Get your photos from camera to app

The A Year With My Camera app is a private community with, unlike Facebook groups, no ads and no member tracking. If you are new to photography and new to the app you might be wondering how you are supposed to get your photographs from your camera into the app.

Desktop version of the app

I’m writing this in July 2020 and we are in the final stages of road-testing the desktop version of the app. It’s coming very soon and you will be able to access the app community on your laptop or desktop as well as on your phone. This will make it easier for everyone who has an established camera-to-computer workflow: you will be able to upload images straight from your computer.

Camera to phone options

Use your camera’s wifi

The easiest way to get your photos from your camera to your phone is to link the two with your camera’s built-in wifi. Unless your digital camera is very old you probably have a wifi option. Search online for instructions, find a YouTube video or dig out your camera manual.

Card reader

You can buy card readers that plug into your phone or tablet letting you download direct. Just make sure you get the right card option (eg. SD or CF) and the right phone option (eg lightning or micro USB). This official Apple card reader costs about £30:

Computer to phone options

Via the cloud

Use a cloud storage service like Dropbox or iCloud. Upload your photos from your computer and then download from the equivalent app on your phone. If you have Apple devices you can skip the upload/download and just use Airdrop. If you use Lightroom and Lightroom mobile you can sync your images easily using the built-in storage.

Email

A bit old-school but it still works: just email the photos to yourself and pick them up on your phone.