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Where should I start taking pictures at Valtos?

3 easy steps to find a section to start photographing.

Step 1: Use roads or other landmarks to visually identify sections in the cemetery.

Step 2:
Choose a Section
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Step 2: Choose a section of the cemetery that has not been photographed yet.

Hint: If there is a section that is partially done, or has a few spread out photos, don’t be afraid to just redo everything. It is easy to merge duplicates once they have been transcribed.
Step 3:
Start Taking Pictures
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Step 3: Start taking pictures in Valtos

You can find your marked section in the BillionGraves app on the cemetery map page.

Back to
Valtos
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Step 1: Use roads or other landmarks to visually identify sections in the cemetery.

Swipe to see Step 2

Step 2: Choose a section of the cemetery that has not been photographed yet.

Hint: If there is a section that is partially done, or has a few spread out photos, don’t be afraid to just redo everything. It is easy to merge duplicates once they have been transcribed.
Swipe to see Step 3

Step 3: Start taking pictures in Valtos

Back to
Valtos
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Use the map below to find a section in Valtos to start photographing.

The orange dots on the map indicate where GPS-linked photos have already been taken and transcribed. Green dots indicate where GPS-linked photos have already been taken but not transcribed yet. If there are sections of the cemetery with gravestones that have no dots, then your service is needed to photograph that section of the cemetery!

Loading Record Markers

  1. Getting Started

    1. Download the BillionGraves app to your smartphone from your app store. 
    2. In the app, click on "Take Pictures" to begin taking photos in your local cemetery. The GPS    coordinates will automatically be recorded.
    3. Go up and down the rows, taking pictures of each gravestone until you have completed an entire section or the entire cemetery. Keep moving at a quick pace. If you take 1 photo every 15 seconds you will have taken almost 250 photos in an hour! 
    4. At home, plug your phone in, connect to Wi-Fi, and tap on "Photos." When the orange button that says "upload" appears, tap on it to submit your gravestone photos.
    5. Repeat! :)
  2. Photo-taking Tips

    1. Stand to the side to avoid casting a shadow.
    2. Remove weeds, grass, or other debris that may block gravestone information.
    3. Be sure names and dates are inside the photo frame.
  3. Contacting the Cemetery Manager

    • If there is an administrator at the cemetery, it is polite to inform them that you will be taking photos of gravestones. If the cemetery you plan to document is on private property, ask for permission.
    • Other than that, you don`t need to contact anyone when you arrive at the location. You can simply download the app and start taking photos!
  4. Linking Photos with the BillionGraves App

    • If a gravestone has data on more than one side (for example, parents on one side and children on the other side) there is a way to link them together. Just click on the chain icon in the corner of your screen between each photo that you would like to link (front side, chain icon, backside).
    • You can use this linking feature for obelisks that have data on four sides. You can also use it to link a large gravestone with a family surname on it to nearby smaller gravestones with the family member`s first names on them.
  5. Upload Your Photos

    • When you are finished taking photos for the day, you can upload your photos right at the cemetery, if you have unlimited data, or you can wait until you connect to Wi-Fi to upload them.
    • From the app`s home screen, tap on the "Photos" button in the bottom right-hand side of the screen. An orange button that says "upload" will appear. Tap it and your photos will automatically be sent to the BillionGraves database to help families find their ancestors for generations to come!
    • Questions? If you`ve explored these resources and still have questions, need help, or would like resources for planning a large group project, email us at Volunteer@BillionGraves.com.