Reunion Photos FAQ

The decision to establish a family photo share for the S.C.O.B. Family Reunion stems from our desire to preserve and celebrate our cherished memories in a more accessible and enduring format. 

Historically, creating hardback photo albums for each reunion required a significant investment of time and effort, often complicating the process when travel was involved. With the introduction of an online photo repository starting with the 2024 reunion, we aim to simplify this tradition. This digital platform will not only ensure that our photos are preserved indefinitely but also make it extremely easy for all family members to find, view, and download pictures as they wish. 

By transitioning to an online format, we enhance the convenience of sharing and enjoying our reunion memories, fostering a stronger connection among family members despite any geographical distances. The use of Google Photos enables the committee members to take advantage of the advanced search capabilities, including date, location, and facial recognition, which will allow us to quickly respond to any requests for photos of a specific family member or similar.

The committee reviewed approximately 15 different candidates for establishing a family photo repository. This included iCloud, Google Photos, DropBox, Facebook, and numerous lesser-known others.

Ultimately the committee sought to accomplish the following objectives:

1. Minimize the need to create new login accounts

2. Maintain full quality photos

3. Simplify the uploading and sharing process

4. Minimize the cost

5. Include advanced search capabilities (facial recognition, location, date, etc).

The number 1 requirement  largely drove the committee towards Facebook, iCloud, and Google Photos, as these are the most ubiquitous accounts, with most family members using either iPhones or Androids, the majority already have either a Google or iCloud account (or both). Facebook  significantly degrades the photo quality and likewise has a smaller subscription base across the family (many family members do not use Facebook). The committe reviewed registration data that revealed the overwhelming majority of family members are actively using Google (gmail) accounts.

Additionally, the committee already leverages Google for a number of services including planning activities, registration surveys, location voting, and post-reunion surveys. 

As such, the committee has elected to utilize Google Photos at this time for our long-term storage and sharing objectives.
 

Anyone with the link to the photo repository will be able to view the photos, making it simple for family members to share memories with others who might not be able to attend the reunions in person. However, it's important for everyone to consider the pictures as public domain and use discretion when sharing and uploading images, ensuring that all shared memories are appropriate and respectful of our family’s values. 

If you feel a photo should be removed, please contact the planning committee for further assistance. 

We will create a separate digital album for each family reunion.

The name of each album will be "YYYY - City NNth Reunion".

For example, the 2024 reunion in Nashville will have an album named "2024 - Nashville 70th Reunion".

We kindly ask each family member to upload only their favorite photos, ideally limiting their contributions to fewer than 5 pictures. Please focus on images of your immediate family when possible. This approach will help keep the album a manageable size, making it enjoyable for everyone to view without being overwhelmed by thousands of photos, while still capturing the essence of the reunion and all attendees. 

Important: To prevent potential misuse, the ability to upload photos will be disabled shortly after the reunion ends. The committee will announce a deadline by which all photo uploads should be completed. If you miss this deadline, please reach out to the committee for assistance with adding your photos.

As part of our reunion close out on Sunday morning, family members will be available to assist you with uploading your photos should you run into any problems. Please keep in mind, we're asking that you limit your upload to approximately 5 photos of your immediate family, as this will help ensure broad coverage of the reunion without the album growing too large. 

Android:

Your phone comes pre-installed with the Google Photos app. By clicking the album link, you'll be able to view all the photos. Click the "Add Photos" button and select the 3-5 photos you'd like to add to the album. 

iOS/iPhone:

If you're on an iPhone, you have two options:

1. Install Google Photos and Login (see Android Instructions above)

2. Work with a family member to share your pictures with them and they can upload on your behalf. Ryan Finneran has offered to do this. 

For option 1, simply install the Google Photos app from the App Store, then login with your Google Account. Once this is done, you can click the link to join the album and upload your photos following the instructions for Android above.

For option 2, contact Ryan Finneran and he will work with you to get your photos uploaded. 

Camera:

You'll need to first transfer your photos from your camera to a computer. You can then upload the photos following the Browser instructions below.

Browser:

Click the link to the desired Photo Album. You can then drag and drop your desired photos right into the album. 

Head on over to our Photo Albums page to find the links to each year.