever I want printed, select which store I would like to pick them up at and they're ready in a few hours. They will also ship if you don't want to pick them up.

I caution against printing them at home. I purposfully bought a really good printer and tons of high quality photo paper, thinking I would print at home and save tons of money. The quality of my at home prints are nowhere near the quality of those printed elsewhere. They color seems to fade over a small amount of time.

We use shutterfly and have the pictures sent to the nearest target. We have been very happy with the service and by the time we drive to the store the pictures are ready.

Dear C.,
I wish I knew more, too, as photography is a passion of mine. But immediate needs in my family keep me too busy to investigate. However, I have experienced a few things in this area. Besides your recommendations, I would also recommend CVS and Walgreens. You download from the memory card right into your computer, e-mail it to Walgreens, for example, then pick them up in half an hour or more. Very easy! I have used another source for storing called Picasa which makes me feel better in case my computer ever crashes. Also companies like Shutterfly make it very easy to create nice cards, etc. for different occasions. HTH,P.

i know walmart has a photo printing in the store. you can just put you Sim card into the printer and you pick out with ones you want and them hit print and it only prints the ones you pick. it is really easy to use. and cheap
kim

after alot of trial and error i chose walgreens to do all my photo printing. they run tons of specials, there is usully one in the ad each week and they send you email offers when you sign up. i have yet to get any specials from walmart or rite aid.
as for photo storage, i use finepix viewer on my computer...i think it came with my camera. i also have a targus usb cable that i just plug into my computer and put the memory card in to download my photos- rather than connecting the camera to the computer. i got that at walmart for 12.00. i back up all my pictures on cd also in case anything happens. or you can get a cd fromt eh store when you develop pics, but it usually is more expensive.

Have you looked into Snapfish.com. I have used them quite a bit and am very satisfied with the service. You can have the pictures shipped directly to you or you can pick them up at Walmart or Walgreens (maybe other stores too, but I'm not certain).

I have used Walmart, but I think thier photo paper quality is thin. But it is an easy sight and you can pick them up.
I love Kodak Easy Share. You used to be able to upload pictures then pick them up at CVS, but now the offer free shipping on order over $5.00 which I always seem to order that much anyway. They store your photos, which is nice if your computer crashes, we always put our photos on a disc from time to time also and store them on our ipod an another source for backup. Walgreens also has a sight which is okay also. I prefer Kodak the best! Good Luck!

First, I would recommend sending the same couple of pictures to several places, have them printed, and see which you like best. Pick pictures that have different lighting, and some personal, some scenery. That will give you the best judge.
Next, Creative Memories, the memory-keeping people, has a program that will help you organize your pictures into files so you can easily find the picture you want. That is what is most important about having pics on your computer, being able to find the one you want. They also have a place you can upload pics to, they will develop them, and send them to you. Don't turn your back on using on-line developers. Again, send to several to see which you like best as compared to local. Personally, I use both on-line and local, depending on how quickly I need the pics. You can go to creativememories.com and find a consultant near you by using the locator, and she can help advise you. I understand you want your pics near you on your computer, but you want to make sure you have every pic backed up. IF not, you may have a computer crash, and all pics would be lost. An external hard drive is very important to store your pics on as a secondary source, since it too can crash.
I love my digital camera. I think there can be a place for both, but I will tell you, I went kicking and screaming to digital, and now I LOVE it. NO more guesssing if I got a good picture. And if after I take it I discover it is bad, I just delete and try again. Plus I only develop/print the good ones, no more stacks of bad pictures I paid to get printed. So who knows, some day, you too might be saying 'what film camera?'
Good luck, and keep making those memories.

We put all of our photos in files on our computer. There are lots of photo sites out there. I have used winkflash & shutterfly to upload my pics. I actually just received a photo book from shutterfly & love it. I've only had one problem with them (I don't remember which one) in which I didn't receive some photos. The company reprinted them & sent them at no charge. I have also taken my chip to Meijer & had some pics made while I shop. I personally haven't used any of the ones that you mentioned, but I'm sure that they are good. I also haven't used any of the store sites to upload and pick up. I go directly to the store. I pick only the ones I want & pick them up that day or the next.

I like to print at Costco for my everyday prints. They are not very consistent. Sometimes my prints look great. Othertimes they look dark or light or muted. I use a professional lab in Los Angeles that makes my baby books, albums, enlargements, and nice pictures. They are consistent, a little more expensive than Costco but amazing quality. Hope that helps

Do you have a Walgreens close by? I recently used their service and was very impressed! They run a lot of photo specials, too. And the pics are ready to pick up quickly! You just create an account, upload pics, choose how many of each you want, then pick them up!

I have used Shutterfly very sucessfully. I have created photo books and calendars and shared them with siblings. I have also had photos printed out at Target through the Shutterfly service. The quality has always been good (the quality of the photo books and calendars are excellent).

As far as storing on your computer, my only suggestion is getting a portable drive so you can back-up your pictures.

I have used Snapfish. I also have ordered online and picked up at Walmart. I did the one hour photo and then went and picked them up. I was very satisfied with both.

All the suggestions below are great! Can I give you some information? I felt the same way about my 35mm camera....never would I replace it, it was manual, I loved it and nothing could do any better, until I met my Olympus 550E....it's digital, it can be automatic or manual, it's complicated, but well worth the time. I have an all in one printer and I print my own pictures and they are quality with the right ink. I can copy them to my computer from my camera, make a disc of them anytime I want, I can do just about anything I want with them, crop them, enlarge them, etc.....I have an HP media smart computer. It's great. Something to think about for the future. Good luck and keep snapping those pictures.

For several years now I have used Rite Aid and had my pictures put on a Disc, it is easy to share them this way by just e mailing the pictures to friends and family. The really good ones I order prints of and give away.Rite Aid always uses the best Kodak paper when printing your photo's and if they aren't right they will do them over.
Debbie