I don’t know what a baby’s toes are like, but there’s something so wonderful about the way they curl up. By my count, there are probably 256 photos of children’s newborn fingers alone. Before I had kids, I thought I was obsessed with photography. Well, that was nothing compared to the overwhelming amount of photos and videos I now have. The last time I checked my phone’s Photos app, the total was 61,725. I feel a little lazy typing this, but we all have our vices. It takes about 3 business days to find something in the Photos app, but can you delete 50 clips of your child’s first laugh? That’s impossible.
In addition to my slightly nervous camerawoman behavior, my kids are now old enough to grab my phone and run, taking pictures of themselves. Should I go back and delete them? Of course not. Who has time? By the time I catch them in the act, they’ve already made another mess and, loveable pagans they are, I have to clean up. But now, with a camera roll of 60,000 (and counting), my phone’s storage is dwindling under pressure. It would take a miracle and a full week of paid vacation to fix everything. But luckily, I recently discovered a solution to my photo storage problem: Amazon Photos.
Amazon Photos is an app that gives you unlimited photo storage and 5 GB of video storage for free with your Amazon Prime membership. After some research, I discovered that there’s a lot more you can do with the app (like organize and print photos). Here’s how to hack your overflowing camera roll using Amazon Photos.
How to organize your photos with minimal effort
Amazon Photos is like having a personal assistant for your photo library, minus the hourly fee. Prime members get unlimited photo storage and 5 GB of video storage for free, plus all photos and videos are automatically backed up in full resolution. Setting “Night Upload” allows the app to back up images while you charge your phone at night. Now, you can finally delete the photos on your device without losing them forever (I’m currently side-eyeing one cloud-based storage system).
Once I downloaded the app and dumped my entire camera roll, I started categorizing. But this app doesn’t just throw them into a big digital pile, it has advanced organization features like advanced filters so you can quickly search by albums, favorites, dates, people, places, or objects. The filters are so much better than what my phone offers that it only took me one night to sort my favorite photos into easy-to-browse albums. I also made an album called “Sticky Fingers” for the hilarious shots my kids take when I’m not paying attention. If you’re tired of staring at your phone while cleaning, you can also access all your images through the Amazon Photos desktop app.
How to bring your photos to life on screen
While the unlimited photo storage and easy organization are unmatched, my favorite feature is the printing service. I have been a parent for over 4 years now. So, I’ve spent four years vowing to make a photo album for my kids, and I still haven’t done it. I don’t know how on earth parents were so diligent about creating albums before the digital age. Maybe it’s because you didn’t spend hours scrolling through TikTok after the kids went to bed, but don’t go there. at least for now Amazon Photos lets you quickly create photo prints, photo books, wall decor, and personalized gifts.
But just when I thought Amazon Photos was done, I was wrong. The other day, as I was printing more photos, I noticed something. Amazon Prime members receive 45% off regular-priced orders and free shipping on purchases over $35 when they connect their account to Shutterfly. Plus, all my orders are conveniently shipped by Shutterfly. It’s a game changer for the upcoming holiday season (tote bags with kids’ faces on them are Abu’s idea for a fun way to pass the time). I used this link to connect both my existing accounts in just two clicks and immediately started adding ridiculous amounts to my cart. Customizable apparel and office decor are also available.Here are some of our favorites we found on Shutterfly.
My husband and I share a Prime account, so he can access his photos through the app as well. He started showing a small slide show on his Echo Show. This will make children squeal with joy when they see pictures of themselves and their families. You can also invite your loved ones to share photos on your Echo Show. That way, you can send your grandma’s photos directly to the Amazon Photos app instead of your phone. As a Prime member, I use this photo service so much that I regret not discovering it sooner. If you’re also a Prime member and don’t want to delete those adorable baby photos, I can’t really recommend downloading the Amazon Photos app.
About the author
Steph Alleva Cornell, Brand Content Editor
Since becoming a young mom in 2020, Steph enjoys creating beautiful and relatable content around the raw realities of motherhood. She believes that by sharing both the wonders and struggles of parenthood, she can help other mothers understand that they are not on this journey alone. .
This post is sponsored by Amazon Photos, but all opinions within the post are those of the Everymom Editorial Board. We only recommend products that we really like.