Before You Begin

Required Permission

Everyone

Intended Audience

• Seniors
• Older Australians
• Technology beginners

Prerequisites

• Getting Comfortable with Technology
• Understanding Your Device
• Connecting to the Internet
• Staying in Touch
• Internet Basics
• Staying Safe Online

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• Take clear photos using your device.
• Find and organise your photos.
• Create photo albums.
• Delete unwanted photos.
• Back up your memories safely.
• Share photos with family and friends.

Main Content

Welcome

Photos help us remember life's most important moments.

Whether it's family gatherings, holidays, grandchildren, pets or beautiful sunsets, your phone or tablet makes it easy to capture memories that you can enjoy for years to come.

This guide will teach you how to manage your photos so they're easy to find, protected from loss and simple to share.

What You'll Learn

In this module you'll learn:

• How to take photos
• Where your photos are stored
• Creating albums
• Deleting unwanted photos
• Backing up your memories
• Sharing photos safely

Lesson 1 — Taking a Photo

Almost every smartphone and tablet has a built-in Camera app.

To take a photo:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Hold your device steady.
3. Point the camera at your subject.
4. Tap the white shutter button.

Your photo is automatically saved.

Don't worry if the first photo isn't perfect—it's free to take another!

Lesson 2 — Finding Your Photos

Your photos are usually stored in an app called:

• Photos
• Gallery
• Camera Roll

Open the app to view your collection.

Most devices display your newest photos first.

You can scroll through your pictures or search by date.

Lesson 3 — Organising Your Photos

As you take more photos, it becomes harder to find the ones you're looking for.

Creating albums helps keep everything organised.

For example, you could create albums called:

• Family
• Holidays
• Grandchildren
• Pets
• Gardening
• Birthdays
• Christmas

Albums don't create extra copies—they simply organise your existing photos.

Lesson 4 — Editing Your Photos

Most devices allow you to make simple improvements.

You can often:

• Crop a photo
• Straighten it
• Make it brighter
• Improve the colours
• Remove unwanted edges

Don't worry—you can usually undo your changes if you're not happy with the result.

Lesson 5 — Deleting Unwanted Photos

Not every photo is worth keeping.

It's perfectly normal to delete:

• Blurry photos
• Duplicate photos
• Accidental screenshots
• Photos you no longer need

Removing unwanted photos helps free up storage space.

Lesson 6 — Understanding Storage

Every photo uses a small amount of storage on your device.

If your device says it's running out of storage, you can:

• Delete unwanted photos.
• Move photos to cloud storage.
• Copy them to a computer.
• Save them to an external hard drive.

Keeping your storage organised helps your device run more smoothly.

Lesson 7 — Backing Up Your Photos

A backup is an extra copy of your photos stored somewhere safe.

Popular backup options include:

• iCloud Photos
• Google Photos
• Microsoft OneDrive
• Your computer
• An external hard drive

Backing up your photos means you'll still have them if your phone is lost, damaged or replaced.

Lesson 8 — Sharing Photos

Sharing photos with family is one of the best parts of owning a smartphone.

You can share photos using:

• Text messages
• Email
• WhatsApp
• Facebook Messenger

Simply select the photo, tap Share, then choose the app you'd like to use.

Always double-check you're sending the photo to the correct person.

Lesson 9 — Keeping Your Photos Private

Some photos contain personal information.

Before sharing, think about:

• Who will see the photo?
• Does it contain private documents?
• Are there children in the photo?
• Would you be happy if others saw it?

It's always okay to keep personal memories private.

Lesson 10 — Looking After Precious Memories

Many people lose years of photos because they never backed them up.

A simple habit can protect your memories:

• Turn on automatic photo backup.
• Check occasionally that your backup is working.
• Keep another copy on a computer or external drive if possible.

Your memories are often irreplaceable.

Practice Activity

Complete these simple tasks:

✅ Take five new photos.

✅ Find them in your Photos app.

✅ Delete one unwanted photo.

✅ Create a new photo album.

✅ Add three photos to the album.

✅ Share one photo with a trusted family member.

Tips for Success

✔ Keep your camera lens clean.

✔ Hold your device with both hands for clearer photos.

✔ Take several photos and keep the best one.

✔ Back up your photos regularly.

✔ Organise your albums every few months.

Summary

Your phone or tablet isn't just a communication device—it's also your digital photo album.

By learning how to organise, protect and share your photos, you'll be able to enjoy your favourite memories whenever you like.

A few simple habits today can help ensure your precious photos are never lost.

Key Takeaways

• Photos are automatically saved to your Photos or Gallery app.
• Albums make your photo collection easier to organise.
• Backing up your photos protects them from loss.
• Deleting unwanted photos frees up storage space.
• Always think carefully before sharing personal photos.

Next Module

➡ Everyday Apps

Discover useful apps that can make everyday life easier, from weather forecasts and maps to banking, Medicare and myGov services.

Need a Hand?

Need help organising thousands of photos or setting up automatic backups? Troubleshoot IT offers friendly, one-on-one support to help you protect your memories, free up storage space and confidently use your phone, tablet or computer.