Preserving Your Wedding Photos
Your wedding was such a special time in you and your partner’s life. Now that the day has passed, you can still relive the moments through your photos. Many people think that downloading the images to their computer is a sufficient form of storage. But what if something happens to your computer? The photos could be lost forever. Backing up your digital images on multiple devices is your safest bet. Here are some ways to preserve your images:
Use External Hard Drives
This is the easiest way to store your photos. I recommend using at least two hard drives in case you lose one, it fails, or one of them gets accidentally wiped. Make sure you copy and paste your photos over to each hard drive as soon as you download them from your online gallery. External hard drives range in pricing, but you can find great options for around $100. My favorite brands are LaCie, Western Digital, and ADATA. It’s also a great idea to store these in a fireproof chest.
Save To The Cloud
I recommend using a cloud backup system as well as the external hard drives. The more places you store your images, the better. If you have an Apple computer, iCloud automatically saves your photos. Double check in case it’s been disabled though. You can also use Google Drive, BackBlaze, Dropbox and more.
Print Your Images
This one is my favorite. Investing in a photo album is one of the best, most secure ways you can preserve your images. In a world where everything is digital, it’s special to have something tangible. It’s something beautiful that instantly becomes a family heirloom. After all, it’s designed to be passed down for generations.
FAQs
What are raw images and why don’t I get those?
Raw image files are unprocessed, uncompressed, and unedited digital images that come out of a professional camera. These files are not a finished product and are designed to be edited. I do save these images for my own backup purposes, but the ones I deliver to you are sorted and edited to my standards and style. I don’t share or deliver these files for several reasons. The biggest reason is that you simply wouldn’t want these files. They are big and most people can’t even open them with their software. I also don’t allow other people to re-edit my images. That way I can maintain a consistent quality standard.
After a year has passed, do you continue to save our photos?
I do, but only to a single hard drive, which is not something to bank on. I expect clients to take care of their own images and back them up properly. Clients should not rely on me to have them years later if images are lost.
How long do our photos stay in the online gallery?
It is stated in my contract that your gallery will be accessible for at least 6 months (I usually try to keep them longer if possible). This should give you enough time to get back everything up.
Why is printing with a professional film lab better?
I always recommend printing with a professional lab. They offer expertise, better quality materials, and archival level processes. I also have a relationship with the lab I use. It’s easier to communicate, fix possible mistakes (if any), and match colors. Using mediocre printing services, like Walmart or Walgreens, is not the best idea if you want to preserve the prints.
Is any of this different for film photos?
No. I treat film the same as the digital photos I deliver to you.
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