Simple cross-platform photo workflow for phone, computer, cloud backup, and printing
Asked 9/27/2015
3 views
2 answers
0
I want a mostly automated photo workflow that works across Android, iPhone, Windows PC, and possibly Mac. My goals are automatic syncing from phones, a single place to store and organize images, local copies on my computer for editing, and an easy way to download originals when needed. It would also be helpful if the same service offered professional photo printing or made printing straightforward after syncing. Is there a simple all-in-one or close-to-all-in-one solution for this kind of cross-platform setup?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
1
I recently looked into this problem (Jan 2016) and the best solution I found was Flickr. They have 1TB storage free and offer the Flickr Uploader tool for MacOS and Windows. The Uploader can run and monitor folders you specify to upload photos from. The Uploader recognizes duplicates that are already on your cloud and won't upload more than one copy in case you have duplicated scattered around. They also offer printing services similar to what you are searching for.
The first downside is that there is no Uploader for the mobile devices. My workaround is to sync the mobile to the Mac/Windows and let the Uploader detect the new images from the sync and send these photos to Flickr. Image Capture does this on the MAC and you can have it automatically launch when your device is connected, import, and delete the images off the device.
The second downside is that the Uploader does not handle videos(yet), so you have to manage those separately. I checked the feature requests for the Uploader and video upload is voted near the top of the need to have features by the user community. So they will likely solve that soon.
Originally by user48356. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user48356
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Based on the answers provided, Flickr is a reasonable near all-in-one option for this workflow. It offers cloud photo storage, desktop uploader software for Windows and macOS, duplicate detection, and printing services.
A practical setup is:
- Sync or import photos from your Android/iPhone to your Mac or PC.
- Use Flickr Uploader to watch those folders and automatically upload new images.
- Keep local copies on the computer for editing, while using Flickr as the central cloud library.
- Order prints from the service once images are uploaded.
The main limitation mentioned is mobile automation: there was no direct mobile uploader in the answer, so phone photos may need to pass through your computer first. On Mac, Image Capture can help automate import when a device is connected.
So if your priority is one cloud library plus desktop syncing and printing, Flickr fits fairly well. If your priority is fully automatic phone-to-cloud upload with no computer step, the provided answers do not confirm a complete solution for that.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI10y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can Adobe Creative Cloud/Lightroom keep full local copies of my original photos?
Can I download my online Picasa albums back to my computer?
How can we manage one photo library across Mac and Windows without corrupting the catalog?
How can I set up a Mac and iPad photo workflow for culling, rating, and non-destructive editing?
How can I host online proof galleries on my own website so clients can select favorites?