Photos can serve many different purposes, from pictures you use for your job to capturing your life's best moments. Whatever their function, it can be devastating to lose them. Therefore, it's essential to know how to protect them. Losing them can be disastrous either sentimentally, financially or both. Fortunately, there are multiple simple ways to protect all of your photos from the unthinkable, whether digital or print. Each storage method has its own pros and cons, so the best choice is to utilize multiple forms of backup instead of just one.

Upload Them to the Cloud

Uploading your essential files, including your photos, to the cloud is one of the most critical and secure storage methods. The cloud is similar to having an external hard drive, but some differences make it more beneficial. There's no need for any equipment aside from the device from which you access the files. They can be viewed, uploaded and downloaded from virtually any device with internet access. You can often get free cloud storage, but you can also opt for subscription plans for more storage; some even offer unlimited storage. Cloud storage is also great because it keeps your files off-site and includes cloud monitoring as part of the service. If a disaster occurs and your computer or other devices are destroyed by situations such as a virus, electrical surge, flood or fire, you can be confident that you still have your files safely backed up in the cloud.

Store Them on External Hard Drives

Uploading your digital photos to an external hard drive can be one of the best options for safely storing them locally. You can get external drives of all storage capacities that offer safety features to keep your files more secure, such as password protection and encryption. These drives are also small, making them easy to carry with your computer or tablet. You simply plug them in via a USB cable to use these hard drives. You will want to protect this hard drive, possibly even have one off-site for more protection. Either way, your photos are safe if something happens to your computer.

Save Them on Memory Cards or Flash Drives

Memory cards and flash drives are ultra-portable, but sometimes they can prove to be too small. They are easy to lose if they aren't inserted into your device. However, they are good options if you want multiple backups of your photos and plenty of storage space.

Burn Them to CDs or DVDs

An older but still good method of backing up your photos is burning them to a CD or DVD. Although it is definitely not the only backup you should create, it can serve as an extra layer of protection. After all, you can never have too much security for your meaningful memories. CDs and DVDs don't have as much storage capacity as other methods and are more time-consuming to create, and you need to make sure you have access to a CD or DVD burner. You can get portable USB versions if you don't have one installed on your computer.

Print Them

Getting prints of your photos means having tangible copies you can display as a decoration in your home or office. You can also simply keep them safely stored in a secure container. This is always an excellent option to preserve your best memories in addition to your digital files.

Whether a graduation, wedding, a dream vacation or simply a fun day out with friends, your photos hold a lot of meaning and sentimental value that can never be replaced. Begin today using these methods to ensure these invaluable personal memories are secure wherever you go. There are multiple inexpensive options available that require practically no time to create. Your investment will definitely be worth it in the long run.