Happy Save Your Photos day!!
(Yes, that's a real thing.)
In the digital age, it's so important to back up our digital images and other digital files. Whether they're photos taken by a professional at a portrait session or random photos you've taken on your phone, they absolutely need to be backed up. As someone who has lost a hard drive before, I can confirm that it's devastating to lose years and years of photos. I can't imagine how awful it would be to lose something truly important, like treasured family photos or, heaven forbid, your wedding photos.
Luckily, there are steps we can take to make sure that this doesn't happen. Read on for my top tips on keeping your digital images safe....
Back up Your Images
As soon as you receive your wedding USB, or download your digital files if your session doesn't include a USB, you should back the photos up in at least three locations. USBs and other drives can fail or get lost, and we don't want that. I'd recommend storing the images on at least two separate USBs, hard drives, or CDs (if you still use those.)
Be sure to check the media at least yearly to make sure the data can still be read. It's also recommended that you make new backups every five years or as needed. In addition to having three physical duplicates, you should back your photos up to at least one Cloud-based service. Many companies are now offering these services, including Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Apple.
*TIP: Back your images up in two physical locations and one Cloud-based service*
Always eject your usb
One of the most common reasons that USB flash drives fail is because they're removed from the computer improperly. Always, always, always be sure to eject your USB before you unplug it from the computer!
Store your usb somewhere safe
Make sure you keep your USB stored with the cap on it in a cool, dry location (the same goes for any physical media). Condensation from high humidity or temperatures can cause the drive to fail. It's also recommended to have a copy of the files stored somewhere off-site in case of a fire or other emergency.
Moral of the story: be sure to back up any images or files that are important to you!
And what better time to do it than on Save Your Photos Day?
