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Picasa Photo App Series [Part 5] Create Web Albums

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Education & Training with Tech Training for You!

This is part 5 of the series where I'm teaching you how to use the Free Photo Organizing and Editing App called Picasa. If you need to catch up, check out my Picasa Series recap listing here and you will see the previous articles. Today we're going to be looking at Creating Web Albums for sharing photos.

When you want to share photos, your first inclination might be "let me email them." After today, you should instead say, "let me create a web album". Picasa lets you upload your photos into online albums that you then invite others to see. (emails with enormous attachments are really bad idea) Google gives a generous amount of online storage for free - 1 GB. Besides that, if you fill it up and need more storage, it is a ridiculously little amount (something of the order of $5/year for 20GB)

Let's say we want to share some new listing photos with a client. If you saw the previous tutorial, you would have learned about starring photos and then selecting only the starred photos. This is a very good thing to know how to do. Now we are ready to upload. Notice at the top right of the window shows whether or not you are signed in to Picasa Web Albums. You need a free google ID (simple to get if you need) - if you don't have one, it will prompt you for the basic info to create one.

After you have identified the album to upload by selecting it in the list then go to the bottom of the window and click the "Upload" button.

 

You'll notice that all of the default settings on the Upload dialog are already good to go (in most cases). Here's some thought on the choices in case you were wondering. The Size option defaults to 1600 pixels and is a good choice (you can opt for 'original size' but it takes more space and isn't required if your purpose is to share for onscreen viewing). The Visibilty option I either set to "Anyone with the link" (does not display on "My Public Albums" page) or "Public" and is seen on your Public Picasa page. If you are doing home listings, Public would be a good choice, you start it off private until client approves and then change the setting later if you want.

Once you have the photos online, you are ready to share them. Notice the "Share" button. You can then send invitations out for people to see.

At the bottom of the figure above you can see that it sends out a nice looking email invitation with thumbnail preview. You can optionally send out your own email message by copying the URL on the album page or you can create an embedded slideshow by clicking the HTML code that is also available. Maybe you would like to put the slideshow on a blog post?

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Craig Daniels
This blog is all about technology and helping you to use it smarter! Your digital footprint is your chance to attract new clients. What kind of impression are you making via your website, blog, and social media? We’ll be talking about that! Are you as productive as you can be? What apps might help you out? Do you know how to use all the best tools inside the apps? I enjoy photography and videography, you can expect to see those topics also on this blog.
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PS - get ready for some homework… :) 

Comments (16)

Dan Rosenberger
Harvest Realty - Westfield, IN

I have used this with an investor.  Rather than e-mail a bunch of photos, I uploaded them and sent the link.  Then we were able to talk about them by phone, looking at the same photos at the same time.  It is good to have some control over the level of sharing.

Sep 15, 2010 07:44 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

I somehow missed your earlier posts - I like Picasa but haven't even begun to get familiar with all it has to offer.  Thank you!

Sep 15, 2010 07:54 AM
Tracy Lee Parker
RE/MAX DFW Associates - Royse City, TX
Buy*Sell*Rent

bookmarked for further studying!

Sep 15, 2010 08:25 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

I am bookmarking this for later because I have been using picasa for a few years and I know there are quite a few things I still don't know how to do!

Sep 15, 2010 09:17 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I am also bookmarking for later use.  Unfortunately I went to the expense of buying Photoshop Elements 8 which I have no clue how to use. Waiting for the series :)

Sep 15, 2010 09:27 AM
Wendy Hayden
Photographer, Home Stager, ePRO - Richmond, VA
Chesterfield, Richmond & Powahatan

I am an avid Picasa user, but I have learned something from each of your blogs in this series!  Thanks Craig

Sep 15, 2010 01:17 PM
The Brewer Team - Benchmark Realty
Benchmark Realty - Franklin, TN

Craig - thanks for sharing this information, I have been a picasa user for several years now, and it's been a real help when my system crashed.

Sep 15, 2010 04:52 PM
Peggy James
SAMSON PROPERTIES - Woodbridge, VA
Woodbridge Virginia Area Real Estate Specialist

Craig, nice post. I use the Picasa Web Albums weekly if not more. This web album is simple to us and awesome for relocating clients. Within minutes you can have all the photo's to a decision maker across the globe! Plus it is a great place to store photo's you can use for future blog posts!

 

Sep 16, 2010 12:14 AM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

Hi Craig - I know there were issues with Flickr where agent accounts were disabled because they were considered 'too commercial' vs. personal use. Are you aware of any limitations or items in the TOS with Picasa regarding commercial use?

Sep 16, 2010 06:37 AM
Craig Daniels
Tech Training for You! - Staten Island, NY
Technology Instructor/Project Consultant

John - I have not heard of any such issues with Google's Picasa - I will listen more specifically to this topic and share anything I find (but I don't think it is a problem) - if you find anything else, please DM me

Sep 16, 2010 06:51 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Is it weird that every one of your posts are bookmarked?

Sep 16, 2010 05:05 PM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Hey Craig, still here reading.  Going to give it try soon.

Sep 17, 2010 02:03 AM
Andy Chaudoir
Professional Inspection Services - Georgetown, Texas - Georgetown, TX
Your Home Inspection Connection in Central Texas

Hello Craig - I never knew Picasa had so many great features.  Thanks again for the tutorial.

Sep 17, 2010 02:36 PM
Steven Beam
RE/MAX Alliance - Parker Colorado Real Estate. - Parker, CO
Parker Colorado Real Estate

Ok I'm still reading but where is the post about how to get the photo from Picasa to the or into the blog. I still have not figured that out.

Sep 22, 2010 03:01 PM
Tere Rottink
CoastalVa Realty Inc - Virginia Beach, VA

Great tutorial.   I am comfortable with Photobucket and Adobe Photoshop.  It took me forever to get there.

Sep 24, 2010 02:28 PM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I use this with large quantities of pictures like REO's where you want to show damage, etc & don't want to email them.  Just email the link & anyone can see the photos.  Good tutorial.

Sep 30, 2010 12:19 PM