Digital Photo Storage

Are your photos on your Memory Cartridge?? On the computer in one big file? Are they still on your camera?? or are they in all three places.

I wanted to share some tips with you about how to organize your digital photos. And most importantly share some stories of what happens with our digital pictures at the most inopportune time.

Tip #1 - If you photos are on your memory card, please download them. Either to a CD or a compulter and even better upload them to the CM Photo Center, where you always have access to them. I found out recently that your memory card can go bad or you could lose your photos altogether!! I didn't know that! One of my customers found out the hard way. I'll call her Lois, for the purposes of this illustration. Lois and her family had returned from a fabulous trip to the beach and a wedding!! I was told of the wonderful photos of the children on the beach and how beautiful the wedding was. I was very excited to see them. Then I got the call...........I can't seem to get my photos off my memory card!! It was tragic, the family adventure, wedding pic's and beach photos were all gone. There was no way to access them from the memory card which had somehow managed to erase them. I did encourage Lois to journal about her trip and possibly order some post cards or download some pics from the internet to remind her of the trip. So you see, the memory card can go bad. In addition, will the technology be the same in five years?? Will you be able to access them at that time??? We won't know until then.

Tip #2 - Storing your photos on your laptop. It is a great idea, don't you think?? Until you laptop get's stolen!!! It happens more often than you think. I have another customer Lori whose home was broken into and her computer was taken. Along with the computer went five years of memories, which cannot be replaced. Fortunately, our children were in the same Pre-K class and I am able to give her pictures of those activities, but many others will not be so easily remembered.

What happens when our computers crash?? Usually someone will be able to access the photos and download them, but not always. I personally back mine up on an external hard drive and upload them the Creative Memories Photo Center. This way they will be there for me in case anything catastrophic should happen.

Tip #3 - Are your photos still on your camera??? Today, the technology is so great that many times, all you have to do is plug the camera into the computer and it will begin downloading the photos automatically. If you don't know how to download your photos, please call the 1-800 number of the company who made your camera. They can help you out.

Tip #4 - Pick a storage path and stick to it! Once you have determined where you are going to store your photos, stick with it. Remember, you took the time to take the photos becuase you thought they were worth taking. Take the time to download them so the memories can be relived later on.

I hope this helps you with your Organizing needs. Please let me know what you think and if it has helped at all.

God Bless you all - Deb