7 Reasons Why Secure Photo Backups are Important

importance of secure photo backups

The links below may be affiliate links. If you shop through them, I’ll earn a commission at no additional cost to you. For full information, please see my disclaimer here.

In this article, I will share with you 7 reasons why secure photo backups are important regardless if you are a professional photographer or not.

As a content creator, I follow a strict rule of backing up my photos, then backing it up again. And then again! Some may think that this is a bit extreme, however, sometimes I feel like it’s not enough.

Even before I was blogging, backing up my photos in every way possible was important to me. I spend a lot of time, money, effort on my photography, so I do not take it lightly when I accidentally lose my photos or videos.

I have lost my fair share of photos and learned from my mistakes. Rather than regret it later on, I do several things to make sure I backup my photos not just once but multiple times. It is better to be safe than sorry after all.

Maybe you might not be as sentimental as me or you don’t have strong attachments to your work, but even if that is the case, there are several benefits to backing up your photos. Perhaps you have not seen the value and importance of having secure backups for your photos so let me share them with you.

1. They are precious keepsakes meant to last forever.

Back when I was working in a portrait studio, I saw how much value people placed in their photographs. Even when years have passed, they would come back asking if they could get more copies. Photographs can remind people of what matters most to them.

Photos and videos are precious keepsakes you would want to have forever. Through your photography, you are able to capture people, places, things, experiences, and emotions, just as they are in that moment in time.

A picture is indeed worth a thousand words and maybe more. So while it might not matter to you as much, to someone else it could mean the world.

It’s hard to put a price tag on that.

It is important to keep a secure photo backup to guarantee that you have a copy of these memories. Or at least a fragment of the past. Years from now, when you want to look back and reminisce on the past and the life you’ve lived, these photos and videos will be something that will be appreciated and treasured.

2. Having a photo backup can help you become organized.

If you enjoy taking photos as a hobby or as your profession, you are most likely taking photos left and right. You can end up with hundreds or thousands of pictures which can be a nightmare to sort through if you’re not organized.

By keeping a backup of your digital photos, you will be compelled to follow a system to help you sort and find your pictures. Depending on the backup method you choose, you can create albums, folders, and galleries for your photography. You can label them a certain way, add tags, descriptions, and many more.

Back when I was working in a portrait studio, we would organize files based on date and our client name. It saved us loads of time trying to find the right files and to this day I follow the same filing method for all my travel photos. When I need an image, I know which backup to access, the folders to look in. I can grab the image I need within minutes.

While you do not have to follow the same organizational method as mine, you can implement a system that will save you time and energy.

3. You can access your photo and video anywhere.

Having secure photo backups will mean you can have access to your files whenever and wherever you are in the world. Nowadays with the growing photo backup options, it is so much easier to retrieve your photos and videos.

You don’t even have to carry the physical backups with you as you can easily access your photos stored in a cloud, which is basically in servers stored in a remote and safe location. As long you have an internet connection, you can back up all your photos to a remote and safe location and retrieve them anytime you want.

4. You can easily share your photos with your family, friends, and clients.

Having a secure photo backup can also help you to easily share your everyday life and adventures with your family and friends. Rather than keeping it all in your camera, phone or computer, you can upload your photos and videos on your personal photo website which can be as private or public as you want to be.

Some may argue that you have social media for that. However, what would you do if Facebook and Instagram decide to kick you out of their platform? And remember, not everyone uses social media.

If you are a professional photographer, your photography website can help you acquire more clients. You can simply promote your website so potential clients can see your portfolio. Even if you don’t know anything about web design, you can create a custom photo website in minutes.

It is so much more impressive to send them beautifully curated samples of your work from your own website. It’s so much better than sending them over to your Instagram and Facebook page. If you are indeed a professional then you should invest in not just a backup system but also a photography website as well.

A platform called SmugMug can help you achieve this. Whether you’re an amateur or pro, you can use SmugMug to securely back up photos and at the same time create a stunning photography website that can proudly show your best works. You can even sell your photos to family, friends, or clients directly from your website!

If you want to see how it works, get your free SmugMug 14-day trial today, and save 15% on a new account.

5. You need to adapt to changing technologies.

Another reason why you need to back up your photos not just once securely but multiple times is because the technology you use can break down. Unfortunately, it still does happen from time to time. Technology is always evolving. It grows, it changes, and sometimes it does die. Having several secure backup methods can give you a safety net.

About 20 years ago, I would back up my files in CDs, now that technology is basically obsolete and I no longer have access to it. Now I use external hard drives as well as cloud backup. And fingers-crossed neither will be obsolete!

Thankfully, many tech companies recognize that photos and videos are precious to their consumers. With this in mind, they make it a priority in any technology they develop to allow users to be able to access their photos in a secure and safe manner every time they upgrade to newer technologies.

With all the possible backup alternatives, it’s much easier to move from one technology to the next without losing your photo and videos. Having a backup of your photos will make it easier for you to adapt to fast and ever-changing technologies.

6. It is your source of income.

Many individuals nowadays use their photos and videos as part of their income source. Investing in secure photo backups for photographers is a must to ensure anything you create and produce will not be lost.

The last thing you want is to have to spend hours taking the perfect photographs and videos only to have them disappear by accident. Not only will it be painful for you but just think about how your clients will react when they find out you lost their pictures and you didn’t keep a backup. If you value your work, your clients, and your business then you must find ways to keep your photos safe.

camera gear and equipment for travelers and content creators
Invest in not just your photography gear but also your photo backup system especially if your income depends on it.

Nowadays, you don’t have to be a professional photographer or videographer to make money from your photos and videos. Maybe you’re a social media influencer or a blogger and use a lot of photos and videos in your craft. If so, as a best practice, it only makes sense to back up any of your work.

Even if you’re an amateur, you never know when your photos and videos might be something someone is looking for. Down the line, you might want to make money from your craft and start selling your photos online.

15 years ago, I never thought of blogging for profit, and now here I am constantly digging through my backups to use photos I’ve taken from many years ago.

If you want to know how you can profit from your photography, do check my post on the 10 ways you can earn money as an underwater photographer.

7. You can have some peace of mind.

One of the biggest benefits of backing up your photos is for your own peace of mind. There are many things that can go wrong when it comes to keeping digital files. Cameras and tech gadgets are huge targets for thieves and you can easily lose everything you’ve worked hard for.

Aside from gadgets being stolen, accidents can also happen. It’s not uncommon for individuals to lose or destroy their gear. You could drop it on the ground or spill water on your physical backup, causing irreversible damage.

Technology can also fail you. Your computer, memory card, or external hard drive can simply stop working for no reason at all. This is why many individuals, like me, will have a back of their backup. And then get another backup because you just never know.

While you might lose a camera or a memory card and buy a new one, your photos and videos are irreplaceable. You can lessen the impact of losses by having secure photo backups. You will sleep better knowing you’ve taken the steps on how to securely back up your photos.

Why you should securely backup your photos
Reasons why secure photo backups are important

Why do you backup your photos? Have you experienced not backing up your photos and regretted it later on? Leave a comment below!

The links above may be affiliate links. If you shop through them, I’ll earn a commission at no additional cost to you. For full information, please see my disclaimer here.

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