As Xmas is drawing closer - I thought it would be a good time to help you all out with a slightly different hints and tips newsletter this time. 

I want to share some important news about what happens to YOUR images when you post them online.

With millions and millions of us uploading photos to Facebook - especially during the holidays, I thought it may be a nice idea to share with you some other sites that you could consider. Not only are these all BETTER than Facebook - but they are more secure too. 

Plus - use a proper photo sharing site and you can use it like a backup drive - if your computer crashes, all your photos are still up there online- and can be easily downloaded and in their original sizes.

YESTERDAY Instagram announced a change to their T&C's.

"To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you.”

Are you happy about this? They can take YOUR images and make money from them - not looking good for some of us?

We often see 'warnings' about privacy on Facebook but how many of you take note?

How many of us read the Facebook Terms of service?

What about Facebook?

Many of you will blindly empty your camera's memory into Facebook.

The terms of use for Facebook say its licence (which applies to any user content posted there, including photos, videos and text) gives it the right to copy, publicly display, translate, distribute and to create derivative works. But ownership of the photo remains with the person who took it.

So - you own it - but Facebook can do things with it. Facebook don't say they will sell your content (and you getting no compensation) to be fair to them.

What about Google+ ?

Less users than Facebook but a bit more secure.

“When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content. The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our Services, and to develop new ones.”

So they won't sell your images - but they can use them. Nice.

What about Twitter?

Same rules apply

The T&Cs for other popular photo-sharing apps, Twitpic, picplz, Color, yFrog, , and Lockerz (fka Plixi), all have similar clauses. You really are putting your images out there for the world to see (and for companies to own)

Pix.ie

www.pix.ie

A fantastic FREE site that allows you a decent amount up uploads per month. You can make your images private but share the links with family and friends. At the moment you can upload up to 1GB per month.. which is quite a lot. It's also a growing community with some excellent photographers joined up too - so good for inspiration.

Flickr

www.flickr.com

A massive site you've almost certainly heard of is Flickr. They take privacy quite seriously. You can lock down your images and that's that. When you upload to Flickr - YOU own them and you always will.

Photobucket

www.photobucket.com

Another popular site that allows you to own ALL the content you post. You can pay for upgraded storage, video hosting and more. You can now sync all your devices to Photobucket too.

Picasa

www.picassa.com

Owned by Google - this is a very good site that allows you to download an application that allows you to edit and organise your photos. You may also find your TV or DVD/Blu Ray player has a connection to your Picasa galleries so you can use your TV as a photo frame and brow

Protect Yourself

Here's some tips on photo sharing

• Use a little common sense before using online photo sharing.
• Choose publicly posted pictures carefully. Look them over at their full size to be sure there is no personal information depicted.
• Think before posting a picture that shows you in a compromising situation. Would you want a future job interviewer to see this? Or your in-laws? Or a judge? Photo sharing is a great way to share pictures with friends, but you can't forget that the Internet is the most public forum that has ever existed.
• Err on the side of caution when sharing content such as photos. Social encourages us to share, but it’s up to us to act as the first line of defence for our personal and professional privacy and security.

Personally I steer clear of putting any family images on public forums. I show off some of my work and usually watermark it.

Until 2013 - Happy Holidays and a great new year.

Tips & Tricks is a free newsletter from Satureyes Photography. For more information about Satureyes please visit www.satureyes.com.