Photo Blogs: Tips for Newbies

<p><i>It seems like everyone has a photo blog these days. Why? What's the big deal? And should you be using one? Read on to find out if a photo blog is right for you.</i></p>

<p>It's often said that a picture is worth  a thousand words, and when it comes to photos of friends, family,  special events or vacations, that's especially true. After all, these are  memories you'll want to preserve for a lifetime. </p>

<p>While organizing printed photos and  putting them into a traditional photo album or scrapbook is a great  way to preserve special moments, it can also be very time consuming  and rather difficult to share with those who live across the country  or across the globe. That's where photo blogs come in handy!</p>

<p>New to photo blogs? They're really  quite simple to use, and many of them are even free. When choosing a  provider for your photo blog, you should look for these features:

<ul>
<li>
<b>Fast Uploads & High      Capacity</b><br />
Many photo blog providers will even allow bulk uploads with a single click.
</li>
<li>
<b>High Resolution Uploads &      Downloads</b><br />
After all, shouldn't your      photos look their best?
</li>
<li>
<b>Privacy Controls</b><br />
Not      keen on everyone and their brother being able to view your special      photos? Look for a photo blog that allows you to control exactly who      sees your online albums.
</li>
<li>
<b>Image & Photo Hosting</b><br />
Each      of your photos should come with a URL link so you can email the      link, or put the link in your blog or web site.
</li>
<li>
<b>Photo Management</b><br />
You      should be able to edit, tag, and manage your photos in your online      photo album.
</li>
<li>
<b>Easy Organization</b><br />
It      should be quick and easy to create different albums within your      photo blog.
</li>
<li>
<b>Full Screen Viewing</b><br />
Your      photos should be optimized so that you and those who are allowed to      see your photos can quickly view large images of your photos. Of      course, options to view your photos in other sizes should also be      available.
</li>
<li>
<b>Text Narrative</b><br />
A good      photo blog provider should allow you ample room to include headlines      or captions for your photos.
</li>
<li>
<b>Instantaneous Photo Viewing</b><br />
Who      wants to refresh their browser in order to to back to the previous      photo or advance to the next? The best photo blogs will instantly      display your next and previous uploaded photos without refreshing      your browser.

</li>
</ul>
<p>Besides the ease and convenience of  sharing your photos online, photo blogs also serve as a great way to  store your photos. You'll never again have to worry about losing  printed photos or worry about them being destroyed in a disaster. In  fact, even if your own computer crashes or is stolen, your photos  will still be safe and should be accessible from any  Internet-connected computer. </p>

<p>So if you're looking for a fast, simple  and secure way to organize, share and store your photographic  memories, a photo blog is most definitely right for you.</p>