Systems and methods are provided for browsing miniaturized versions of images stored locally on a mobile device while allowing the associated full-sized image to be transferred to the mobile device as needed. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of viewing an image on the mobile device includes the steps of storing in the mobile device a miniaturized version of an image stored in the mobile device, transferring the image to an external storage device, and deleting the image from the mobile device. In response to the user of the mobile device selecting the miniaturized version of the image, the mobile device sends a wireless message to the external storage device requesting transfer of the full-sized image. The external storage device transfers the full-sized image to the mobile device in a second message and the mobile device is able to display the full-sized image.