Photography enthusiasts can enjoy free online photo hosting and instantly share pictures with friends and loved ones. These sites allow the user to store not only photographs on the web, but favorite video files as well. Most of the sites do not charge any kind of fee and many offer additional features such as slide show capabilities complete with music, captions, or special effects. Some offer the user the chance to create their own personal web site, profile or blog. Users can create themed albums on a variety of subjects and can view the work of fellow photographers from across the globe. For individuals living away from home or for families that are widely dispersed in different areas of the country, the ability to instantly share pictures of important events or even day to day happenings can be a real benefit. Generally, free photo hosting websites contain advertising and distracting pop ups, but most users feel that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. These sites should not be seen as a way to preserve valuable data in the event of a system crash. Some sites that offer photograph storage free of charge have gone out of business, leaving the user and their valuable image files in the dust.
Most free photo hosting websites offer a variety of features beyond just image file storage. In addition to uploading personal digital photographs, consumers can share their work with anyone on the Internet, or they can set up an account that is password protected and allow access only to those family members or friends that they choose. Many account holders on these sites will also set up personal web pages that include bios and blogs. These features also can go a long way in helping users to enjoy communicating with friends and family. Other popular features of sites that offer free online photo hosting might include the ability to share video clips, unlimited image storage, links to other sites, photo slide shows, the option of tracking the number of visitors to a user's photographs, the opportunity for friends and family to download photographs without charge or to order prints, and the option of purchasing personalized gift items that incorporate a favorite photograph.
In addition to these features, many of these sites also help the consumer edit photos through the use of online image editing software. This software can help consumers add text to their photographs, put in color backgrounds, make corrections, crop an image, or incorporate a variety of special effects. Generally, the use of these image editing software products is offered free of charge and also comes with step by step instructions that can guide even the most inexperienced photography enthusiast. The ability to enjoy these features from the comfort of the consumer's own home have made free photo hosting websites extremely popular. Photographs can be used to instantly capture the beauty of this world. The Bible talks about the beauty of the things of God. "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." (Psalm 90:17)
Not all websites offer free online photo hosting. There are websites that charge a monthly or yearly fee for their services. The advantages of paying for services that are offered without charge elsewhere might not seem obvious at first. Subscription services generally do not feature any kind of ads or promotional material on the site, and certainly don't allow annoying pop ups. There are generally no limits on the amount of storage that is available and no charge for extra traffic. Visitors can view images anonymously without a requirement to register and share personal information and e-mail addresses. Most online hosting sites that do not charge require visitors to share such information before they can view any video or image files. The image quality on many of these subscription sights is generally much higher. Support service and quick response to e-mail queries is another benefit. Another important issue to consider is the longevity of the site. It is not uncommon for free photo hosting websites to go out of business, taking the consumer's image files with them.
Many free online photo hosting sites offer consumers the opportunity to join online communities that are similar to other social networking sites. The user can create a profile, share information about individual pictures and how they were taken, receive messages from friends and family members, and provide links to other pages that belong to friends and family. Almost all of these services also have an extensive line of photography related products that the consumer can purchase. These gifts can be customized to feature favorite photographs and make memorable presents for friends and loved ones. These gifts could include mugs, notebooks, stickers, address labels, canvas prints, magnets, mouse pads, coasters, keepsake boxes, playing cards, puzzles, totes, jewelry that is photo related, Christmas ornaments, or key chains. Personalized greeting cards that feature favorite photographs are also easily created and purchased. Visitors can also order any of these gifts and even customize the gifts themselves. Scrapbook enthusiasts can create pages online and print them out on their home computers. This service gives the consumer the opportunity to create stunning scrapbooks without the mess of cutting and pasting. Most of these sites also send out periodic newsletters that feature special sales information, coupons and contests.
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