CD v Thumb Drive: I am the official family photographer. I have always PP the RAW images, saved them in JPEG and copied the JPEG files to CDs and sent the CDs to family members. I’m...

wnagel Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

I am the official family photographer. I have always PP the RAW images, saved them in JPEG and copied the JPEG files to CDs and sent the CDs to family members.

I’m being told that I am behind the times and should be sending thumb drives as newer computers do not have CD drives, but every computer has USB ports.

What are fellow Hoggers doing?

SnappyHappy Loc: Chapin, SC “The Capitol of Lake Murray”

Instead of buying thumb drives to give away you can use a website called wetransfer.com to upload large files or batches to batch recipients who can download them to any storage device they have.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

wnagel wrote:

I am the official family photographer. I have always PP the RAW images, saved them in JPEG and copied the JPEG files to CDs and sent the CDs to family members.

I’m being told that I am behind the times and should be sending thumb drives as newer computers do not have CD drives, but every computer has USB ports.

What are fellow Hoggers doing?

Unless you specifically want your family to print from the files, you shouldn't be physically sending them anything ... Rather, you should edit the RAW and save to an "easy size" to attach a few files to an email or to post a larger group to a share-site where your family can view the images and download, if desired. This post discusses how to resize your digital files for the purpose of sharing electronically.

Recommended resizing parameters for digital images

(You can share the print-sized files electronically too ...)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

wnagel wrote:

I am the official family photographer. I have always PP the RAW images, saved them in JPEG and copied the JPEG files to CDs and sent the CDs to family members.

I’m being told that I am behind the times and should be sending thumb drives as newer computers do not have CD drives, but every computer has USB ports.

What are fellow Hoggers doing?

I post images to be shared either on Dropbox or my website. I give people I intend to share the images with a password for access. I send nothing out.

mp97070 Loc: Central Oregon

CD’s? Yep, I (and most of my family members) don’t even have CD drives. I now normally share via shared albums that I can give access to individuals I want to be able to see them. We have a lot of 70 plus family members who are not tech savvy and are reluctant to that. For them I bought several thumb drives, which have become incredibly cheap, I load the pictures on them and hand those over. I tell them to keep them and will usually label them with a sharpy so they remember what is on them.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

As thumb drives have become very affordable, it is perhaps a good idea to send those instead of CD's. From my experience, many people nowadays prefer to not deal with CD's anymore.

Collhar Loc: New York City.

mp97070 wrote:

CD’s? Yep, I (and most of my family members) don’t even have CD drives. I now normally share via shared albums that I can give access to individuals I want to be able to see them. We have a lot of 70 plus family members who are not tech savvy and are reluctant to that. For them I bought several thumb drives, which have become incredibly cheap, I load the pictures on them and hand those over. I tell them to keep them and will usually label them with a sharpy so they remember what is on them.

Bugs

The current cloud version of LR has a very functional share feature that I use often. You easily build an album with selected photos and are presented a share option. Choose it and it builds a short web address that can be emailed to anyone you wish to see the pictures. It provides options for what you wish as to downloading, etc. You are in charge of a simple future click to stop sharing. I take hundreds of shots at my grandson's high school football game, process them, and thrill his little soul with his buddies who enjoy them. Coaches, too. I've been invited to be an official on field photographer, declined, prefer shooting from the stands with long lens. Course, you must be an Adobe subscriber! Here is one from a year ago. https://adobe.ly/2R4SpiN

khorinek

wnagel wrote:

I am the official family photographer. I have always PP the RAW images, saved them in JPEG and copied the JPEG files to CDs and sent the CDs to family members.

I’m being told that I am behind the times and should be sending thumb drives as newer computers do not have CD drives, but every computer has USB ports.

What are fellow Hoggers doing?

I ran into the same problem with CD's. I have a stack of new CD's that will never get used. I now use thumb drives. However, I hand deliver the thumb drive to my customers and give them an invoice for he photos.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I mail them a CD and tell them if they can’t use it to let me know and I’ll send them a USB.

wnagel Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

Thanks everyone. Thumb drives seem to be the way to go.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

SnappyHappy wrote:

Instead of buying thumb drives to give away you can use a website called wetransfer.com to upload large files or batches to batch recipients who can download them to any storage device they have.

Right. I use Google Photos for that.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

Right. I use Google Photos for that.

...yessir, great choice.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

You will never find one method that will please the multitude! I have a similar situation and find that many older types don't have CD drives and they also don't have PCs either. They could not use thumb drives and could not access some storage site either. You could send them a card asking them to respond with their desired method of delivery (you provide the options) while letting them know that you will once again be taking photos. I personally think that any mode that they can take to Walmart or like store and print the shots they want should be fine. If they don't think paying 10 to 15 cents a print is worth it, I would question whether or not they appreciate what you are doing.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

wnagel wrote:

I am the official family photographer. I have always PP the RAW images, saved them in JPEG and copied the JPEG files to CDs and sent the CDs to family members.

I’m being told that I am behind the times and should be sending thumb drives as newer computers do not have CD drives, but every computer has USB ports.

What are fellow Hoggers doing?

I use M-Discs as long term personal storage. M-Discs are made to last for centuries, so they'll outlast me. They are available as DVDs and Blu-Ray discs up to 100 GB. They do require a special burner.

I use flash drives file sharing of HD and 4K video and stills. They're more compatible than optical discs these days.

I also use Drop Box and Apple iCloud.