The photo-sharing industry is seeing a nice increase in interest from funding investors lately. Just this week, a startup company that goes by the name PhotoRocket has scored around $1.3 million of additional funds to share photos across social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. This photo sharing application, for the time being, is limited for Windows use only. Discussions on how Mac and iPhone users are able to take advantage of the program are still on-going.

Meanwhile, another business concentrated around cool photo- and video-sharing applications has received confidence from investors, and was given $2.5 million boost in their current funds.  Pixable Videos will let users transform simple online photos to printed photo album. Unlike Shutterfly and Snapfish, Pixable will not only serve as a storage service from within the program,  but you may also upload these materials on Youtube and Facebook.

There are several developments that contribute to the rise in popularity and mainstream action of photo sharing. Arguably, this industry is one which will witness growth along with the mobile and personal cloud aspects.

One factor is that cameras in smart phone are encouraging consumers to take and share more photos now more than ever. Thus, demand for personal cloud mounts.  The outcome is a slew of startups anxious to help individuals manage their personal cloud as a service. As analyzed here, carrying mobile phones with cameras is what predominantly defines “capturing moments,” compared to bringing your bulky lenses and gadgets where everything is almost scheduled.

These are some of the biggest factors pushing the mobile and personal cloud, especially as users will demand ways in which to manage and organize their own data.  Social networking’s influence in this growing industry shows the breadth of opportunity that is ripe for the taking, and new advertising and service avenues are bringing about a resurgance in these types of tools.