Put your digital photos on your computer

There are a couple of staff members whom have been wanting to learn this for a while, but our schedules keep conflicting so I thought this would help.... Many of you already know how to do this, but maybe I can show you a few tips and tricks along the way. This topic is for Microsoft Windows users, not Mac. Sorry.

Every digital camera has a method of sending its photos to your computer. Usually, this is via the USB cord. This may or may not be included with your camera.

First of all, your camera has to be on. Some models have to be switched to "Play" mode, or the mode that lets you review your photos rather than shooting a new one. Here are some images of where your Play button may be, you will notice it's usually the same "right arrow" symbol in a box on most brands of camera.



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Connect your camera to your computer with the USB cable. Some cameras have different types of USB cords than others, and they usually come with the camera. Here is what yours may look like:



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The USB port on MOST cameras will look like this. If not, you would have gotten a certain cable with your camera matching the port.

The locations of the port on the camera will vary.



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Your computer should recognize the camera when it is connected, usually with a pop up Autoplay box. This asks you what you would like to do with the files on your camera. It will look like this:



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OK, these next instructions will be based solely upon my opinion. I like to do things a certain way, because I've found them to be the easiest and fastest.

When you plug your camera in, you may have different programs wanting to "dominate" and take over. Just close them. Adobe Photo Album Starter is infamous for that. It likes to get in and run your life, just like google. So, just close any other popup program that automatically starts, except for the autoplay box shown above.

If you do NOT get an autoplay popup as shown above, but your camera is turned on, turned to PLAY, and connected to your computer, it may take just a bit if it's the first time. If you have waited patiently with arms folded for over 30 seconds and still nothing? Try going into My Computer. You will see your drives, plus any external storage device (camera) that is hooked to your computer.



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If you see your camera there, double click it to get to the files.

Depending on what camera you have, you may see the DCIM folder. Open that up. If not, you'll just have to explore to see where your photos are.



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Inside the DCIM folder, you'll see different folders containing the different groups of photos, probably in groups of 100.



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Open that up, and you'll see your photos. Here, you can view which photos you'd like to download to your computer, and specify exactly where you want them. If you want them moved to your computer, but REMOVED from your camera, you will want to CUT. If you want them COPIED to your computer so they remain on your camera, select COPY. You will eventually have to empty your card to take more photos though.



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I just moved them to the Desktop. You may want to move them to My Pictures, and possibly create some subfolders there for certain events or dates.



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So that is how I move my photos from my camera to my computer.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THIS, but I do not like them. Of course, you are free to choose. If you would like to use the Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard, go a head and try it out. It may work better for you and your computer.

I do not like the way that Adobe starts loading them to my computer, basically without my permission. I also don't like the lack of control I have of where they go. Sure, I could go into the Settings and configure it each time, but I'd rather send a few photos here, and a few there for different events.

In the end, when you plug in your camera and you open the folder to view the files, this is probably all within 5 seconds. It looks like a lot of steps above, but don't let the multiple images discourage you.

If you'd rather choose some other methods, I would appreciate your different points of view, and maybe we can all learn from them. Please leave your feedback.

Thanks!

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