Pictures of your kids, your wedding, your fabulous vacation can provide memories to last a lifetime. One way to protect the photographic record of your favorite moments is to learn how to store photos online.

Photos can represent quality memories, remind you of important times in your life, or transport you to another place and time. Storing photos on your computer's hard drive might seem like a safe option -- until your computer crashes!!! Similarly, CDs containing your favorite images can be lost or damaged. Storing photos with an online service is a far more secure way to safeguard precious memories.

With so many to choose from, this may be a challenge, but searching the web is a great way to find free or low-cost storage. Options include such sites as

1. Snapfish.com
2. Shutterfly.com
3. Photobucket.com

• There are also general data storage sites like mozy.com, which may charge a nominal fee.

(Creative Commons photo by Eustaquio Santimano)

• The process at most sites is pretty simple:

1. Download your photos from your camera/cell phone/PDA to your computer's hard drive.
2. Log in to the photo storage site.
3. Select the photos you would like to store online.
4. Click the Upload option to upload the photos.

• Sites such as Shutterfly will allow you to mail in a CD of your photos for online storage.

• Once your photos are uploaded, depending upon the site's features, you can

1. Organize them
2. Share them
3. Create slideshows/mashups
4. Link directly to another website, blog, or personal profile page.

• To print photos from the site, a fee may be required.

Capturing your experiences in photographs is an ongoing process undertaken with loving care. Your attachment to those images may grow with the passage of time. Keeping your memories safe by storing photos online can promote peace of mind.

• Introduction
• Step 1: Choose a Storage Site
• Step 2: Upload Your Photos
• Step 3: Take Advantage of Site Features
• Conclusion

• by [www.your_Mahalo_profile_URL Your Byline]