How to Store and Save Your Digital Images

Digital cameras have changed the way we take, share and store images. With conventional cameras, photos were processed on film using chemicals and then printed on paper. Now images are processed electronically and then converted to digital data. This is all good, but many of us don't know how to protect and save digital photos. Read this for some pointers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• More digital images than you can manage
• A need for safe storage and back-up
• Awareness that your images are irreplaceable

1. 
    
   Uh-oh !

   Memory Card
   
   The memory card in your digital camera provides temporary storage for a limited (set) amount of images. It is not intended for long-term or large-scale storage of images. Regard it as a 'capture and transfer' device, not the 'go to' location for your images.

2. 
    

   Hard Drive on your Computer
   
   Most people set up folders on their hard drives and park all of their images there. Hopefully you organize them by date or subject, or some method that makes sense to you. This is an excellent primary storage method, but don't stop here.

3. 
    

   Back-up CD or DVD
   
   As secure and expansive as the hard drive storage method may be, you still need a back-up or failsafe to protect against computer crashes, hard drive failures, etc. If you have a CD-burner, backing up your hard drive images onto CDs is a good approach. If you do this, its a good idea to label each CD and record somewhere which files/folders/images are on each disc. Since CD storage is limited, you'll be accumulating multiple CDs.
   
   An alternative is creating a DVD back-up of your images, if you have a DVD burner. This way, you can take advantage of the enormous capacity of DVDs and simplify the file storage task. You still need to record which images (by subject, date, etc) are on the DVD.

4. 
    

   On Line Digital Storage
   
   Several companies offer 'digital safe storage' for a one time or annual fee. One example is carbonite.com that provides unlimited on line back-up of all your computer files in a secure, encrypted off-site environment. Two other large companies are mozy.com and livedrive.com
   
   Places like shutterfly.com offer to store your digital photos, in unlimited quantities, without restriction or fee, for no charge. Is this safe? Is it a permanent solution? You be the judge.

Tips & Warnings

• Your computer probably holds years worth of personal valuable data and information, much of it irreplaceable. Your files include address books and email correspondence, music, documents, spreadsheets and of course, photographs. Computers are subject to viruses, crashes, theft, natural disasters... protect your data and digital photos by backing them up and storing them safely.

[kbsqueenb]

on 12/25/2009 That is something any photo junkie would love to know. Information that valuable should be shared. Thank you much!!

[e-Rambler]

on 8/1/2009 Good ideas on saving digital images. I should make a back-up for all my images from now on. 5*

[tkdbbelt87]

on 5/13/2009 Great article on storing and saving digital images! Definitely important to know! 5*

[roseanne09]

on 5/6/2009 Great article on How to Store and Save Your Digital Images!! 5*

[jujudy]

on 5/4/2009 Great article on storing digital photos. You're right, with digital cameras we now can take photos so easily, and for vitually no cost, so we all accumulate a lot of digital files. You have great advice. Thanks. 5*s