It’s Like Insurance for Your Family’s Memories
One day I was sharing my passion for organizing and printing pictures with a friend. She got extremely emotional as she shared the story of losing her phone a few years ago and with it all the pictures of her son's childhood. And since she hadn't backed up her digital pictures, she lost years' worth of memories she can never get back... pictures of her son's first days home, his first birthday, his first steps, first plane ride and all the little moments in between. How sad is that?!?!
And while I'm sure that will never happen to you, you don't want to learn this lesson the hard way and experience the same heartache. Make a decision, schedule some time and put it on your calendar to get your most precious memories backed up on a hard drive, in the cloud or both! And if you're unsure where to start, here are a few pros and cons of each:
HARD DRIVE
PROS
doesn't require internet connection
can be much faster than backing up to the cloud
pictures are not at risk to digital threats
your pictures remain in your possession
CONS
you need to physically have your hard drive and phone to transfer pictures (For example, you can't backup until you get home if you're on vacation)
if the hard drive fails, you could lose all of your pictures
unless in a fireproof safe, could still be at physical risk to loss or damage
can be costly $50-$350
HOW TO
This process isn't a one size fits all. It depends on which phone, computer and hard drive you have. Ultimately, you'll have to plug your phone into your computer, choose your hard drive in your storage options and upload your pictures. I would recommend you find a YouTube video (there is literally one for anything you can think of) for your specific device.
THE CLOUD
PROS
can backup pics anytime as long as you have internet connection
access your pictures from any device, anywhere, anytime
many FREE options with companies such as Google, Apple, iCloud & Dropbox
can automate your backup so you don't even have to think about it
pictures are safe from physical threats (broken/lost phone, flood, fire)
CONS
if you're not digitally savvy, this could be intimidating (but that's where I can help you)
pictures can be at risk to digital threats (however, cloud companies have come a LONG way with security)
HOW TO
HARD DRIVE & THE CLOUD
Backing your pictures up on a hard drive and in the cloud gives you the best insurance for protecting your pictures. I highly recommend this option!
Not every option appeals to everyone, but pick what works for you and get it done! I know too many people who have lost years worth of pics and can't ever get them back! Pictures are so important in documenting our lives, telling our stories and sharing memories with future generations!
All the best,
Melissa