5 Creative Ideas for Your Travel Photos

If you’re like me, you probably have a TON of photos from your travels. I post a few of my best travel photos on my social accounts, but what happens to the photos that didn’t make it to Instagram?

Here are five creative ideas that I personally use for my plethora of travel photos:

1. Sell Your Travel Photos

I’ve uploaded a lot of photos to Foap over the years. And I’ve sold seven. It’s not a huge number, but it’s still really fun to wake up to an email that I’ve sold a photo! Also, the photos I’ve sold are completely random (think a picture of eggs, tea, messy closet, etc.).

Foap is an app for iPhone and Android that allows users to upload and sell photos from their smart phone. Basically, the standard photos are sold under non-exclusive license for $10, and the user gets to keep $5. And photos can sell over and over again. In addition to standard photos, users can create albums and earn a small commission ($.25) off any photo that sells from that album (albums can contain other users’ photos, too). Occasionally brands host challenges, or missions, where a call for images is made, with a higher bounty for the winner (usually around $100).

The key to Foap is adding a lot of photos, which can take about a minute per photo to upload and tag appropriately. Payout is via PayPal and occurs the first of the month, a full month after your photo sells.

2. Professionally Frame Your Photos

I’ve had three prints framed by Framebridge and have been very happy with the results. It’s also super easy to use, and very convenient.

Framebridge is super easy to use. First, choose what type of item to frame and then you can upload a picture of the art to see what it would look like in the frame (or use their sample art). Next, it’s time to customize; pick a frame, let a designer choose a frame, pick a size, etc. Once the frame choice is made, order a mail pack to send in the art (unless it’s uploaded, of course), and leave notes for the designer.

A few weeks after mailing in the art, a confirmation email and a follow up with any questions will be sent. If all is well, another email will be sent with tracking info about a week later and the art is on the way.

In addition to receiving the framed art, Framebridge also provides hanging hardware as well as a hand-written note from your designer.

To save 15% off your first order, use code SolesTraveling. (Disclaimer: I get a small referral fee.)

3. Create Tile Magnets or Mosaics

ImageSnap is another cool service I’ve used. Print individual tiles for magnets, coasters, or just hanging or get creative and make a mosaic table or tile wall. For $4, you can create 2×2 tiles that come with optional magnet adhesive stickers, or check out other sizes like a 6×6 for $18 or a slab (which measures 12×12 and weighs 5 pounds!) for $35. ImageSnap also sells accessories for your tiles like frames, glue, cork backs, etc. and offers bulk discounts.

Uploading your photos is a snap (haha, get it?); either import from your Instagram account or upload from your device. Shipping is free with a minimum order and my order was process pretty quickly (about a week).

4. Donate Your Photos to Charity

Use your photos to give back by donating them to a cause. Johnson & Johnson created the “Donate a Photo” app where J&J will donate $1 to the charity of your choice for every photo you upload. Pick the cause from a list of pre-selected and vetted charities, and easily donate one photo to one cause, once per day. Donated photos will not be used commercially, but can be used to help promote the app and the app is available for both Android and iOS.

 

5. Create a Photo Book

A photo book can make for a perfect keepsake to capture vacation memories, and also makes a great gift! Deciding to Create Your Own Photo Book is a great way to keep all of your favorite holiday snaps in one place, and it makes it so much easier to look at them and reminisce about your trip whenever you wish. There are so many places that allow you to do this. I’ve used Shutterfly to print many keepsakes like calendars, postcards, and books. Uploads are very easy; upload from your computer or import your social accounts. Designing is easy, too, either design yourself or for $9.99 you can hire a Shutterfly Professional to create a professionally designed book (which is also a time saver).

Photobooks start at $19.99 for a 20 page, 8×8 hardcover book, or you can click here to get your first photobook free (disclaimer: referral code).

Have another cool idea for your travel photos? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a Tweet.