Post-Reunion
How to Share Family Reunion Photos With Everyone
Reunion photos are often the most cherished outcome of the entire event — but getting them to everyone is harder than it should be. Different family members use different devices. Your professional photographer delivers a gallery link that half the family doesn't know how to access. Great candid shots stay on someone's phone forever. This guide solves all of it.
Choosing the Right Photo Sharing Tool
There's no single best tool — the right choice depends on your family's tech comfort level and what devices they use. Here's an honest comparison:
Google Photos Shared Album
Best for most familiesPros
✓ Free and unlimited storage for shared albums
✓ Works on Android and iPhone
✓ Family members can add their own photos to the album
✓ Easy to download individual photos or the whole album
✓ No app required to view — works via browser link
Cons
• Requires a Google account to add photos (not to view)
• Some older family members find it confusing
Setup: Create a shared album in Google Photos, enable 'Collaborative album' so family can add photos, and share the link via email or text.
iCloud Shared Album
Best for Apple-only familiesPros
✓ Free, built into iPhone/iPad/Mac
✓ Family members can add photos and comments
✓ Notifications when new photos are added
Cons
• Android users can only view, not participate
• Doesn't work well for mixed Android/iPhone families
Setup: Create a shared album in the Photos app on iPhone. Invite participants via email. Share the public link for viewing only.
Facebook Private Group or Album
Best for families already on FacebookPros
✓ Most family members already have accounts
✓ Comments and reactions create engagement
✓ Easy for older family members who use Facebook daily
Cons
• Not everyone is on Facebook or wants to be
• Facebook's algorithm may hide posts from some members
• Privacy concerns for some family members
Setup: Create a private Facebook group or a shared album in an existing family group. Post photos directly or link to Google Photos.
Dropbox or Google Drive folder
Best for high-quality full-resolution sharingPros
✓ Full resolution, no compression
✓ Excellent for professional photographer gallery distribution
✓ Easy to download entire folder
Cons
• Less interactive — no comments or reactions
• Requires more technical comfort to navigate
Setup: Create a shared folder, upload all photos, and share the link. Password protect if preferred.
Shutterfly shared site
Best if you want to order prints or photo booksPros
✓ Free shared site with a clean gallery
✓ Family members can order prints directly
✓ Good for creating a photo book afterward
Cons
• Shutterfly shows ads and upsells
• Requires creating a Shutterfly account to upload
Setup: Create a free Shutterfly Share Site, upload photos, and invite family members via email.
Getting Photos from Reluctant Family Members
You hired a professional photographer for the formal shots — but the candid moments that capture the real spirit of the reunion often live on family members' phones. Getting those photos shared requires the right approach.
Set up the shared album before the event and share the link in the welcome packet
If the shared album exists and the link is in the welcome packet, it dramatically lowers the activation energy to contribute. Family members can add photos the same day, while it's easy and they're motivated.
Make a specific announcement at the event
'We have a Google Photos album for everyone to share their photos. The link is in your welcome packet and we'll email it out this week — please add any photos you take!' A verbal announcement creates awareness that an email link can't.
Ask specific people, not the whole group
'I saw you taking photos during the trivia game — would you be willing to share those to the album?' gets a yes more often than 'everyone please share photos.' Specific asks convert; broadcast requests get ignored.
Give a timeline for the professional photos
Tell attendees when to expect professional photos — usually 1-4 weeks. Set the expectation so no one is asking you every day. When the gallery arrives, send it to the full attendee list with clear download instructions.
For iPhone users: offer to AirDrop
If you're physically near an iPhone user with great photos, offer to AirDrop them directly to a shared device and upload them for that person. Removing the 'I need to figure out how to do this' barrier gets photos you'd otherwise never see.
🚀 With Reunly
Share your reunion link — not just photos
Reunly gives your family a single link to the event details, RSVP status, and — after the event — to your shared photo gallery.
Printed Photo Books: Creating a Lasting Physical Memory
Digital albums are convenient — but a physical photo book is something family members will keep for decades. For reunions with strong traditions, a printed memory book elevates the event into a keepsake. Here's how to pull it off without it becoming a 6-month project:
Collect photos before you close the shared album
Keep the shared album open for 2 weeks after the event. After that, curate the best 40-60 photos for the book. More than 60 pages makes the book expensive and difficult to finish.
Decide on the level of effort
Shutterfly and Snapfish have easy-to-use templates that can produce a finished book in 2-3 hours. Canva gives you more control but takes longer. Google Photos can export a photo book directly to print services.
Order early to avoid rush shipping costs
Photo book services offer significant discounts for standard shipping. Order at least 3-4 weeks before you need the books. Rush orders can cost 2-3x the standard price.
Decide how many copies to order
One per family branch is typical. For a reunion with 8 family branches, that's 8 copies. Many services offer bulk discounts at 5+ copies. Announce you're making books and take pre-orders to determine quantity.
Build Something Worth Photographing
Reunly helps you plan a reunion your family will want to remember — and come back for next year.
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