How to share photos with family from your phone

What you will learn

In this guide, you will learn three easy ways to share photos with your family: through WhatsApp, by email, and using a shared photo album. You can pick the method that works best for you and your family.

What you need

• A phone with photos you want to share
• WhatsApp, an email app, or Google Photos / iCloud Photos installed
• Your family member’s phone number or email address

Steps

Step 1: Open your photo gallery

On your iPhone, open the Photos app. On an Android phone, open the Gallery or Google Photos app. Find the photo you want to share and tap on it to open it in full screen.

Step 2: Tap the share button

With the photo open, look for the share button. On iPhone, it is a square with an upward arrow at the bottom-left. On Android, it is three connected dots or the word Share. Tap it. A list of sharing options will appear.

Step 3: Share via WhatsApp

In the sharing options, tap WhatsApp. Select the family member you want to send the photo to from your contact list. You can add a short message if you like. Then tap the send button (green arrow). The photo will be sent instantly.

Step 4: Share by email

If you prefer email, tap Mail or Gmail in the sharing options. A new email will open with the photo attached. Type your family member’s email address in the To field. Add a subject like “Photos from today.” Tap Send.

Step 5: Select multiple photos to share

To share more than one photo at a time, go back to your gallery. Tap Select at the top-right corner. Then tap each photo you want to share. A checkmark will appear on selected photos. When you have selected all the photos you want, tap the share button and choose your preferred method.

Step 6: Create a shared album for ongoing sharing

For regular photo sharing, create a shared album. On iPhone, open Photos, go to Albums, tap + at the top-left, and select New Shared Album. Name it and add your family member. On Android, open Google Photos, tap Sharing, then Create shared album. Add family members by email address.

Step 7: Add photos to your shared album

Open the shared album you created. Tap the + button to add photos from your gallery. Select the photos and tap Add. Your family members will see the new photos automatically. They can also add their own photos to the same album.

Tips

• If your family member is nearby and uses an iPhone, you can use AirDrop to send photos instantly without using the internet. Tap the share button and select their name under AirDrop.
• Ask your family members to turn on notifications for the shared album so they know when new photos are added.
• If you take a lot of photos, share albums are better than WhatsApp because the photos stay organized in one place and are not lost in the chat history.

Useful links

• Share photos on iPhone
• Share photos with Google Photos
• Send photos on WhatsApp