Signing Up
1. How do I sign up for an account?
Signing up for an account is easy! You can find "Create a Page" or "Sign Up" links on the homepage or the navigation if you are logged out. Join Fotolog now!
2. Why do you need my email address?
We need your email address to verify the account. It also acts as a way to contact you in case you need assistance or we need to discuss your account with you.
3. Can I use my friend's email address?
We discourage people using their friend’s accounts because communication can get difficult or fail entirely.
4. How long do I have to validate my account?
You have 7 days to validate your account. At the end of the seventh day, your account is deleted and that username is opened up for someone else to use.
5. What if my hometown isn't available?
If your location isn’t available, please pick the closest possible location. We tried to include every possible place, but it’s a very big world and borders are changing all the time.
6. I have impaired vision; do you offer an alternative to the CAPTCHA?
We have no alternative to the CAPTCHA at the moment, so we recommend asking a friend or family member for assistance. If this option isn’t open to you, please feel free to contact us using the "Help" link available on top right corner of every page.
7. What should I keep in mind while picking out a password?
Your password is the key to your entire account and we require a password to be entered in order to make changes. Here are some tips you can use to pick a good password:
* The longer your password, the more secure it is.
* Avoid using dictionary words. Phrases or sentences ("I really like pie" = irl314) can keep your password from being easily guessed through information on your account.
* Do not use any part of your username in your password and also avoid obvious number combinations (123, 654).
8. Can I share my password with my friends?
Even if they are your friends, you probably should not share your account password with anyone. If your friend wants to use Fotolog, they should get their own account and enjoy it for themselves!
Your Fotolog Page
1. Why can't I see my page?
Once you upload your first photo, your page will become visible.
2. How do I look at older pictures on my account?
By logging in and going into your archive. You can find your archive in two places: in the navigation bar and just above your most recent pictures.
3. How do I edit a photo or caption?
If you are logged in, you can click on the "Edit" link beneath your photos. That will take you directly to your archive page.
4. Is there any way to avoid seeing advertisement on my page?
Yes. If you upgrade to Gold Camera membership, ads will not be displayed on your page.
5. What is a permalink?
A permalink is a link to a specific picture in a member’s account. They’re found right below the picture and labeled accordingly. Permalinks can be used to share pictures with friends or bookmark certain pictures in an account for your own viewing.
6. Can I use permalinks to host content?
Permalinks cannot be used to host content.
7. What does the "Report photo" link do?
The "Report photo" link flags the picture in question as being a violation of the terms of use or the community guidelines. This will alert Fotolog admins to take action.
Customization
1. What parts of my page can I customize?
You can customize the title and the colors of your page. You can choose to display your profile photo and an excerpt of your bio, if you wish. If you’re a Gold Camera member, you can also upload a custom banner that will be seen on the top of your page and change your background image.
2. How can I change the colors of my page?
To adjust the colors of your page, follow these steps:
1. Sign in to your Fotolog account.
2. Click the "Account" link at the top of the page.
3. Go to the "Page Design" tab.
4. Under "Colors and Background Image" you will see fields for changing your background, text and link colors for the main and side areas of your page.
* Pick a color from the RGB box by clicking on the square of the desired color.
* Pick one of the named colors (the name will show in the box when your mouse hovers over it).
* Move the sliders to the desired color.
5. At the bottom of the page click the "Update" button to save the changes.
3. How do I change my background image?
Background images are a Gold Camera member only feature. Here's how to change your background image:
1. Sign in to your Fotolog account.
2. Click the "Account" link at the top of the page.
3. Go to the "Page Design" tab.
4. Under "Colors and Background Image" you will see a Side Background Image gallery. Browse through the gallery and choose your favorite background image.
5. At the bottom of the page click the "Update" button to save the changes.
4. Can I use special characters in my title?
You can use special characters in the title but it can occasionally cause glitches in your account and so we don’t recommend it.
5. How do I change the language settings?
If you are logged in, you can go to the "Profile" tab of your account to change your default language. If you are logged out, you can go to the language page by clicking on "Language" at the upper right corner of any page. The language link is also within the footer of every page.
6. Why don't you offer my language?
We’re adding new languages as quickly as we can, but the world is very big. Let us know what language you’re looking for; we might have it in our plans already.
7. Can I change the font or size of my text?
Unfortunately, no.
8. Can I use bold/italic/underline in my text?
Yes! You can use bold, italic, or underline by using [b]text[/b], [i]text[/i], or [u]text[/u].
9. How do I make a custom banner?
Your banner can be as large as 920px wide and 100px high. It must be a JPG, PNG, GIF, TIF or BMP, and less than 2MB. You can make your banner with graphics programs like Photoshop. If you don't have one already, we recommend freeware graphics programs such as GIMP, or online graphics editing programs like Pixlr.
10. Why can’t I upload a custom banner on my page?
There are two reasons why you might not be able to upload a custom banner:
1. You’re not a Gold Camera member.
2. The dimensions or file size of your image exceeds the maximum stated.
11. How can I upload a custom banner on my page?
First, find the custom banner you want to upload. See question 9 above for more information on making custom banners.
To install a custom banner, follow these steps:
1. Sign in to your account.
2. Click the “My Account” link at the top of the page.
3. Go to the “Page Design” tab.
4. Select your photo and scroll down.
5. Enter your password and click “Update.”
Your Photos
1. How do I upload a picture?
Uploading a photo is easy. Follow these steps:
1. Sign into your account.
2. Click the “Upload” link in the navigation.
3. Select your photo, enter a title and comment, and scroll down.
4. Enter your password and click “Update.”
2. How do I upload a profile photo?
Uploading a profile photo is easy. Follow these steps:
1. Sign into your account.
2. Click the “Account” link at the top of the page.
3. On the "Profile" tab, scroll to the "Profile Photo" section.
4. Enter your password and click “Update.”
3. Why can free members only upload one photo a day?
Part of the fun of Fotolog is posting your best photo of the day. So choose carefully!
If you'd like to upload more than one photo in a day, you have two choices: you can upgrade to Gold Camera membership, which lets you upload up to 10 photos a day (plus a lot more), or you can buy additional uploads one at a time. Each additional upload costs one Flodo.
4. Why can't I upload animated gifs or videos?
Fotolog is about photos.
5. Do group uploads count towards my upload limit?
No. As a basic member, you get 3 chances to upload to a group per day in addition to your daily upload.
6. How long can my title be?
Up to 64 characters.
7. How long can my comments be?
At this time, we accept comments of 5000 characters or less, with certain special characters counting as more than one.
8. Can I delete photos?
Yes, by going to your archive or clicking on the "Edit" link below the photo.
9. Why can I only delete 20 pictures a day?
If another person knowingly or unknowingly gets access to your account, they can do a lot of damage. That’s why we put in this rule. We would hate for you to lose your memories because of another person’s mistake.
10. I've deleted a photo - why can't I upload a new one?
Basic members are only allowed one new photo upload per day. If you delete a photo, you will have to wait until the next day to upload a new one - or you can buy additional uploads for one Flodo each.
11. What happens when I replace my photo?
The photo that currently displays on your Fotolog page will be swapped with the new photo. Your title, caption and guestbook comments will remain the same. A timestamp will also be added below the photo title to indicate that you have replaced it. Replacing a photo does not count against your upload limit (1 upload for basic and 10 uploads for Gold Camera members.)
12. Why doesn't my replaced photo move to the top of my RFF's Friends/Favorites lists?
Only newly uploaded photos update the Friends/Favorites list.
Your Profile
1. How many bookmarks can I add to my Fotolog page?
At this time, we have a limit of 50 links.
2. Where does my profile photo show up?
Your profile picture shows up on your Profile page. Depending on your preferences, it can also show up in your mini profile located at the top left of your Fotolog page.
3. Where do my favorite movies/bands/TV shows show up?
All of that information shows up on your Profile page.
Guestbooks
1. Can I choose who can post to my guestbook?
Yes, by going to the Participation & Privacy tab under your account. You can choose to allow no one to use your guestbook, only your friends and favorites, or everyone signed into Fotolog.
2. Can I stop certain members from posting to my guestbook?
Yes. You just have to use the “block” link below their message and this member will not be able to comment in the guestbook of any picture on your account.
3. Why can't non-members post to my guestbook?
In order to keep people from spamming or abusing accounts, we have restricted guestbooks only to signed-in members.
4. How do I delete unwanted guestbook messages?
Simply use the “delete” link beneath any guestbook message to clear it from your page.
5. Can I change how many guestbook comments I can receive?
Basic members can receive 50 guestbook comments per photo. Gold Camera members can receive 200 guestbook comments per photo. This is subject to change, though, as Gold Camera members have what’s called a Last Word feature, which means that they can leave 1 extra comment in an already full guestbook.
6. What is the "Last Word" feature?
The "Last Word" feature is a Gold Camera member feature that allows you to always add one more comment to an already full guestbook.
7. What is a private comment?
A private comment is just like a normal comment - but only the person who wrote it and the person who received it can read it. No one else will see the content of it or see who wrote it.
8. Who can see private comments?
Private comments are only visible to the person who leaves the comment and the owner of the guestbook where the comment was left.
9. How can I leave a private comment?
It works just like any other comment - including adding gifts. Just check the box in the lower-left corner of the guestbook comment form that saysPrivate Comment.
10. Is there any way to make private comments public?
No.
11. Can I see private comments when I'm not logged in to Fotolog?
No, we need to know your identity in order to decide if you can see the comment, so you have to log in to see private comments.
12. What is a reply?
A reply is a way to respond directly to comments left in your guestbook. When you click "reply" under a message and enter a comment, it will be added directly below the original message, and the user who left you the message will receive an email letting him or her know you replied. There's a limit of one reply per comment.
13. Do replies count against the guestbook comment limit?
No.
14. Can other people reply to my replies?
No. The owner of the guestbook can reply to a given comment once, but no further replies are possible.
15. Why can't I make my reply public?
Replies to private comments are always also private. Replies to public comments can be public or private, however.
16. I don't want to get an email every time someone replies to a comment of mine. How can I change that?
You can change the "Receive activity notifications" setting in the Notifications section of your account.
Friends/Favorites
1. What are “Friends/Favorites” or F/F?
“Friends/Favorites” is a list of your favorite members. You can add any individual or group account to your list by clicking on the "Add to Friends/Favorites" link within the profile area of a member page.
2. Why can't I add myself to my Friends/Favorites?
Friends/Favorites is a way of keeping up with others on the site. We figure you can keep up with yourself on your own.
3. Is there a way to control who can add me to their Friends/Favorites list?
Just as you can add anyone to your Friends/Favorites list, any member can add you.
4. Is there a way to choose which of my Friends/Favorites appear on my Fotolog page?
The Friends/Favorites list is sorted automatically so the most recently updated accounts appear at the top.
5. What is “Reverse F/F”?
Reverse F/F is a list of members who have added you as their Friends/Favorite.
6. What is the F/F Mosaic?
The F/F Mosaic is a feature that lets you see the most recent pictures from your Friends/Favorites list. It’s a great way to see all of your favorites at a glance.
7. Is there any way to export the F/F mosaic?
We do not offer this functionality.
Groups
1. What are groups?
Groups are where Fotolog members can join together in appreciation of common subjects like dogs, cats, or even their favorite coffee! Each group has a theme and all the pictures submitted follow the theme. The great part about groups is that you can show your best pictures of all kinds of things to a wide audience that shares your interests.
2. Where can I find groups?
Groups can be found under the “Groups” link in the navigation on any member page.
3. How can I join a group?
There’s no formal “joining” when it comes to Fotolog groups. Any member can upload to any group.
4. How can I upload to a group?
To upload to a group, follow these steps:
1. Sign in to your account.
2. Go to the group you’d like to upload to.
3. Look at the top left of the page and click on the link labeled “Upload a photo to this group”.
5. Is the photo also uploaded to my Fotolog page?
No. Photos uploaded to groups only show up in groups.
6. Can I add favorite groups to my Fotolog page?
Yes. You can add any group by going to their page and clicking on “Add to Friends/Favorites”. Groups will show up below the individual Friends/Favorites on your Fotolog page.
7. Who maintains groups?
Members do! Individual members start up and maintain groups.
8. How do I sign up for my own group?
Once you’re comfortable with how groups work, and have perhaps helped maintain a group or two, you can go to the groups page and click on "Create a Group." Groups are approved by Fotolog administrators, so it might take a couple of days before your group is approved.
9. What are the responsibilities involved with running a group?
Group managers, members just like you, put up and enforce group rules, encourage group members, and deal with off-topic and abusive photos uploaded to groups. It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun too.
Membership Status
1. What's a Gold Camera membership?
A Gold Camera membership is a paid membership that includes more features than the basic membership.
2. What are the benefits of being a Gold Camera member?
Gold Camera benefits include up to 10 photo uploads per day, a custom banner and the ability to leave an extra comment to any full guestbook.Learn more.
3. How do I stop being a Gold Camera member?
If you are using Allopass, your account should expire as long as you don't send in another payment. If you are using a Paypal subscription, you should cancel the subscription. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Make sure that you are signed into your account.
2. Click the "Account" link at the top of the screen.
3. Click the "Gold Camera" tab.
4. In your account status information, click the "Cancel" link to cancel your subscription.
5. Login into your Paypal account and you'll get automatically prompted with your "Subscription Details".
6. Scroll down where you see the "Cancel Subscription" button and click on it. Then you would need to confirm the cancellation by clicking on the "Cancel Subscription" button.
7. Once you see the "This subscription has been cancelled" page, you're done. Make sure to logout from your Paypal account.
8. To see that your subscription got properly cancelled, check the "membership status" on your Fotolog account. You'll see the cancellation listed under transaction history.
4. What is Gold Camera Plus?
Gold Camera Plus is a set of features- 900x200 custom banner, exclusive background patterns, and a special icon- that is only available to Gold Camera members that have continuously renewed their Gold Camera status for 5 weeks or more. In order to keep access to Plus features, each member must continuously renew his or her Gold Camera membership and not let his or her account status revert to unpaid basic membership. If a member with access to Plus features lets his or her Gold Camera membership expire, he or she will lose Plus access. The member must upgrade to Gold Camera again and renew his or her Gold Camera membership continuously for 5 weeks before his or her Plus feature access will be restored.
5. What are the Gold Camera Plus features?
Gold Camera Plus features include: a 900x200 custom banner, exclusive background patterns, and a special Plus-only Gold Camera icon.
6. How do I get access to Gold Camera Plus features?
All members that have had Gold Camera status continuously for 5 weeks will be given access to Gold Camera Plus features- 900x200 custom banner, exclusive background patterns, and a special icon. In order to keep Plus access, each member must continuously renew his or her Gold Camera membership and not let his or her account status revert to unpaid basic membership.
7. What happens if I have access to Gold Camera Plus features and I let my Gold Camera membership expire?
If a member with access to Plus features lets his or her Gold Camera membership expire, he or she will lose Plus access. The member must upgrade to Gold Camera again and renew his or her Gold Camera membership continuously for 5 weeks before his or her Plus feature access will be restored.
8. How do I stop being a Fotolog member?
We are sorry to see you leave but if you really want to close your Fotolog page, please follow these simple steps to close your Fotolog account yourself:
1. Sign in to your Fotolog account.
2. Click the "Account" link at the top of the page and go to the "Account Info" tab.
3. Scroll down to "To permanently close your Fotolog account click here". Click on the link.
4. Once you've clicked on the link, you'll see a page where you'll need to enter your password and confirm the closing of the Fotolog account.
PLEASE NOTE: Once you have closed your account, you have 30 days to reopen it by logging into your account and verifying your email address. After those 30 days, it isn’t possible to reopen a closed account.
Account Info
1. What do I do if I can't remember my password?
Use the “Forgot My Password” link beneath the log in form.
2. What does it mean when an account is CLOSED?
If an account is closed, it was shut down by the account holder or someone with access to the account.
3. What does it mean when an account has been DEACTIVATED?
If an account was deactivated, it was shut down by a Fotolog administrator for a violation of the terms of use or the community guidelines.
4. What do I do if I closed my account by accident?
Once you have closed your account, you have 30 days to reopen it by logging into your account and verifying your email address. After those 30 days, it isn’t possible to reopen a closed account.
5. What do I do if my account was deactivated?
Deactivation is permanent.
6. What do I do if my account was hacked?
Use the “Help” link, located on the upper right hand corner of every page, and report that your account was hacked. Make sure to list your username and to write in from the email address associated with the account.
7. What are “stats”?
Stats include information we collect about your page: how often it’s updated, how often it’s visited, and how many times someone has come to see your page. If you are a Gold Camera member you can find stats under Account.
8. How often are the “stats” updated?
Stats are updated once a day, so don’t be surprised if you haven’t seen them change. They’ll be different by tomorrow.
9. When would I select "Log me out everywhere else" on the login form?
Select this option to log yourself out of any other computers you've used to log in to Fotolog. It's a safe way to make sure you didn't leave yourself logged in somewhere public. This can help keep your account safe if you use public terminals or share machines with other people.
Flodos
1. What is a Flodo™?
It's Fotolog's virtual currency. You can add Flodos to your account by going to the Flodos tab under your account.
2. What can I buy with Flodos?
Currently you can use Flodos to buy a Foto Ad, buy additional uploads, or buy gifts for them.
3. Can I get a refund for Flodos?
You cannot receive refunds for Flodos, even if your account is closed or deactivated.
Gifts
1. What are gifts?
Fotolog gifts are a fun, easy way to send other members a special message. Gifts appear in the recipient's guestbook, next to your comment. You can purchase gifts through our gift store or the comment form of any participating member.
2. Why do I need to use Flodos to buy gifts?
It makes buying gifts easier. If you have enough Flodos, all you have to do is select your gift, write your comment and click on “post.”
Community
1. Where can I find the guidelines for content allowed on the site?
A link to the community guidelines appears within the footer of every page. Other, more specific guidelines can be found on the terms of service page.
2. What happens if I don't follow these guidelines?
The guidelines are there to ensure that everyone on the website is respected, and that no content on the site will cause harm to other members who might be using the site. Not following the guidelines is considered worthy of the deactivation of your account. As reading the guidelines and the terms of service are a part of signing up for an account, ignorance is no excuse for abusive behavior. Deactivations are permanent.
3. What if I see someone else not following the guidelines?
If you or someone you know is being abused by another member, please use the Help link at the top of the page to let us know. The more information you give us, the more we can help you, so please remember to provide proof of the abuse and the username of the offending member in your email.
Privacy
1. Is there any way to limit who can see my photos?
There is no way to limit who sees your photos. Please make sure that any photos you upload are something that you would like others to see. The web is a massive space, so you should keep in mind that what you put there can end up in unlikely places.
2. Is there any way to limit who can upload to groups?
At this time, there is no way to restrict who can upload to a group. That said, if your submission is deemed abusive or off topic, it will be deleted.
3. Is there any way to limit who can give me a gift or comment in my guestbook?
Yes. These changes can be made in the Participation & Privacy tab of your account.
4. Is there any way to block someone specific from posting in my guestbook?
Yes. Simply click the “block” link below their comment. This member will no longer be able to comment on your guestbook until you make the appropriate changes in the Participation & Privacy tab of your account.
5. Is there any way to block a member from posting to my guestbook before they’ve already posted there?
At this time, there is no way to preemptively block a member from posting a comment on your guestbook.
6. Can other users see when I'm online?
When you're logged in and using Fotolog, you can choose to have Fotolog display an icon that tells other people you're on the site. If you choose to use it, it will always tell other users that you're present on the site, regardless of whether they are on your F/F list. If you choose not to, it will never appear. Only Fotolog members who are logged in to the site will see the icon appear. You can change your online presence preference in the Online Status section of your Participation & Privacy settings.
Facebook Share
1. What is Facebook Share?
Facebook Share allows you to link your Fotolog account with your Facebook account, making it easy for you to share your new Fotolog photos with your Facebook friends.
If you are logged in to Fotolog, you can find the blue "Connect with Facebook" button on your Facebook preferences page under Account. You must have Javascript and cookies enabled in your browser for this to work.
2. How do I share photos using Facebook Share?
You can choose to share (or not share) any photo on your upload page. Look for the checkbox called "Share this photo on Facebook." By default, this box will always be checked unless you change your Facebook preferences under Account.
3. What happens if I disable Facebook Share?
All references to Facebook Share will be hidden on the Fotolog site, including the Facebook Connect buttons and any sharing options. You can disable Facebook Connect by going to your Facebook preferences page under Account. Choose "No" for the preference called "Show Sharing on Facebook."
Once you re-enable Facebook Share you will be able to connect and share on Facebook again.
4. Does Fotolog automatically post to my Facebook profile without my permission?
No. All posts to your profile and news feed are made explicitly by you.
