The world is constantly changing, and methods to photo share and preserve are no exception. Where memory preservation used to be a long, difficult and even arduous process, it’s now often as easy as the touch of a button or two.

If you’re feeling left behind of how to organize, share and preserve photos, you’re not the only one. The world of technology moves faster than you can say “I found this cool new app,” so find and preserve your precious memories with these six tools:

1. Instagram

With all its filters and fancy settings, you might think Instagram is just another way to share your latest accomplishment or delicious meal. More than that, though, Instagram has opened the world of tech journaling and family history for thousands of people. Useful apps, such as Chatbooks, use your already uploaded and captioned Instagram photos to create a type of journal or photo book you can print, store online or share with loved ones.

2. The cloud

Many companies and platforms take advantage of “the cloud” to store large numbers of photos, videos and other memories. Here are some examples of the apps and platforms available to you:

• Amazon Prime Photos (unlimited storage with Prime membership)
• Dropbox (buy photo/video/data storage in a secure cloud location)
• Flickr (videos are limited to three minutes)
• Shutterfly (offers photo book designs and compilation, along with storage)

  Many platforms offer a certain amount of free storage when you sign up, and you can either buy or earn more. The exception is Amazon Prime, which offers unlimited photo storage with the purchase of a Prime membership. 3. A journaling app

Many people own one or more external hard drives, as they are useful for freeing computer storage space. Photos, videos and digital content can all be stored on these devices. However, they aren’t impervious to age or decay. With that in mind, mobile and web apps like Day One or JRNL frees up physical space and also utilize your social media sites and photos to leave no stone unturned in daily journaling.

4. Digital picture frames

The cost of printing is about the same as ever if you want a certain level of quality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the digital age to your advantage. Digital picture frames come in all shapes and prices and display photos without the cost of printing, framing and hanging. They also serve well as a space-saver to display many photos at once while taking only the space of a coffee table book.

5. Automatic memory-saving platforms

One thing many people have in common is their use of social media. Whether you use one or several of the common platforms, they probably represent a fairly accurate record of your life and its important events. Photos, journaling and interaction with other people can all be documented by cataloging social media activity. For example, Timehop is a service that shows you social media posts from the past. Simply sign up, and you've got unlimited access to content on your mobile devices.

6. Family history apps

The technology industry has made recent advancements into the family history field, making preservation of photos, videos and other content simple. You don’t have to be a family history expert to enjoy using some of the most recent apps that are on display at this year’s Innovator Summit, hosted by Roots Tech. Learn more about the latest innovators in technological memory preservation and how you can access these tools at the Innovator Showdown.

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