If your team still shares work photos through chats or emails, you’re wasting time and losing organization. I’ve spent years helping field teams solve this problem and tested every major tool out there.

Here’s what actually works — four effective ways to create shared albums, including my top pick for professionals: Timemark.

1. iCloud Shared Albums — Best for iPhone Users

If you and your team use iPhones to take photos, Apple Photos (or “iCloud Photos”) is one of the easiest ways to create and manage shared albums. It’s built right into every iPhone and iPad and Mac, so you don’t need to install anything extra.

How to Create a Shared Album on iPhone

  1. Sign in to your apple account
  2. Open the Photos app.
  3. Tap the Albums tab at the bottom.
  4. Tap the “+” icon in the top-left corner and select New Shared Album.
  5. Name your album and tap Next.
  6. Add the contacts you want to share with (they’ll need an Apple ID).
  7. Once created, tap Add Photos or Videos to start uploading.

Pros of Apple Photos (iCloud Shared Albums)

  1. Seamless Integration Across Apple Devices：
  2. Built-in and Easy to Use
  3. Private and Secure
  4. Supports Comments and Likes

Cons of Apple Photos (iCloud Shared Albums)

  1. Apple Ecosystem Only
  2. Limited Storage Space
  3. Basic Organization Tools
  4. No Advanced Collaboration Features

2. Google Photos — Convenient but Not Without Limits

If your team all use google accounts to handle work — Google Photos is one of the most accessible options for creating and sharing albums. It’s cloud-based, easy to use, and integrates smoothly with Google Drive and Gmail.

How to Create a Shared Album in Google Photos

  1. Download the Google Photos app or sign in the google.com/photos.
  2. Click or tap “Albums” → “Create album.”
  3. Add photos or videos you’d like to share.
  4. Select the “Share” button (the three-dot or link icon).
  5. Choose to invite people by email, phone number, or generate a shareable link.
  6. Turn on collaboration if you want others to upload their photos, too.

Pros of Google Photos

  1. Cross-platform compatibility
  2. Smart search and AI organization
  3. Collaboration-friendly
  4. Easy integration

Cons of Google Photos

  1. Counts toward Google storage quota
  2. Limited folder-level organization
  3. Privacy control can be tricky
  4. Compression for backups

3. OneDrive — Secure but Geared Toward File Sharing

If your team already uses Microsoft 365 or works primarily on Windows, OneDrive can also be used to share work photos. While it’s not a dedicated photo app like Google Photos or Apple Photos, it offers reliable cloud storage, built-in security, and flexible sharing options.

How to Create a Shared Album (Folder) in OneDrive

  1. Go to onedrive.live.com or open the OneDrive app.
  2. Click “+ New” → “Folder.”
  3. Name the folder (for example, “Project Photos – October”).
  4. Upload your work photos or drag them in directly.
  5. Hover over the folder name, click “Share.”‍
  6. Choose whether people can view or can edit, and send the invite link to your team.

Pros of OneDrive

  1. Strong integration with Microsoft 365
  2. Advanced permission control
  3. Secure and compliant
  4. Version history and file recovery

Cons of OneDrive

  1. Not designed for photos specifically
  2. Requires Microsoft account login
  3. Limited real-time collaboration on media
  4. Storage depends on plan

4.  Timemark — Optimized for Worksite Photo Management

For teams managing field projects, construction, cleaning, or property inspections, Timemark is a tool built specifically to handle work photos. Unlike general cloud services, it allows you to capture, organize, and share photos with timestamps, locations, and project-specific tags — all in one system

How to Create a Shared Album in Timemark

  1. Open the Timemark app on your mobile device or log in to the web dashboard.
  2. Create a new project or select an existing one.
  3. Upload or take photos directly from the app — each photo is automatically tagged with time and location.
  4. Automatically organizes photos by project, team member, or category.
  5. Share the album with teammates — they can view, download, and add photos based on permission settings.
  6. You can export photos as PDF, Excel, or KMZ reports for clients or internal use — or simply share a link to display your photos.

Pros of Timemark

  1. Purpose-built for work photos
  2. Offline functionality
  3. Organized and searchable
  4. Professional reporting
  5. Cross-device access

Cons of Timemark

  1. Subscription required for team features
  2. Smaller ecosystem

Summery

Shared albums make work photos easier to organize and share. While Apple Photos, Google Photos, and OneDrive all work, Timemark stands out for field teams — with automatic timestamps, project organization, and easy reporting, it keeps your team’s photos efficient and professional.

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