How to Use Shared Photo Streams in iOS 6

Sharing photos from the iPhone is even easier thanks to Shared Photo Streams in iOS 6.

In addition to the standard Photo Stream that syncs iPhone and iPad photos between devices, iOS 6 allows users to create a shared Photo Stream with specific photos.

This beats posting photos to Facebook or emailing photos because it lets users continually add new photos to the shared Photo Stream.

Shared Photo Streams make sharing photos of a subject simple.

Users can share a Photo Stream with specific users, keeping photos private, or make the Photo Stream public on iCloud with a link that can be plate to Facebook and Twitter or emailed. This link displays the photos on the web on Mac or PC.

When sharing a Photo Stream with a friend using an iPhone or iPad, they will be able to subscribe to the Photo Stream to get updates on their device.

Why Use a Shared Photo Stream

The Shared Photo Stream allows users to leave comments on photos and like photos, just as on Facebook, but users don’t need a Facebook membership.

This type of sharing is perfect for events or subjects like pets, babies and kids.

Shared Photo Streams include notifications.

With the Shared Photo Stream, I can add photos as they happen and users will receive notifications or can simply check online to see new photos when they have time.

Sample new photo identification.

I can imagine friends with kids using something like this to share their child’s progress through the early years up til college graduation, with friends and family. The best part is grandma and grandpa only need to be able to click a link in an email and favorite the page to constantly get new photos.

New photos added to a Shared Photo Stream in iOS 6.

If the recipient subscribes on an iPhone or iPad, it will provide a notification when a new photo is added.

How to Share a Photo Stream in iOS 6

Open Settings.

Scroll down to Photos & Camera.

How to turn on Shared Photo Streams.

Slide the toggle to On for Shared Photo Streams.

Once this is turned on users can share a Photo Stream from the Photos app.

To share a single photo, open the photo and then tap on the small share icon at the bottom of the screen. From there tap on Photo Stream.

Choose Photo Steam to share.

To share multiple photos, Edit in the upper right-hand corner, then select the photos you wish to share. Once all the photos are selected, tap the share icon and choose Photo Stream.

To share to a new Shared Photo Stream, tap on New Photo Stream.

Choose the recipients of an invitation, and to make the link public or private.

Next, enter the email address of the people you like to share with and choose if the photos should be public.

Be sure to make the link public if you want to share the Photo Stream on Facebook or Twitter.

To Share additional photos to the PhotoStream, follow the steps above, and tap on an existing Photo Stream. Subscribers will see a notification when new photos are added.

The creator can add photos, but not viewers.

The new photos will show up at the top of the list on the web, and at the bottom of the Photo Stream on an iPhone or iPad. New photos feature a new tag, similar to the new apps tag.