How to Store Digital Photos and Videos

First of all, congratulations on getting beautiful digital images and films of your family! Now that your session is over, how do you back up, store, and organize your digital files, both photos and films?

As you may know, digital photos and films can take up a lot of space on your computer. Plus, it can be hard to remember which folder they end up in. Are they in the Pictures Folder? Are they in the Downloads Folder? Did they disappear into the depths of digital purgatory?

Now, let's fix this once and for all.

Step 1: Download Digital Files

First, log into your gallery. A link and password for the gallery was sent in an email. Search the inbox for jen@emeraldrue.com to locate the email. Next, download all images. For detailed information on how to do this, visit this page.

Included in the email was a link to download the film. Download the 1080p version for saving. Then, download the 720p version for social media sharing.

Now, locate the files on your computer. They are likely in a folder called Downloads.

Step 2: Organize

Secondly, create a new folder in the Pictures folder of your computer. Name the folder with the date and title (see example below). Next, copy all digital photos and films from one event into this folder. Do not put files into this folder that are not related to the specific event.

I do this for all my work. This trick has saved me time by eliminating the guessing game. Always put the year first. Keep the naming format the same for all folders. The folders will be sorted in order, making your life easier. Trust me on this one.

Example Folder Name:  20xx-08-01-Photo Session with Emerald Rue

Step 3: Store Digital Photos and Films

Last, how to store digital photos and films? I recommend backing up the folders in two places, neither place being your computer's hard drive. Clogging your computer's storage will cause it to run slower. Instead, store files online and on an external hard drive. Then, delete the files from your computer.

1. Online:  To start, upload the properly labeled folder to an online storage site. Google Drive (free with a Gmail account), Dropbox, and One Drive (free with an Outlook account) are all excellent choices. Depending on the size of your upload, you may need to pay a small fee. The fee is as low as $1.99 per month. It'll be worth it to have the precious files safe from computer break down or fire. Once stored online, you can easily access and download any image files you'd like to print or share.
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2. External Hard Drive: After that, transfer the same folder to an external hard drive. They work like an extra storage space. Do not let this become messy. Keep the hard drive organized with the folder system described above. My favorite hard drives are linked below.
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   After files are transferred, make sure the hard drive stays safe. Remember, this is fragile technology. Properly dismount the hard drive before removing it from the computer. Also, be sure to store in a secure place (perhaps an actual safe?). Do not drop or toss it on the counter. Hard drives can fail, so handle with care!

Relax!

Now that you have your professional photos and films backed up and safe, it's time to celebrate! Do a happy dance!

Gone are the days of printing doubles to store in countless albums. Because of this, it requires we adopt new habits to keep our tangible memories safe. Set aside time to complete the steps above each time an important event occurs. This includes personal trips, a fun day with family, or everyday life.

Properly storing digital files is an important step to ensure your family's legacy is safe and accessible for generations. Remember, stick with the folder system. It allows you to locate images years from now with ease. It also becomes a handy timeline of life events!

If you are looking to print a few images, check out my recommendations in this article.

Contact me or comment below with any questions.