While it's not necessary to create an account to use PhotosDirect, there are some benefits to creating an account. Your photos will be available for a longer period, your selected language setting will be saved, and other settings will be retained between each time you use PhotosDirect.
Creating a new account
To create a new account, you select the Create Account tab in the Sign in or Create a New Account page and fill out your email address, full name, and a password you select. The password is entered twice to avoid typos. Click the green Create new Account button and an email is sent to verify your email address and the view switches over to a new Activate account tab with an Activation code field. Enter the six-digit activation code from the email in the Activation Code field and press the green Activate your account button. Please note that the activation code is valid for one hour. If you do not use it within that time, the account will not be created.
When the correct activation code is registered, the view switches back to the Sign in tab for you to sign in. The email address is prefilled out and you just enter your newly selected password. You may select the Keep me logged in checkbox. By checking this box, you will be recognized on this computer, and you do not need to log in again, unless you sign yourself out. Make sure that no one else has access to this computer if you check this box. Click the green Sign in button to complete your sign in and you are taken to the main page where a new photo collection is started.
Your account will be available on any country specific PhotosDirect website with your newly created sign in.
Please check your spam folder and spelling of your email address if you do not receive the confirmation email within a few minutes.
Signing in
To sign in to PhotosDirect, fill in your email address and chosen password in the fields under the Sign In tab of the Sign In or Create a new account page. By selecting the Keep me signed in check box, you remain logged on to this computer until you select Sign out from the menu. Don't select this option on a public computer, as it may give others access to your PhotosDirect account.
When you previously signed into your account on a computer and did not check the Keep me signed in box, opening any PhotosDirect page, will first take you to the Sign in page. As it is possible to use PhotosDirect without signing in, this will make it easier to remember signing in before starting a new photo collection and the photos will then be stored in your account for a longer period than if not signed in.
If you prefer not to sign in when you are on the Sign in or Create a New Account page, just click the PhotosDirect logo in the top left corner of the view and you are taken to the main page where a new photo collection is started without you being signed in.
Forgotten password
If you do not remember your password, you may click the Forgotten password button in the lower right corner of the Sign in or Create a New Account page. A new tab is opened where you can enter your email address and click the Restore Password button. An email is sent to the stated email address if it is registered as a confirmed PhotosDirect user. For security reasons, no message is given if the email address does not exist as a PhotosDirect user.
Clicking the Restore Password button in the email takes you to the Restore Password tab in the Sign in or Create a New Account view where you enter your selected new password in both the New Password and the Confirm the New Password fields and then click the Change password now button. This returns you to the Sign in tab prefilled out with your email address. Enter your new password in the Password field and click Sign in to sign in to your account with your newly selected password. A successful sign in takes you to the main page where a new photo collection is started.
Please note that the activation link in the email is valid for one hour. After that, you will have to repeat the procedure if you still want to restore your password.