Friday, May 8, 2015

How to Email Your Videos to Friends and Family.

I am not very technologically savvy.  In fact, it is a challenge for me to keep this website running smoothly.  You may have noticed that for the past few days the background of this blog was black. (!!!) I have been corresponding on the Blogger Help forum to try to figure out how to fix it . . . but I still don't have it repaired quite right yet!



My technological ignorance is not just limited to web pages.  For years, I have wanted to email the videos I've taken at my children’s events to far-away family, but I could never figure out how.  

In the past, whenever I tried to email a video of a sporting event or musical performance, I have met with frustration. It seemed the videos files were too large, and therefore could not be sent.  Does this sound like a familiar problem?


This photo of a video is from my phone. Without using Google Drive, I would have no idea how to share this with anyone!

My options for sharing videos long-distance used to be:

  • uploading the video to Facebook or Youtube (not something I have always wanted to do!)  
  • burning them to a CD and sending it through the mail.
  • waiting for an opportunity to show them in person. 

Recently though, I discovered a way to successfully email a video to friends and family! 

Though far from being an expert in these matters, I am sharing what I know here today - with the hope
that perhaps it will help someone who has struggled like me.

If you create a google account on Google Drive, it is quite easy to send and share videos.
With Google Drive, you get 15 GB free storage, and can purchase additional free cloud storage if you fill that up and need more. Once files are loaded to Google Drive, you can create links to them, which you can then share with friends and family.  

Here's How: 

  • Load the video on to your computer from your memory card or phone.
  • Click New.
  • Click File upload.
  • Find the file you wish to upload on your computer, and click Choose.
 For example, I opened my iPhoto, highlighted the video of a talent show performance that I had stored there, and then clicked, “choose.” 
  • At the bottom of the screen, a box appears with the words, “uploading one item”.  Wait until the MB bar is completely filled in with blue, and the words “Uploads completed” appear. Note: This can take quite a while, depending on the size of the file. 
  • Find the file you just uploaded to Google Drive in My Drive.  Once a thumbnail photo appears at left (with an arrow in a circle), the video can be viewed.  This may take some additional time, after the file is uploaded.
  • To rename the file, so you can find it in the future:
  1. Highlight the file by clicking on it.
  2. Click on the three vertical dots at top of screen. (If you hover over these, the phrase more actions appears.)
  3. Click Rename file
  4. Type your new title and click ok.
  • To share the video, highlight the file in My Drive, then click on the link icon at the top of the page. A URL specific to that file will appear. Highlight and copy this link, then email it to whomever you choose. Note: you can adjust the sharing settings as per how you wish the recipients of the link to be able to use the file. 
Once your friend or family receives your email, they just simply need to click on the link or paste it in their browser, to be able to view the video.

There may be easier ways to do send a video, but this is the solution I have found that works for me. Next time you want to share a video, I hope you find this helpful.



How do you share your videos? Do you have any helpful suggestions? 
Please leave them in the comments below!


This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

14 comments :

  1. Thank you, thank you for sharing this info Susan! I've always uploaded them to YouTube which is a pain - this will be so much better! My background was doing weird things too, but today it seems to be okay. Have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!

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    1. I hope my directions are clear Lana - and that it works for you. Let me know if you have any questions or trouble uploading a video when you try it. And, yes - I think Blogger was having some issues ... I may have been better just waiting for them to fix it than trying to correct the problem on my own. Forturnately, I think I finally figured it out.

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  2. Thank you.
    I am also sadly lacking in eptness on the technological front. And happy to learn.

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    1. I resisted learning much about computers for quite some time - but I have to admit, html code is actually a little fascinating to me now!!

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  3. Happy Saturday, Susan! Have you tried a program called "Dropbox"? It's kind of slick to. You just put things on your computer and slide them into the dropbox image and send to others who have that program. It's free and it's easy. I will also try your method. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks Lynn - I will have to check DropBox out too! Happy Mother's Day weekend!!

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  4. Oh...and most of all...have a very Happy Mother's Day tomorrow! I know your family will show you how much they appreciate what a good wife, mother and person you are!

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    1. And the same to you!! Hope you will be with kids and grandkids tomorrow :)

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  5. Great tip Susan! I had no idea how to do that! Perfect timing for me too! Happy Mother's Day to you!

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    1. Thank you Mrs.McDaniel & Mrs.Susan that was very helpful. If you have any more helpful lessons on the Google + on how to use & work the ins & out of it please Help me I don't know ho we to really share things blog pm I don't know anything about the hash tag so please help me thanks & HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to the both of you

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    2. My name is Anthony Warlaw who wrote that last blog

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    3. Let me know if you have any questions, Rena. And Anthony, I am glad you found this helpful too. My suggestion would be to join a new bloggers community on Google + (a lot of good ideas are often shared there). As far as hashtags go - I am the wrong person to ask!

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  6. I never thought to use Google Drive for this. I just discovered; however, that I have used up most of my storage space, and will now have to pay. Not because of videos...it is just my files that I store there that I share back and forth. :( Thanks for the tip though...this will come in handy. Sorry for the late visit from last week's #FoodieFriDIY...I had a rough week and got behind. I hope you will join us this week as well, and I will be sharing this!

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    1. Sorry to hear you have filled up your Google Drive. It is amazing how much we accumulate, even in the cloud, isn't it Michelle! I love #Foodie FriDIY and I will visit whenever I can. And no worries about being late - I totally understand how easy it is to fall behind!!!

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