How to Send a Photo by Email from Your iPhone

Remember slipping a photograph into an envelope along with a letter? You'd pick the best shot from the stack on the kitchen table, tuck it in carefully, and hope it arrived without bent corners. Sending a photo by email works the same way — you pick the picture, write a note, and off it goes. Here's exactly how to do it on your iPhone.

Start in the Photos App

It's tempting to open your email first, but it's actually easier to start with the picture itself.

Tap the **Photos** app — the icon looks like a colorful pinwheel. Scroll until you find the photo you want to send. Tap it once so it fills the screen.

In the bottom-left corner, you'll see a small square with an arrow pointing up out of it. That's the **Share button**. It's the iPhone's way of saying "send this somewhere." Tap it.

Choose Mail and Write Your Note

A menu will slide up from the bottom of the screen. You'll see a row of round icons — these are all the places you could send your photo. Look for the blue one labeled **Mail** and tap it.

Your iPhone will open a new email message with the photo already tucked inside. You don't have to attach anything — it's already done.

Now fill in the message, just like addressing an envelope:

- **To:** Type the email address of the person you're sending it to. If they're already in your contacts, you can start typing their name and tap it when it appears. - **Subject:** A short line about what the photo is. Something like "Sunday at the lake" works perfectly. - **The big empty space below:** This is where you write your note. "Thought you'd enjoy this one of the grandkids" — whatever you'd like to say.

Send It on Its Way

When you're happy with everything, tap the blue arrow in the top-right corner. That's the **Send** button.

You might hear a little *whoosh* sound. That means the email — photo and all — is on its way. There's nothing else you need to do.

If you want to double-check it actually went out, open the **Mail** app and look in the folder called **Sent**. Your message will be sitting right there, photo included.

A Small Tip About Photo Size

After you tap Send, your iPhone may ask whether you'd like to send the photo as **Small, Medium, Large, or Actual Size**. This is just asking how clear and detailed you want the picture to be.

For most everyday photos shared with family, **Medium** or **Large** is plenty. **Actual Size** sends the highest quality but takes longer and uses more data — handy if someone wants to print the photo, overkill if they're just going to glance at it on their phone.

Try It Today

Open your Photos app right now and pick one picture you've been meaning to share — maybe a recent one of the garden, or a snapshot from a family gathering. Send it to one person using the steps above.

Once you've done it once, you'll find the rhythm of it: pick the photo, tap Share, tap Mail, write a line, send. The same handful of taps every single time.

Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.