Google+ Photos is a Google web-based service that allows you to keep photos backed up, automatically organized and ready to share, all delivered through their online plus.google.com platform.
Google+ Photos allows you to automatically backup your photos taken on your smart device (both Android and iOS). Photos can also be uploaded directly from your camera or computer.
Once all of your photos have been uploaded to the service, the photos become automatically organized. Moreover, Google+ Photos offers several ways to enhance your photos, including a very smart Auto Enhance feature that automatically makes subtle adjustments (like removing red-eye and improving lighting) to make your photos look their best. You can also make new versions of your pictures. Add a burst of five or more sequential photos to create a short animation. Or add four similar portraits to create a photobooth-style collage.
After all of your photos have been uploaded and touched up according to your liking, Google+ Photos syncs perfectly with the other Google+ services, allowing you to share any of your photos (including individually, select, or grouped photos). You can control who sees your photos — choose individuals, entire circles from Google+, or email addresses. You can even send a link to share more broadly, such as in a listserv email or a website.
Complexity: simple
How to get it: http://plus.google.com/photos
Help documentation: http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/photos/
What kinds of files can I store?
Only photos and videos.
Photo: .jpg, .webp, .gif, .crw, .cr2, .nef, .dng, .orf, .raf, .arw, .pef, .srw, .rw2
Video: .mpg, .mod, .mmv, .tod, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .divx, .mov, .m4v, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .m2t, .m2ts, .mts, .mov
Who uses it?
Google+ has a growing presence online given its integration with the other applications used by those who have Gmail accounts. Google Photos is closely integrated with a Google+ account, and is therefore pervasively used by organizations who seek an online presence.
How many files can I store? How big can they be? How much will it cost?
Only photos over 2048 x 2048 pixels and videos longer than 15 minutes count towards your storage limit.
How can I keep my files organized? Do the files have names–like on my computer? Is organizing the files easy?
Google+ Photos lets you organize your photos into albums, which can then be shared at a number of levels.
https://support.google.com/plus/answer/3113885?hl=en&ref_topic=6023040
Who can see the files? Can I keep them private? Can I share them?
The files can be shared privately or publicly. Anyone with the link can access the album.
What is the legal status of public or shared images–their licensing? Can people ‘steal’ my images?
Google+ Photos allows you to control to whom you grant access to your photos and videos, but does not provide licensing information to those viewing them.
Can I leave the file here and publish it directly to a web site?
Not really. A link can be sent to directly refer back to an album, but it can only be viewed through Google (though a Google account is not necessary).
Can I ever get them all back?
The account owner can download any file uploaded to Google Photos.
What if I accidentally delete a file? Can I get it back?
Files can be restored up to 60 days after deletion.