Overview

Safety and the security of valuable photos on various devices come with a Backup strategy and cloud storage for deciding on how to backup photos. This is needed because of various data loss situations arising due to misuse, accidents, natural disasters and theft.

Storage and managing photos are easier, when the same is hosted on Cloud, rather than the conventional data centers. The cloud offers unlimited storage possibilities, with lower risk of potential failure, saving valuable resources.

Cloud Storage and Backup of Photos

Reasons for using the Cloud for storage and photo management :

• Eventual failure of the physical backups, whatever be the reasons like fire, theft, manufacturing defects or any other reasons like spilled coffee

• Hundreds of photos taken on the mobile devices can be backed up with wireless apps on a centrally synced location in the computer.

• Carrier-grade data centers in the cloud can store the data with strong file encryption, with no chances at all for data loss

• Users can Sync photos to the Cloud from PCs or the Macs and they are accessible from various devices like iPhone, Symbian devices, iPad, Android devices, iPod Touch, BlackBerry Smartphones and Windows Mobile. The photos can be viewed and shared from any devices in the cloud.

Different Storage Options for Photographers

The available types of cloud storage available for the photographers are :

 

Public/community Web-based Cloud Storage

This is the cheapest of all cloud storage but the least flexible types. The videos and the photos can be uploaded with unlimited storage space. This is not ideal for backup purpose as RAW files cannot be uploaded. The photos cannot be downloaded back to the computers, keeping the the folders structure intact. There are other instances of community web-based cloud storages like Photoshelter. The downloading and the uploading of the files are done with the web-based interfaces. RAW image uploading is also possible. These have become highly popular and are good alternative options for sites like Flickr.

Local/hybrid Folder Synchronization

A client is created to monitor changes in a folder. The internet connection is used for uploading the changes in the folder, onto the Cloud. The services start with free packages and operates with the monthly charges for additional spaces required. The automatic update of the folder structure will allow the storage of the older versions of the files. The file sharing is easier and the cost is higher than the Public/community Web-based Cloud Storage option. This is low cost but has limitations of storage.

Dedicated/private Cloud Storage

The user can buy own space in this type of cloud storage unlike Flickr. The cloud storage services are offered by Amazon and are highly expensive, because of the associated technical expertise. This is the best choice, but the price is a constraint.

The choice of the cloud storage is to be decided based on the priorities of the user. A good methodology which works for the photography business has to be worked out, with inputs like strategy for older archived data, type of file whether JPEG or the RAW online files or the backup has to be kept for as of date or for past several years.

 

How to Automatically Backup From The Mobile Device To The Cloud

The mobile devices generally work on multiple platforms. The photos and videos need to be consolidated in one place. Onedrive and Dropbox will have apps working on all major platforms for mobile devices. This will be used for backing up of photos and videos, automatically, irrespective of the device that is used. The higher resolution cameras need more storage spaces, provided adequately by the cloud services like Onedrive and Dropbox.

 

Backingup With Onedrive

Onedrive is based can be used on iOS, Windows Phone. BlackBerry, Android, Amazon Fire Phone and tablets. The free account users are entitled for a storage space of 15 GB.

Windows Phone 8.1

It is easier to set up Onedrive in Windows phone, as there is no need to download. The user needs to navigate to :

Settings > Backup > photos + videos

The options for the quality are entered for the uploaded videos and photos. A WI-Fi network connection is required for the Best Quality option.

Apple iPhone or iPad

The photos of the iOS devices are generally stored in the iCloud. But, Onedrive can be downloaded and launched with iOS. The user logs into the Microsoft account and Onedrive is selected for the automatic storage. An extra space of 3 GB is provided, but the videos and the photos are uploaded over the WI-Fi.

We can disable the automatic backup for the iCloud set up by :

Settings > iCloud – > My Photo Stream is disabled

Onedrive has a security level for restricting the user, for downloading the videos and pictures. There is a PIN code for the purpose of restriction of access to the items, which are not to be shared but just seen. The videos and the photos can be shared by using the device, with file explorer in Windows 7, Windows 8.1 apps or from the onedrive.com site. The pictures to be shared can be selected and a link created for posting on Twitter or Facebook or for emails to a user. The user who gets the shared photos need not have an Onedrive account.

Android Devices

For the new Android device, Google + has to be used for the setting of automatic backup and later it can be changed to Onedrive. The Onedrive Android App is downloaded and launched. After signing in the Microsoft account, the user will be asked about turning on the Camera backup and also 3 GB of extra space is required or not. We can turn off the Google + backup by switching it off with :

Settings > Auto Backup

 

Backing up With Dropbox

The free account from Dropbox is offered at 2 GB. For the Pro users 1 TB of data is allowed at a rate of 9.99 US $ /month. The photos can be automatically backed up by Dropbox on any platform. However, it is not available on the Windows phone. Cloudsix for Dropbox is a professional utility for the Windows phone.

The Dropbox app gives an automatic backup option like that for Dropbox. If the service is not enabled then the user need to set it up by :

Settings > Camera Upload

after the app is launched.

Settings > Camera Upload

is also used for the iOS device for turning on the facility

The selected photos, videos or the folders are shared with the other user with a link, so that the other user is invited to share the folders.

The dropbox.com or the app can be used for a control over Dropbox from the Mac, PC or the mobile device. A security option with a PIN code is also available with Dropbox.

Limitations of Cloud Storage

• Good download bandwidth is required for the quick restoration of the files from the cloud

• Good upload bandwidth is required for the backups of the TIFF and the RAW files and also the larger files

• There are no data loss situations in the Cloud storage. However, there have been instances of data loss of Flickr accounts for the operator errors

• Cloud storage is much more expensive for the large amounts of data

• Some of the Cloud service providers have a limited size for the uploaded files like 20 MB for Pro accounts in Flickr

• A proper way to share a Lightroom catalog between the photographers is needed. Dropbox cannot be used for lack of synchronizations between various users, when the changes are made quickly

The bandwidth issues are barriers for the Cloud becoming a primary storage option for the photographers. The requirements are to handle large chunks of data stored, at a reasonable price and larger uploading bandwidth for backup, from the ISPs.