Help & Support
Get help with Family Journal and learn how to make the most of your family memories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Family Journal
Family Journal is completely private. Only your invited family members can see your content. There are no ads, no data mining, and no public sharing. It's designed for elderly users with simple interfaces and care coordination features that social media doesn't offer.
StoryWorth and similar services focus on capturing life stories through weekly prompts, culminating in a single book. Family Journal is different—it's an ongoing, daily collaborative journal where family members contribute to current memories and events. We strengthen present family connections and creates a living record of daily life that everyone can participate in as well as capturing precious memories.
That's exactly why we built the Viewer experience. Mom just enjoys the stories - big, easy-to-read layouts with photos and updates about her day. No confusing buttons or complicated features. Many families set up a tablet that stays logged in to the journal, so it's as simple as picking it up and looking. Like a photo album that updates itself.
Absolutely. Many families caring for a parent with Alzheimer's tell us the journal becomes part of the morning routine - like reading the paper used to be. Fresh photos and stories every day, big text, nothing to mess up. And for you and your siblings, it's how you all stay in the loop without a dozen phone calls. Everyone knows what's happening, and Mom just gets to enjoy the memories.
Private notes are just for family members - Mom or Dad never sees them. Use them when you need to share something tender: 'Dad was really confused this morning,' or 'Mom had a breakthrough moment today!' or even just 'I'm worried about her, anyone else noticing this?' They appear in a subtle color so you always know what's private and what's shared.
Your family's story belongs to you, not us. Download everything - every entry, every photo, every private note - whenever you want. If you ever decide to leave, you take it all with you. No questions asked, no hoops to jump through.
Yes! We provide print-friendly layouts so you can create physical memory books. Many families print monthly compilations to share with elderly members who prefer paper, or create beautiful keepsake albums.
Family Journal keeps everyone connected regardless of distance. Siblings in different states can all add to Mom's journal, see what's happening in real-time, and stay in the loop together. No one feels left out of important family moments - whether it's Wednesday morning coffee or a rough evening that everyone should know about.
That's completely up to you. Some families print out recent entries to share at appointments, or invite a trusted caregiver to join as a family member. The journal is private by default - you decide who sees what, if anyone outside the family.
Upload photos from your phone and they just work - beautiful online, crisp when you print them. We organize them by date and location so you can find that birthday party or beach trip whenever you want. Everything stays private to your family, always.
Yes! Family Journal was designed from the start with mobile in mind and works perfectly on any device. You can even add it to your home screen like a regular app. Many families enjoy updating their journal right from their phones whenever something happens.
There's no limit! Invite as many family members as you want. You can assign them as Members (who can contribute) or additional Viewers (simplified read-only access). Extended family, caregivers, even trusted friends can participate.
Photo Quality & Storage
📱 Fast Viewing
Optimized WebP versions (800px, 1600px) load instantly for smooth browsing and journal viewing.
🖨️ Print Quality
High-resolution JPEG versions (3000px) preserve full quality for printing and downloads.
Supported Photo Formats (up to 50MB each)
Family Journal supports most common photo formats:
- JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
- PNG (.png)
- GIF (.gif)
- WebP (.webp)
- HEIC/HEIF (.heic, .heif)
Smart Storage System
Each photo is stored in 5 optimized variants, automatically serving the right size for each use case. This gives you lightning-fast viewing while preserving print-quality originals for when you need them.
Family Journal automatically creates multiple optimized versions of each photo to ensure the best experience.
RAW Photos Not Supported
RAW photo formats (like DNG from iPhone ProRAW) aren't supported yet because they're very large files. Here are 3 easy ways to convert them to JPEG:
Method 1: Edit in Photos App
- Open the photo in your iPhone Photos app
- Tap "Edit" in the top right corner
- Make any small adjustment (brightness, contrast, or cropping)
- Tap "Done" - this converts the photo to JPEG format
- Upload the now compatible photo
💡 Make any small change and save
Method 2: Duplicate - then Edit as above
- In Photos Library view, long-press the RAW photo
- Select "Duplicate" from the menu
- Open the duplicate and tap "Edit"
- Make any small adjustment
- Tap "Done" - the duplicate is now JPEG format
- Try uploading the duplicate photo
💡 This keeps your original RAW file intact
Method 3: Share to Convert
- Open the RAW photo in Photos app
- Tap the share button (square with arrow)
- Share to Messages, Mail, or any other app
- Most apps automatically convert to JPEG
- Save the shared version and try uploading
💡 The shared version will be in JPEG format
Still Have Questions?
We're here to help. Many of us have been through this journey with our own parents.
Please contact us with any questions.