As preservationists, as people, sharing stories, photographs, and memories is an important part of how we communicate, commemorate, and connect. We seek to reach family members, friends, colleagues, strangers, and more. Living in the digital (or internet) age, we have so many options for sharing: blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, cloud streaming, digital publications – it’s endless, really, and incredibly exciting. There is always something new right around the corner.
The newest story/photo sharing app is called STELLER. In a nutshell, you create mini-books with photos, text, and videos and then share them with the world. It reminds me of Instagram, but in a more published feeling. And the best part of this is that viewers do not need the app. You can send your story link to Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, email or a text message. (Right now, this app is only available for Apple devices, so you can only make a STELLER story with the app on your Apple device. Hopefully that changes soon.)
My introduction to STELLER is entirely credited to Raina (@rainaregan on Twitter or @raiosunshine on Instagram). We love to talk social media and preservation and cats, and started to discuss the potential does an app like this hold for historic preservation?
A picture is worth 1,000 words, so they say; seeing is believing and understanding the words of preservation. An app that shares photographs is fun and connects people to one another socially, professionally, near and far. What can STELLER do? Education guides, travel guides, themes, marketing, just to name a few. Or, on a personal level, it can create memory books and offer stories and collections of a trip, an event, a day. Since it’s a brand new app, we’re just experimenting with it.
My first STELLER story is a collection of Vermont winter photos. Click here or on the image below.
And check out Raina’s first story about Indiana Courthouses. (She’s also one of the best Instagrammers out there, so follow her @raiosunshine.)
What do you think? Are you on STELLER? Is this just another social media photo fad, or do you see its potential?
Preservation in Pink 
I think it’s pretty cool (obviously). I hope they add more layouts and fonts, I think that would make it even better!
Hey Raina – Yes, more design options will be coming! It’s been great checking out your stories in the app. Let us know your questions + feedback @stellerstories 🙂
I think stellar is a really awesome tool for storytellers. And it’s beautiful.
I’ll definitely take a look, thanks!
If you start a Steller, let me know!
I’m on Steller, although my first try had issues (photos wouldn’t load?) Maybe the file size was too big. But I’ll try again…it’s a fun medium!
I’ve tried Steller briefly, but haven’t taken to it like Raina. She’s awesome.
I need to check her out, and give it another go myself. It’s hard to do everything!