Online Photo/Image Storage Questions and Other Clever Ideas for Backup Storage

[Linda86]

Hey,

Even though hard drives have dropped in price, I'm worried about having all of my archived and backed up photos and artwork in one location. I could get a portable hard drive and keep it in my safe deposit box. (Heaven knows nothing else is in there right now!) The hassle factor would be a huge disincentive to back up to this drive regularly, and given the size of PSD files, any portable drive would likely fill quickly.

So, my question for you talented and informative folks is this: Does anyone use an online photo storage service? If so, why that service? How did you figure out which service was right for you, and how much did cost play in your decision? Do you regularly back up to the online service, or is it as "difficult" to use as my safe deposit box idea? How expensive is online storage as well?

Any and all feedback is welcome. I'm not opposed entirely to using the bank as a safe backup location, even though I know how hard it is for me to backup locally - hard to actually remember to do it regularly, not difficult as far as the process is concerned. I am not certain I'd really follow through on this plan, and that would make it completely useless.

Also, really any good, workable backup systems interest me. I need a better way to make certain that if we, knock on wood, lose our home to catastrophe or if someone steals my external hard drive, I'd still have my photos, artwork, and other important files.

And do you guys encrypt personal data, like your TurboTax files?

OK, enough with the questions - I'm looking forward to some answers!!!

Thank you so much in advance for any and all info and feedback!!!!

:):):)

[Sandersmr]

I'm using www.mozy.com for online backup - this is in addition to my EHD storage system. The mozy solution is good for backup of all types of files, not just photos/layouts. It allows you to encrypt as you upload. I think it's like $5/month. I've paid for 2 years, so I don't remember exactly.

I think you are smart to think about some sort of offsite backup/storage. We don't want to think of anything happening, but they do. I hope that if I do have another catastrophe, I'm covered.

[ScrapMel]

I am presently keeping all kits on my hard drive and backed up on my EHD (I know eventually I will need to move the kits off my hard drive, just resisting at at the moment).
I do also upload all my photos to my hard drive, to my EHD and to Kodak.com. It is free and if I want a lot of photos printed, I do it there (sometimes cheaper than printing at home). IF something happens, I can always buy a CD of my photos from them.
I do need another EHD though - as a back up for my back up of my kits and digital files though. Eventually I will have to hook the EHD I have now up to my laptop to store my kits. For now I love having all kits at my perusal when I am doing a layout. Oh, actually I do have a portable EHD for my kits so it isn't on my hard drive directly - forgot about that ...

[Linda86]

Thanks for the input. Now, if only I could just throw out some of this stuff....

And I got a new EHD from DH as a late Christmas gift - after Christmas sale.;) But I'm not counting on that to solve the original problem. It will simply give me the space to organize and create a comprehensive onsite storage system. But having filled two external drives with photos and kits and artwork, I really need to get my system together. I don't even know what I have - which is the worst part. I know I'm not the only one!!!

And I still need to label photos so I can find them more easily. EEEK - too much to do!

[Stacey42]

I have an EHD I use for y backups and I burn all my photos & layouts to DVD & mail a copy to my mom. She likes having the photos & I know I have an offsite backup.

I' thinking about going with mozy to back up everything. Thing is, we have a monthly upload limit. I'm going to have to upload about 80GBs of stuff (not including programs) and I'm only allowed 10Gbs a month without paying overage fees. So I'm not too sure online back up is going to work for me.

[umajo]

Our Broadband In Aussie Is Not As Good As You Guys And I Found I Could Not Back Up On Mozy As Took Too Long

[Canay]

I have all my scrap stuff on an EHD. Since I lost everything on my EHD once, I also have a duplicate of my scrap EHD. But my duplicate is in the same office as my computer so it is not going to be helpful if there is a big fire! I agree, if I move the duplicate EHD off site, then I won't sync it to my main EHD on a regular basis. What a dilemma we scrappers face!

[digiluvr]

I back up all my photos to Dotphoto.com.
I also have my all my photos and digi stuff on 2 different EHD's and burned to DVD's. One copy at home and one at my dad's.
One of my EHD's is a small portable one which is kept in a fireproof safe/lockbox that I bought at Office Max. Very handy!

Lisa

[grambie]

Digiluvr thanks for the link to Dotphoto.com. I will definitely use this as a backup of my photos and remove them from my computer. I already have them backed up to DVD and many on my EHD. The problem is that I have too much on my internal drive and need more space. I also have an extra IHD that Sony placed within my computer, but not connected. I just need to have my pictures safely stored, which includes my kits. I need to know, does this site also upload page lo? PSD files are so large, I will just have to keep them on DVDs, and my hard drive. Thanks for the info received my first day browsing. Hi and love to everyone.

[digiluvr]

You can upload LO's but not as PSD files just jpg's. They have a neat slide show too.