Best Web: Ofoto.com

A photo junkie at heart, I decided to document my cousin's wedding with my digital camera. I thought this would make a great gift. I could provide her with an album of her wedding weekend from an insider's point of view. I pranced from party to party, taking pictures left and right. My camera soon became the center of attention as I captured pictures digitally and could show the posers my work instantly on its LCD display. After several soirees everyone was asking, “I want a copy”. My response, “Sure, no problem, I’ll e-mail it to you!” It soon dawned on me that with over 100 pictures I could have a potential problem on my hands. I started to feel a little overwhelmed to say the least. What had I gotten myself into e-mailing individual pictures to everyone? Yikes! Surely, there’s a better way!
I’m here to tell you that yes, there is! The better way is Ofoto.com. Ofoto is a photo-sharing web site that stores and develops your digital images. The Ofoto experience is painless, easy to use and has plenty of photo options. Instead of e-mailing individual pictures out to everyone, post them in an album online and let them choose one, or all. After the wedding I had about 50 –100 people coming to the site to view the photos. All I had to do was post them to the site and e-mail my link of the wedding album to friends and family. Ofoto lets you do this right from their site. Just enter your friends e-mail addresses, and they’ll take care of the rest. You can also store them in your Ofoto online address book for future albums. Its Guestbook feature lets you see who has viewed your album. Shoot! The hardest part for me was just trying to obtain everyone’s e-mail addresses.

Here’s how it works. Simply download photos from your camera to your computer via the software that accompanies your digital camera. After having set up an account with Ofoto and downloading their OfotoNow software from their site, you upload pictures from your computer to your Ofoto account creating an album. Ofoto lets you store an unlimited number of albums. In addition to uploading, its software allows you to preview the picture, even edit, such as crop, rotate, and redeye reduction to perfect your image. The uploading process took me about 45 minutes to an hour using a regular speed modem. Once your album is online, you can share with family and friends, and order prints on Kodak quality paper. To order prints, you must be a member, but signing up an account with Ofoto is free of charge. I will say the print quality on these exceeded my expectations. I found it to be equal to the prints I would receive if I took my 35mm film to my local camera shop. Print costs range from .49 for 4x6, .99 for 5x7, and $1.50 for 8x10. Ofoto will develop your order within 48 hours of placement and have it shipped within 2-5 days depending on where you live. If for some reason you are unsatisfied with your prints, just contact Ofoto within 30 days of receipt, and they will refund your money or send you a new set.

One of my favorite features of Ofoto.com is their Frame Store. They have a variety of frames to choose from among a selection of styles. There are about ten different frame styles including modern, classic, wedding, kids, and even pets! My favorite part about the Frame Shop is you can try out your selected picture in the frames until you find one that suits your fancy. Or, you can easily interchange the picture for the frame if it’s the frame you favor. It ships to you in a foam cushioned cardboard box. All you have to do when you receive it is put it on your mantle.

Ofoto didn’t forget the 35mm folks. For those who haven’t moved so fast into the digital era, no worries! You can do the same. Just send Ofoto your 35mm rolls of film, APS film, or disposable cameras. Ofoto will process, scan, and post your images for a charge of about $3 a roll in about seven business days. Once online, you’ll be able to order prints. Your negatives will be returned to you. Ofoto does not currently process pre-processed negatives, slide film, cartridge film, black-and-white Advantix (APS) film, and true black-and-white 35mm non-C41 compliant film.

As for now, I’m not attending any weddings for a while, but I’m looking forward to the next time I mail out greeting cards. I can go directly to Ofoto.com, select my favorite picture among any of my albums, select a card with greeting and Bingo! Insert picture. Ofoto will print up to 100 plus cards with my photo quality print including. The photo insert cards are available in sets of 10 at $15 per set including envelopes. Ten or more sets will run you about $11 per set. You will pay a flat shipping rate of $3.50 on the card sets regardless of whether you by one or ten. They have a selection of all occasion card formats to choose from for anytime of the year.

Needless to say, Ofoto.com is my best of web pick for online photo sharing. By all means, check it out!