How to send pictures to my mother in the USA.
I often get the following questions:
- I live in Europe and I’d like to send photos and videos of my family to my mother in USA. What are my options ?
There are several ways to proceed.
If you have only few pictures, you can send the pictures attached on an email. But if you have many, I might crash the email system of your mother. She would have to call her internet provider to reset her mailbox. Nobody want to freak their parents with such problems.
Image servers
There are other ways. You can upload your image on an image server and give the link for your mother to download it. The most known services are Picasa www.picasa.com and Snagfish www.snagfish.com . These services are free. But your mother will need to download the photos one by one. This can be long.
Use a file transfer service
You can also use a file transfer service like www.yousendit.com . It’s easy to use. It cost bout 5 to 10 $ depending on which service you use.
1- you create an account and upload your pictures on their server
2- you email your mother with a link to your files
3- your mother needs to download the pictures from there
Your mother will still have to download the pictures, but at least, it will not be one by one, as it is on an image server.
Burn a CD yourself
The only way to keep your mother away from any downloading, is to send her a CD or DVD.
You can burn a CD or DVD with the pictures on it. Then, your mother can play them in her DVD player and look at this on TV (most DVD player built after 2003 will play .jpg pictures and .mpg videos). She can also take the CD to a place where they can make prints for her (mostly any drugstore).
First, you will have to get a blank CD (a 10 CD packs is about 20$ or 10 Euros). Then you need a CD mailing package ( about 4 $ at an office supply store). You will need to go to the post office and get proper postage (about 5$ from Europe to USA). Than, delivery will vary from 5 to 20 days.
Also, you need to fill a duty declaration form. You can get it at your post office. You enter a 1$ value for the CD and it should go trough US custom without problem. But some CDs can be delayed there: US custom agent like to sneak to make sure there are no illegal stuff on the CD. Customs will always be responsible for a possible delay.
Use a CD burning service based in the USA
If you do not want to burn a CD yourself, or get CD packaging or bring your package to a post office, you still have an option. You can also beat the long delivery delay and custom delays.
You can use a CD burning service in USA. Among others, www.shipyourdata.com offers regular and express service.
1- You upload your files on their server
2- You enter your mother address
3- They burn your CD right away
4- You chose between regular 3 days (29$) or express (69$) next day delivery service
You can also add a cover letter for your package.
Conclusion
Sending pictures to family and friends can be a very nice gift idea for Christmas. And if you are late, there are ways to do it fast.