The Five Commandments Of Photo Sharing

These 5 points will help you do that.

Five Photo Sharing Mistakes To Watch

You've photographed your last family vacation and now you're going to share the photos with your friends, neighbors and work mates. It sounds easy, doesn't it?

What you might not realize is that many such presentations do more to bore an audience than it does to entertain them.

If you've ever had strangers sharing with you photo after photo of their family members, you'll understand what it's like. You bite your tongue, not wanting to hurt or embarrass them. You sit through the show, anxious for it to be over.

You don't have to make the same mistake. Here are some things you can do to be sure your photo sharing efforts are appreciated and fun.

1. Don't share the good and the bad photos.

You've probably seen these photo sharing presentations. People are out of focus, someone is waving a hand in front of the lens, or the images are so dark you can't recognize anyone.

Don't show every single photo you took that day. Go through all your photos and eliminate any that have problems. Be critical of your own work, even if it hurts.

2. Be selective when sorting your photos for sharing.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of your audience. Consider what are their interests. With every photo you choose, ask yourself whether they'd like the shot or are you adding it just because you like it.

What pleases you won't necessarily interest your audience. Johnny pulling a funny face might be cute to you, but others might think otherwise.

3. Go for the interest factor.

This will take a bit of practice, but take a close look at the photos you're sharing. Look for the interest factor. Is the person wearing an unusual or traditional dress? Is Karen's facial expression priceless? Does that building have some historical feature not seen today? Is the landscape truly unique? Are those patterns in the sand fascinating?

4. Organize your images specifically for photo sharing.

How you organize your shots will make a big difference in how your show turns out. Make it tell a story rather than be a jumbled pile of photos you took. Sort them first to remove the bad photos. Sort again for interest. Lastly, sort so that each photo brings you closer to the climax of your story.

5. Test run your photo sharing presentation.

Before taking your show on the road, test it on a few close friends or family members. Ask them to be honest about your presentation. Does it hold their interest? Are there are spots where they feel bored? Do they have any suggestions on how you can improve your presentation?

With practice, patience and experimentation, you can build a photo sharing event that people will beg to see.