A photo mashup is software on a website that combines photos with other website functionality to create a new and useful service. Mashups are possible because websites make the application programming interface (API) available, so that programmers can use it to make mashups.

You can implement a mashup on your website, if you have the right photo mashup information.

1. Choose the type of function you want to offer and determine whether you will do this as an addition to your current site or launch a new site;

2. Pick the source of your data, which may be photos from Flickr, videos from YouTube, or some other web source;

3. Assess your coding skills or that of your staff;

4. Find and sign up for a photo mashup API that provides the data and level of technical expertise;

5. And use the help section at the API site to help you do the actual coding.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find photo mashup examples

Visit sites that have photo mashup capability to get ideas of how you might use the various capabilities on your own site. Consult a photo mashup list to find more ideas.

I recommend: TrendyNewz uses the YouTube API along with Google and Yahoo search to provide categorized popular videos to its visitors. WipBox uses Snipshot to allow sellers on eBay and Amazon to host photos on their item pages. Consult a list of photo mashups at ProgrammableWeb.com to get other ideas.

Add image editing functionality to your site through a photo mashup provider

Let your visitors adjust the contrast, remove red-eye and perform other tasks that will improve their pictures. Give your visitors the option of tagging photos and videos, making them easier for anyone to find.

I recommend: Use Snipshot Services to allow your website visitors the ability to edit their photos online. Read a guide or view a demo to learn how you can use FotoFlexer to add image editing capability to your website.

Display interactive timelines and slideshows on your site with a photo mashup

Explain the history of your business in an interactive way by setting up an interactive timeline with videos and photos on your website. Create playable slideshows from your PowerPoint files and display them on your website.

I recommend: Create photo slideshows and take advantage of the many other features StrikeIron can help you add to your website. Put your photos onto an interactive online timeline with Dipity.

Use a photo mashup provider to allow your website visitors to share photos and videos

Share videos that relate to your industry with visitors at your websites. Allow your customers to share videos using your products with others who frequent your website. Add a video or photo search field to your website to drive traffic to your site.

I recommend: Use the tools available at Cellblock to provide photo and video sharing options to your website visitors. Add photo sharing functions similar to those at Flickr with the open standards API at 23.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can use Google's AJAX Libraries API content distribution network to access script libraries that make coding a photo mashup easier.