The place on it will eventually run out anyway. Further, most photographers simply copy pictures from the camera to the hard drive of their computer, without even thinking about their further safety. But in vain ... Due to a simple shaking of a laptop, a power surge, or simply a malfunction in the electronics, your entire photo archive can be lost literally in an instant. In this article, we will tell you how and where to store photos securely, and what storage system is best for your purposes.

In my photographic practice, it has already happened twice unpleasant situation when the hard drive stopped working and all the data on it was lost. For the first time this happened for no apparent reason: one day the computer did not turn on. The second time I just dropped the laptop from a height of about half a meter. This turned out to be enough. A very unpleasant situation, but not fatal. Because in both cases, the most valuable data (and for a photographer, this is primarily a photo archive) I had copied to a separate medium. So, the main rule of secure data storage is that you should always have up-to-date backup copies of files on a separate medium.

What media to choose for backup?

When the trees were big and the cameras were 6 megapixels, some photographers managed to burn their photo archives to DVDs and then just stack them. Now this approach may seem ridiculous: what kind of self-discipline and perseverance do you need to have in order not to forget to write down a couple of discs with photographs after each photo session? In addition, modern laptop models are increasingly supplied without a CD-ROM.

Today, hard drives are the most reliable yet affordable media.

Today, hard drives are the most reliable yet affordable media for storing photos. We will look at two ways to organize storage: using external hard drives and using hard drives inside your desktop computer. Let's start with external drives.

Storage system for photo travelers

For many photographers, a laptop has become the same creative tool as a camera: it accompanies its owner on trains around the city, on outdoor photo shoots, and on distant expeditions. The pictures taken are reviewed on the laptop, the most successful ones are selected, partially processed ... and, of course, the results of the shooting are stored. It is on him that the entire burden of responsibility for the filmed material falls. But even in the field, you can easily and easily apply data backup. The best solution for this is WD's My Passport and My Passport Ultra drives.

These compact and lightweight drives have capacities ranging from 500 GB to 2 TB, which is a record for devices of this format today (2.5” external drives). A fast USB 3.0 interface is used to connect to a computer (the previous version, USB 2.0, is also supported). The device does not need an outlet to power it, which allows you to work with it anywhere.

Now for the fun part: With the WD SmartWare Pro backup software that comes with My Passport Ultra, you can sync folders on your hard drive and on your drive. When the drive is connected to the computer in the background, all changes that have occurred to the folder on your laptop are automatically made into the backup copy: edited files are updated, newly created files are copied, deleted ones are erased. In addition, My Passport Ultra allows you to copy your files not only to the drive itself, but also to the Dropbox cloud service if you are connected to the Internet.

A simple solution for amateur photographers

Not all of us spend days and months on long trips. Someone prefers to return home every day and look at fresh photos, sitting in their favorite chair with a cup of coffee in front of a large monitor. In this case, a larger My Book external drive will suit you. It will stand at your place near your PC and delight not only with its strict design, but also with an impressive volume - up to 3TB! This drive also connects to a computer via a high-speed USB 3.0 interface and comes with free program for automatic WD SmartWare backups. In addition, such a solution to some extent will be a more reliable storage for the archive, since it is less likely than mobile drives to face such troubles as falling or accidental bumps.

NAS for the whole family

All the drives we've looked at so far have had one thing in common: the USB interface. But if you have a local network at home (and after all, almost everyone now has a Wi-Fi router installed), then why not connect the computer to the drive using this very network? My Book Live is not equipped with USB, but with a Gigabit Ethernet network interface. This means that you can put it next to your router, connect them with a power cord (which, of course, comes in the kit) and access data remotely, for example, via Wi-Fi. Configuration using the included software is carried out automatically with just a couple of clicks, even a person who is far from network technologies can handle it. Five minutes - and all your home computers already "see" the drive, all members of your family can store their files on it, regardless of which operating system they use - MAC or Windows. Naturally, the network interface is not a hindrance to backup using WD SmartWare. It's also available with My Book Live: data from synced folders is saved automatically in the background when your computer is connected to home network. Moreover, you can use this drive as a centralized storage for backups from several computers in the house, all data will be transferred within your local network.

But all the advantages of My Book Live do not end there. A few more clicks and you can customize remote access to data from mobile devices. Save pictures from your iPhone to your hard drive or vice versa download a movie to your tablet from your hard drive - all this has become accessible and easy with the help of special applications for smartphones and tablets. WD2go and WDphotos applications allow you to access your hard drive not only from the local network, but also from the outside (if you have an Internet connection).

Well, if you have Internet access, then you can now access your files from any corner of the world using the WD 2go service: register web access in the device settings (you just need to specify your name and address Email), log in to the www.wd2go.com portal and view the contents of your archive via the Internet. So, for example, if you need some important files in the office, you can remotely access this drive and download everything.

It remains to be added that My Book Live is produced in exactly the same volumes as My Book - from 1 to 3 TB.

Dual Drive NAS for Professional Photographers

Three terabytes - to someone it will seem just a huge amount. But professional photographers can fill up even such a hard drive fairly quickly. They need a more serious model: My Book Live Duo. Its main difference from the usual My Book Live is that there are not one, but two hard drives inside. In this case, the possible storage capacity is from 4 to 8 terabytes.

It would seem that a trifle is just a doubled volume. But the use of two hard drives inside the drive allows you to approach data storage differently: if the owner of the device wants it, information can be written to disks in parallel (RAID 1). Yes, but the storage capacity will be reduced by half. But even if one of the disks fails, you will not lose important data. You can completely entrust the photo archive to such a network storage, even without saving it in the memory of your computer. The second difference with My Book Live Duo is the USB port, where you can plug in another drive to expand your storage capacity or create a restore point.

One more interesting feature This model is the ability to self-disassemble and replace the hard drives inside. The memory ran out, they took out the full hard drives and put them on the shelf. And in their place we put new, empty ones.

For computer processing professionals

If your Mac has a Thunderbolt™ interface and speed is your top storage requirement, then My Book Thunderbolt™ Duo is for you. Like the My Book Live Duo, this drive has two hard drives inside and can be from 4TB to 8TB. But the use of a bi-directional Thunderbolt interface provides unmatched fast multitasking with video editing programs, 3D rendering and other "heavy" graphics programs. This dual-drive drive can be configured to work in the mode you need: RAID 0 for speed (fast Thunderbolt interface allows you to unleash the full potential of such an array), RAID 1 for data protection, or JBOD for drive-by-drive operation. Another useful feature of this device is that in Mac OS® X, the My Book Thunderbolt Duo drive can be made a bootable external device.

Self storage organization

If for one reason or another ready systems storage is not suitable for you, you can create a storage system yourself. For example, the easiest backup option might be to add another hard drive to your desktop computer. Then it remains only to configure backup using certain software products. For example, when you import photos from a flash drive, Adobe Lightroom can create backups in the location you specify. Or you can simply sync multiple folders on your computer using the Sync Toy utility for Windows. You can also use the already mentioned WD Smartware Pro by purchasing it on the manufacturer's website. This program will independently track the latest changes in files on any disks installed in your PC.

It is important to choose the right hard drive that best suits your purposes. If it will be used only for backup, then best solution will be one of the WD Green series drives. This range has proven to be the quietest and coolest drives on the market. From others important features The "green" series is worth noting an impressive volume (up to 3 TB) and an excellent price ratio per gigabyte. If you plan to install an operating system on the same hard drive or perform complex file processing directly from the disk (for example, video editing), then you will need performance. For these purposes, it is better to prefer another line - WD Black: these drives are speed and performance champions among PC models.

WD Red is built for NAS use

They are specially designed to work in small NAS (for home and small office): they support 24/7 operation, have low noise and power consumption, and are compatible with the vast majority of NAS

Summarize?

Don't wait for the first negative data loss experience. Get smart about the idea of ​​backing up your files now. And then just choose the solution that suits you best. Fortunately, there are devices on the market today for every taste: from light and compact external drives with a USB interface and a convenient backup program to serious multi-drive drives that can be used both for storing photos and for processing. Choose the one that suits you! And we, in turn, in the very near future will tell you about several of the most successful models of drives, conduct their tests and describe in detail the entire setup process.

At the beginning of the creative path, the photographer studies light and composition, color and poetics, photographic equipment and the needs of the customer, the economics of art and the psychology of photo models; but it is important to study one more point - how to save photos. The topic is voluminous, complex and full of marketing, manipulation and misconceptions. A topic… that I want to clarify for beginners.

Initially, I tried to choose a format, a little later - a type of drive that could, as far as possible, reduce the risk of data loss. This was clear from the first, to be honest, not the most correct edition of this note, which it is time to update. Of course, there will be no truth in it either, only a special case (scenario) from the life of one photographer.

• Photo storage
  • Responsibility and legacy
    • Temporary work
    • Valuable photos
  • special case
    • Structural elaboration
    • Creating backups
      • Media selection
      • Scenario selection
      • Prevention
  • Frequently asked Questions
    • How to store private photos
    • Where is the best place to store photos?
• Instead of a conclusion

Note:

The volume of the narrative is a consequence of the path: the choice of format, optimal drives, led to the need to learn the basics of backup; updating OS Windows - to *nix, which are better suited for personal file storage; the combination of “operating systems” - to the scenario, based on the life of the photographer, and the desire to simplify the technological chains that should free up time and guarantee the result - to specialists who will help find a solution, but first they will study my situation, spend their time on a conversation.

I am updating this post to help beginners: to realize the value of a photo archive in the life of a photographer and to collect the necessary developments technical specialists- links to notes (from blogs) and detailed guides which there is no point in retelling; it is better to read, understand, apply and, if problems arise, look for a solution; the words of the guys from Paragon Software - I quote, because their attention to detail and the desire to find a personal, not a typical solution, helped me save time and money, protect my photo archive.

Photo storage

The footage is not an archive yet, only digital information. Its safety rarely causes concern: modern cameras duplicate information on a second flash drive, many genres teach the photographer to shoot on a computer (Tethered Capture). To lose a photograph, and irretrievably, in the process of creation - this must be tried. For greater protection, it is worth setting up automatic uploads to cloud storage (through the same laptop, for example) in order to protect yourself in case of a software failure, static electricity, or another way to destroy the original data. But what's next?

Most troubles happen later:

• Lost access to online storage.
• Physically damaged storage media.
• Infected with a ransomware virus.
• Accidentally, or ahead of time, deleted a folder from the PC.
• The PSU failed and destroyed all PC components.

Of course, these are not all threats, but, I hope, a common problem is visible - camera manufacturers are studying the sad experience of photographers, but what are we doing? Often, we believe that this happened through someone else's fault, or with someone who did not take into account "this" and "that", while everything is fine with us. No matter how. 🙂

Storing photographs begins with the study of the computer, with understanding it as a tool: one’s own, personal, which is used in right moment, to solve certain problems; the rest of the time - there is no access to it.

To play games, watch movies, listen to music or correspond - for this it is better (and this is wise) to purchase a separate device (sometimes a laptop acts as its role), which will be used by loved ones (and the photographer himself), because a working PC:

• Consumes more electricity. Indirect costs, which affect the price - the cost of the final photo.
• Connected to the Internet according to the schedule. Update software, synchronize data (if the photographer works with online services). Permanent online - vulnerability.
• Most hard drives (the best drive type) break at startup, not while running; extra on / off - acceleration of the time between failures.

The photographer's computer is a working tool. Limited access, both physical and through the network, will help protect data: both from accidental errors and technical failures, and from deliberate theft of information, or attempts to damage or destroy it. As additional security measures, it is better to set up a firewall, exclude routers from the network (vulnerabilities in firmware and sad consequences for owners), and set up Internet distribution for a working PC through a laptop on which to set up firewall rules and, if there is time, regularly analyze traffic to identify unsuccessful (breathe with relief) attempts to gain access, including through vulnerabilities in installed software (and take timely action: update the software, write a bug report to the program developers, or temporarily uninstall / pick up a replacement). Protecting the device from power surges is an additional measure that can be called mandatory, a priority.

Personal opinion. It does not eliminate the need to create at least one backup copy outside of the working PC, but more on that later. Now it is important to say about the disks.

Most photographers complain about the small number of sleds in modern cases, the lack (sometimes) of ports to connect all the disk drives. Sets of 4-6 discs are becoming the norm, but there is no point in this:

• The PSU shorts out and… you know what will happen to all the disks and the photo archive.
• The ransomware will penetrate and ... you will understand that you cannot store everything in one place.
• More disks - more powerful PSU, higher power consumption and heat dissipation.

Optimal disk set:

• 1xSSD. For software. data, including open projects- it is quite possible to store on conventional hard drives to increase the life of the solid state drive.

• 2xHDD. Combined in RAID 1, mirrored disk array. One disk fails - a copy of the information on the second; Bought a new drive, synchronized and on the road.

The volume of hard drives is an amateur, but at the beginning of the journey, 2 TB is enough. Believe me, it's better - if you bought a lot of disks, for example - 4, then it's better to pack one into an external box, or send it to an external network storage, as the basis for RAID 1. A backup is peace of mind, collecting all disk drives in one " box" - an unjustified risk.

Of course, storing photos is not only a PC, understanding it as a working tool and, more importantly, a personal one, but also an archive that cannot be regarded as a dump of all information. Over time, comes the understanding that:

1. Taking it off is easy.
2. To convey to the viewer - much more difficult.
3. Keeping what you have is more important than filming something new.
4. It is the duty of the photographer to understand what he decided to leave/keep.

At the beginning of my creative path, I studied the attitude of colleagues towards digital archives in order to understand whether I needed other people's habits, or should I develop my own.

As a result: I refused software cataloging, I manage the order in folders myself; and left the understanding of the archive as a scrupulous collection of all information: passing frames take up space, but do not represent value, so I give the prints to the customer, and after a month (if suddenly something ... it’s better to wait) I delete temporary information, I’m not obliged to store it (about this it is important to write in the contract, or notify in advance.And if the customer needs digital files, for printing or as a backup copy, then you can arrange how additional service, but exclude through-shots from your archive).

The criterion for clearing the archive from temporary frames is time. The recommended schedule is once a year (it's more convenient for me). We opened it, looked at it and assessed whether the frame would be useful for an exhibition or a book; useful - do not touch, no - create a reminder, for example, in Thunderbird (I have been using it since switching to Xubuntu), preferably annual: check "such and such a folder", or "such and such a file".

The desire for the purity of the archive, the selective accumulation of photographs, will help develop three questions:

1. What to store?
2. For what?

I don't remember who gave this advice, but it came in handy. Hopefully not just me.

On this, I will finish the introductory part and move on to the main scenarios that will explain: what and how to store when I figured out my computer and understanding the photo archive.

Responsibility and legacy

All footage is subject to sorting in two stages. The first:

• Technical marriage - in the ballot box.
• Plot marriage - similarly.
• No defects - leave.

And a second one to reveal:

• Temporary files.
• And those that need to be transferred to the main archive.

Yes, for the convenience of work, the archives must be divided into:

• Temporary - all current projects.
• And the main one is a collection of the author's most valuable works throughout his entire working life.

This data can be preserved in the following way (basic scenarios).

Temporary work

1. RAID 1 on a work PC and a backup on an external drive, in addition - you can use a cloud service, because background synchronization does not take much (relatively) time.
2. RAID 1 on work PC and backup on personal file server. Can buy turnkey solution(NAS), the main thing is to study all the nuances, or assemble it yourself, without unnecessary functionality (the best option for a photographer).
3. RAID 1 on a work PC and 4 backups: on an external drive and on a personal file server, cloud online service and one more - away from the working PC: in a photo studio, in the parental home, or ... the main thing is to be reliable.

The most logical solutions, the first two that will help save current projects, but the third scenario - reliable, but timely updating a copy outside the home - this, we admit, will be difficult, and if the relevance of the data is in question, then the reserve will be of use not enough, but you never know ... there is a sense, there would be a desire. 🙂

Marginal notes:

• NAS. Ready-made solutions are the first thing everyone thinks about, but the coin has two sides. Where and when the vulnerability will be discovered is unknown. Will the manufacturer release a patch - similarly. Pay attention to this moment, Google will help you with the rest.
• Disks. Hard drives - low cost 1 TB, careful handling and regular backups, after the end of the factory warranty, diagnostics, status tracking; utilities will help in the latter: for Windows and.
• Cloud. A controversial decision, since the hoster can delete data (under any pretext) or restrict access (if using foreign services), another threat is ransomware ... and another is the use of data for machine learning. Alas…

Delve into, study and compare with your needs.

Valuable photos

1. RAID 1 on a working PC and 2 backup copies: on an external drive and on a personal file server (it is advisable to assemble it yourself, based on a full-fledged OS).
2. RAID 1 on a working PC and 3 backups: on an external drive and on a personal file server, as a bonus - a backup to optical discs: DVD or Blu-ray (yes, alas, not fashionable, but reliable if you follow the storage conditions).
3. RAID 1 on a work PC and 4 backups: on an external drive and on a personal file server, optical drives and a separate file storage, or an external drive, at your parents' home, in a photo studio, or in another safe place.

Valuable photos are better not to shine on the Internet, only previews, otherwise it will be difficult for the author to prove his rights if full-size photos get into the network, or even worse - raw files from which many copies will be made; a separate problem is the customer, not everyone, and this pleases, social media and online parties are interesting, many private customers do not want you, as an author, to show their pictures to the public; it is better to respect someone else's privacy, then there will be fewer problems.

Choose the solution that will help control the equipment, the frequency of creating (we'll talk about this later) backups, timely software updates so as not to miss the malware that can wipe out years of work at once. A separate point is access (although convenient wifi networks, but a wire is better, and the connection is established at the time of creating and updating the copy, after which it is turned off so that if the malware hits the working PC, it could not get to the backup; the rule also applies to external drives: connected, created a copy, disconnected. Safe is that which is isolated.)

It's not worth laughing at optical discs, drives will not disappear from sale, and reliability has been tested by time (let them say that it's old, but it's reliable). The disadvantage of the solution is very, to put it mildly, inconvenient, but if you get involved, then burning a disc at the end of the year is normal.

Note:

special case

Before the change, there was a difficult situation. RAID 1 on a working PC and a separate external drive (temporarily connected, made a copy and disconnected) to create a backup. I checked the files, in a primitive, I agree, way - by the method of checking the hash sum. Cloud technologies - at the very beginning I excluded, I appreciate privacy, the ability to control access to my data. As an additional measure - the annual recording of valuable footage on an optical disc.

There were advantages to this situation:

• Something happens within the PC - there is an external drive, temporary files are safe; valuable - similarly (additional copy on optical discs).
• Separate storage - the ability to protect data from the human factor; work with files only in your right mind and solid memory.

And significant disadvantages:

• Lack of automation.
• Large time costs.

A separate problem is a laptop: the Internet is distributed through it to a working PC, but I want to transfer access to data through an “intermediary”, how to automate all this, and most importantly, taking into account life in the provinces (costs are important), so as not to fence too much, but to do convenient and reliable, preferably - once and for all, so as not to change habits, not to retrain - with such thoughts I turned to the guys from Paragon Software Group.

A. Bondar: Hello. It is necessary to protect your work data, including the most important photo archive, from everyday troubles: software or hardware failure, targeted attack, system infection (separate attention - ransomware), a human factor that cannot be ruled out. How to approach the solution of this problem?

Paragon Software Group: Hello. Our software will help speed up and simplify the process of creating backups, but you must store the backups somewhere. That's what I'll ask you to clarify: on what media will your backups be stored?

A. Bondar: I think this is a separate request - help me choose the configuration: devices, technologies and scenarios.

Paragon Software Group: What's in stock? Explain all inputs.

A. Bondar: A working PC, on which 2 disks are combined in RAID and a separate hard drive, which I connect to make a copy of working files, update the main photo archive. At the disposal of a laptop, the operating system is Xubuntu, a distribution kit based on Debian. And it would be nice to use it ...

Paragon Software Group: For what purpose?

A. Bondar: While it distributes the Internet, sometimes I open raw files on it in order to understand, evaluate, temporary frames, or make a rough conversion; I transfer the data to a USB flash drive and I think this is not the most convenient option.

Paragon Software Group: That's right, distributed file access will make your life easier. But will improve - a separate file server. You can buy a ready-made solution or do it yourself, everything is quite simple. But it is quite possible that the cloud service - the fastest, in comparison with setting up a server, will solve your problem. Are you considering this option?

A. Bondar: No, absolutely.

Paragon Software Group: Why?

A. Bondar: Basically, my customers are ordinary people. Commercial photography in a very distant past, completely forgotten. A lot of people don't have social media. And do not broadcast their lives on the Internet. They don't want strangers to see their photos. No, not because something immoral was filmed, they simply divide life into public, personal and media life, which is formed by the Internet space. They don't like the online ecosystem and don't want to be part of it. This is their choice, which I must respect. That's why I don't consider the cloud, there are too many "buts". Actually, as in OS Windows, which I endure for the sake of Adobe Photoshop, but “I regularly remind her”: “Respect the privacy of the user!” Tips from Hacker magazine help with this, thanks to the editors.

Paragon Software Group: On a work PC - Windows, on a laptop - Linux. Right?

A. Bondar: Yes exactly.

Structural elaboration

In the context of the dialogue, I would like to explain, for readers, the structure of my photo archive:

• Temporary archive
  • 2018 (used to navigate by dates)
    • January
      • 18.01.2018
        • From shooting
          • All files
          • 1 sort
          • 2 sort
          • left
        • In the process
          • After conversion
          • Outcome. No sharpness
        • Outcome
          • To the archive
          • Preview
          • Seal
• Main Archive
  • 2018
    • January
      • 18.01.2018
        • left
          • Seal
          • Action
          • presets
        • I doubt
          • Seal

Nothing complicated, like any archive - tied to a date. The structure seems logical to me, its main advantage is minimum requirements to disk space: no unnecessary and distracting folders that increase the amount of technical information.

Creating backups

Backup is not a word, but a topic. Sophisticated, trendy and shady. They talk about it, sometimes they use it. And you often hear:

• It's good to have a backup...

• Too bad I didn't backup...

Some talk about backups, others think about it, others do it, and they live only by them. Why is there such a division? In my opinion, everything is simple; the photographer, gradually, goes to understand his craft:

• What's important.
• What is valuable.
• What if…

The guys from Paragon Software answered in a simpler way (there was time - I asked them a generalized question):

Andrey, everything is simple here. Until you step on a rake, you will not look under your feet. Often, it is indifference to one’s work and time that leads people to a sad result: the system has “collapsed”, there is nowhere to transfer or restore data from ... an understanding comes that if ... yes, “if”, to expend a little bit of effort earlier, then now the data would be intact, and this is the main thing. After all, what is “data” for a photographer? This is an opportunity to fill out a portfolio, make prints, in other words, show an example of the final product that you sell. If there is nothing to show, then there will be nothing to attract - there will be nothing to sell. What's next? It is not difficult to guess: either all over again, or a change of profession.

It's true, but I had another question about backups.

A. Bondar: The software simplifies the backup process. But many colleagues believe that if you are not paranoid (like me, about privacy), then you don’t need to combine methods: you set up RAID and you’re working; transfer files to an external hard drive and work; upload files to the cloud and work; you buy a NAS and everything, in abundance of solutions, the best is chosen. What is the confusion here?

Paragon Software Group: The fact that a mirrored disk array will not save the photographer, or another person, from the need to make backups. RAID is not a backup. Yes, and its competent maintenance is difficult to figure out: constant monitoring of the status of disks, the file system, file integrity ... of course, it's good that you have time to figure it out, get used to it and constantly monitor it, but not everyone is interested in it, and therefore, to Unfortunately, they work - while they work: there is no control over changes, and there is no understanding - what will happen tomorrow, or the next moment. Cloud or network storages are excellent and, in many respects, reliable solutions, but modern ransomware has learned to scan the network and infect data over a local network, synchronize damaged data to the cloud - many users have become convinced of this possibility. The external drive may not turn on, or sometimes you drop it, expose it to electromagnetic waves. And you can also infect files on an external drive. If a photographer cares about his photo archive, then there should be a rule in his life: store backups on different media, and if possible, combine all available solutions that will ensure mobility, security and, most importantly, autonomy.

Note:

Answers to frequently asked questions .

Media selection

As mentioned earlier: before the changes, I placed backup copies of both archives on an external hard drive; RAID - as insurance, in case of failure of one of the working hard drives installed on the working PC; recording on optical discs is a conservation method that many have abandoned, but it suits me, I don’t dare to change anything.

During a conversation with the guys from Paragon, I came to the conclusion that it would be nice to get (and as I understood later, I rightly thought about it) a personal file server: for storing backups and organizing distributed access to files in order to use a laptop, take the load off a working PC and start data exchange within the home local network, but what to do - buy a ready-made solution, or assemble it yourself - I decided to ask, but first of all - to clarify the points for myself: security, flexibility, reliability.

A. Bondar: Routers, like all IoT devices, have shown that a ready-made solution is a risk and a “user is to blame” situation:

• Wants to use the device “forever”, and not 3-5 years.
• Waiting for software updates from the manufacturer when it appeared a new version"pieces of iron".
• Counts on operational corrections, maximum standard security.

And also "scanty" Linux and the secret life of your device. “out of the box solutions” scare me. What can you say about it?

Paragon Software Group: The choice is a compromise. If you want convenience, take a ready-made solution and use it: plug in the cord, disks, turn it on and do the basic setup, and that's all - your backups are stored in an attractive box. If you want reliability and flexibility - figure it out on your own, if you want privacy - figure it out yourself, and if something breaks, then service center no, and you will have to read forums and manuals, and watch how time slips away - the most valuable resource.

A. Bondar: Indeed, a compromise. Thank you for outlining the prospects, but I decided to choose option 2 - to assemble it myself. What needs to be considered?

Paragon Software Group: To begin with, it is right to set the task - what do you need? Store only, or including, backups, provide access to data over the local network, from where the data will be downloaded, because you can implement a cloud based on a file server, the same ownCloud allows you to set up a private cloud, and of course - security: updates , OS and software; RAID and scheduled maintenance.

A. Bondar: And then RAID?

Paragon Software Group: You can refuse. It all depends on how important the photo archive is to you and how critical its loss is. RAID is the user's choice, so many (including top-end NAS) leave this choice to the buyer: if you want, activate it, but if not, then rejoice at the total volume of disks. But if you think about it, then a backup copy, which is also mirrored on several disks, inside the server, is peace of mind, and you better take this into account.

A. Bondar: Okay, I'm used to RAID, but what about the OS?

Paragon Software Group: You like Linux - use it. Distributed access - Samba, configured on any distribution. Your server will be available for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS devices.

A. Bondar: Indeed, there will be no problems with access (useful manuals and, as well as analysis of errors, special cases and bugs), Samba was “chewed” in Runet.

Paragon Software Group: Just do not forget that your task is to exclude additional routers, leave the file server in a separate subnet, in which the Internet is blocked and you do not need any cloud functionality. The laptop and work PC must be on the same, first, subnet, and the file server on the second. This is how you solve the security issue. And that's all, install our software on your working PC and make backups.

Scenario selection

I set up the equipment, installed the program and thought:

• The contents of the archive are heterogeneous:
  • .tiff
  • .jpeg
• Update randomly:
  • Shooting days:
    • .txt (all thoughts, comments, notes - a separate temporary text file)
  • On processing days:
    • .tiff
  • On press days:
    • .jpeg

Regularly creating a full backup is an unnecessary waste of time, a waste of PC resources and excessive power consumption. I understand that there is a solution - a partial backup - but, logically, the basic template is a stencil, but I want the program to take into account the life (and this is normal) of the photographer, and not offer to play by its own rules.

A. Bondar: The day of shooting, the day of processing, the day of printing - how to explain your life to the program? To make incremental backups fast and accurate.

Paragon Software Group: Job - Backup & Recovery functionality (included in the software - Hard Disk Manager) will help you customize scenarios for yourself. Anything you need:

1. Specify an event (when to copy).
2. Specify file types (what to copy).

I'll explain with an example. You return from the shooting after 16.00, by 17.00 all the files on the work PC and the regular event - "such and such a day" and "such and such a time" (let it be Wednesday, 21.00) - is about to start. At the appointed time, the program checks:

1. Whether the disk (on which the files you specified (.cr2) will appear) is connected.
2. Whether there are new files (.cr2).

There will be new files - the program will add them to the main archive. Scenarios are not limited. Don't be afraid to experiment. 🙂

A. Bondar: I like that. But there is a question - when to do an incremental backup, and when is it a full one? For example, a file server is more convenient than a disk. I suppose that I will often make incremental backups so that the backup is always up-to-date, but with a disk everything can be different - I will only make full backups to an external hard drive.

Paragon Software Group: Everything is individual. You can take into account your schedule (and project deadlines) or the devices that you have chosen to store backups, you can come up with a separate scenario for your life. In this matter, the program does not limit you.

A. Bondar: So I’ll take a sheet of paper and a pencil (my favorite instruments) and spend the evening thinking, so that I can set everything up once and not redo it anymore. But that's later. Let me clarify something else, I hope. Backup, specialized software and script settings, but what about the standard Windows tools? How is your method different from MS, what is the advantage of your software?

Paragon Software Group: You value privacy, right? Our software will not only help you create backups, but also securely encrypt them (create a container, set a password on it, and no one, without a password, will have access to your archive. If someone steals a disk, or an entire computer, it is for him will not help, because it will detect the encrypted container, but will not be able to do anything with it, because it does not know the password). Do not be afraid of encryption, because it guarantees complete confidentiality, even if you contact a professional data recovery laboratory.

A. Bondar: 15 years ago, I would have said: “This is risky!” But now that KeePass has made life easier, I agree, useful functionality. But I'll give you another example. Child, family and photographer's life. Did not see and the child poured a mug of tea into the system unit, in addition - a jar (or maybe two) of raspberry jam. I tried to fix everything - I took out a hard drive to wipe the liquid from it, and, like any toy, it drops on the floor. scary scenario. But everything happens in life and there are situations when the hard drive is physically damaged and can no longer be connected to a PC - a lot. A well-known way is restoration in the laboratory. This is what I mean, but how is the information stored on the disk? Is it possible to corrupt the archive?

Paragon Software Group: No, it cannot be damaged, only lost - this is a feature of the approach to creating an archive. How does Windows File History work? Copies files to the specified location - an external drive or file server, and does not compress them. Because of this, if the disk (or rather the plates inside) is damaged, you will not be able to recover all the files, even in the laboratory. By what method does our program create an archive? The files are placed in a container; files are compressed and the resulting archive is written so that it is physically located on one sector of the disk; in case of damage to this sector - the archive will be lost, if any other sectors - no, the absolute integrity of all your data.

A. Bondar: That's why RAID and copies on different media, and not just on a work PC or external hard drive. The method is interesting, a kind of small fireproof safe for files: you can’t open it without keys; destroy completely, along with all the contents - it is possible. To close the topic of file integrity, another question is that bad sectors appeared on one of the disks, on a working PC. The user overlooked this, runs the software to create a backup, the reaction of the program?

Paragon Software Group: A notice that not everything is good with the standard archiving method - there are problems and raw copy should be used. The program learns about disk problems thanks to Windows services, in particular - Volume Shadow Copy.

A. Bondar: Thank you. All scenarios that were familiar to me were explained. Now I'll set it up for myself, but back to photography.

Prevention

At the moment, I create backup copies of the photo archive according to the following schedule:

1. Monday: full backup.
2. Tuesday to Saturday: Partial.

Incremental (partial) backups are made automatically so that after shooting (after all, I’m not a robot, I can forget) or working in Ps, I won’t lose anything. I create a full backup manually. That's why:

• Monday morning is a good time to do your scheduled PC maintenance:
  • Check the main archive: revise temporary files, remove what is weak and what you doubt - mark again, and add to the scheduler.
  • Assess the health of disk drives - examine S.M.A.R.T. If something confuses, then the launch of additional tests and a careful analysis of the attributes.
  • Update the file server software, then the work PC.

Only after I made sure that the disks are working, the archive is cleared of "garbage", all the data is intact and there was no penetration, I start the full backup process. Because the time for all the tests and "brides" goes differently: from 3-5 minutes to 3 hours, and so far I can't make a single script. I can start at 8 am, and I can start by 11, after the second breakfast, or at 9-10 while I read the mail.

Each photographer has their own backup policy, because:

– Everything depends on the user’s needs and his disk space, the work schedule and the attitude of the author to his works is an equally important criterion that excludes a standard solution and calls for taking into account the recommendations, adopting the experience and best practices of colleagues, and adjusting them for yourself, for your private happening.

Again, the words of technical specialists from Paragon Software that I heard, applied, without the desire to join “them” or “them” who make backups once a month or a year; I hope you, after reading this note, will not blindly copy a special case, but you will understand:

1. What threats exist.
2. Why do they concern the photographer.
3. What solutions will help secure archives.
4. Why backup is not a magic pill, but a set of measures.

Optimal photoarchive structure

It all depends on the specifics of the work:

• Streaming shooting, or targeted projects.
• Retouching, or raw-conversion and preparation for printing.

I can’t know the specifics of each photographer, in the article I explained the structure of my archive, if you like it, take it as a basis; if not, use the advice:

The optimal structure of the archive is a mess in which you quickly find what you need.

An evening or two, with a pencil and a piece of paper in your hands, and you will pick everything up; act, do not wait for ready-made solutions.

Where is the best place to store your photo archives?

Convenience… everyone understands it differently:

• One stores "on the side": all his data, savings and work projects. To not think about technical side question and make demands, "if suddenly something ..."
• Other: on your own server, or another solution that allows you to control and customize everything for yourself, taking into account the budget, skills, requests, etc.

Both are comfortable. Who you are? Don't know. What is convenient for you? I can not know. A special case in front of you - analyze, evaluate your skills and further development of technology.

Instead of a conclusion

I continue to work, make backups in a timely manner, study the topic of backup. I do not plan to abandon Linux, on the contrary, I regularly fill in the gaps. Something will change in my practice - I will share with readers.

So, a man came from a distant exotic country, where he spent his only vacation of the year with pleasure. The trip was full of various adventures and excursions. Many valuable and unique photographs were taken as a memory.

Upon arrival, the question immediately arose: Where to store photos safely so that the memory of the trip remains for many years?
Consider the standard storage locations for personal information, which are text files and personal photos.

Options for storing the main album and for creating backup copies of photos

1. Leave photos on the camera's memory card

Since the main types of memory for cameras are now relatively inexpensive, the card can be removed from the device and put in a secluded corner, thus saving the photo. You can buy new memory for later shooting. Thus, over time, a kind of archive-corner will be formed with many flash cards of a certain format. It must be remembered that faster memory cards for cameras are not cheap. For comfortable recording of video on the “mirror”, without freezes, you need a high-quality expensive card.

Advantages.

No need to waste time saving and transferring files to other media. It is only desirable to create a duplicate archive for the most reliable storage.

Flaws.

The first and most important disadvantage: buying memory every time, one way or another, will lead to additional costs.
Secondly, memory cards sometimes become unreadable due to the use of various adapters and other devices. In any case, you need to find a place to store the backup archive.

2. Burn photos to DVD disc

Nice try;), but this method has limitations and very significant: the size of the space for burning a single-sided single-layer DVD is 4.7 GB. If the size of your camera's flash memory is much larger, this method is clearly not suitable as a backup location. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the speed of writing to DVD is rather low, if suddenly someone decides to burn 30-40 GB of information on several discs in a row. You will have to sit near the computer all day.

Advantages.

Flaws.

Low write speed. Suitable for storing only part of the information. And since graphics take up a lot of memory, this technique is hardly the best for our purposes.

3. Recording and storing photos on an external USB drive

Large volume and high speed recording, what could be better. Indeed, one of the best options can be called exactly this method. The files are stored on the hard disk of an external USB drive. At any time they can be copied from the camera, transferred to any place, connected to a computer and viewed. Here are just hard drives, especially with frequent use, they can fail, thereby losing the information that was recorded on them. and from a damaged USB drive, only the cost of recovery can completely discourage the desire to do this. External USB drives fail more often than the HDD of a computer or laptop due to constant movement, which can become a source of dynamic overload leading to premature failure.

Advantages.

Fast write speed, portability, large storage capacity. Relatively cheap storage space given the cost per gigabyte (1 GB) of information.

Flaws.

The low reliability of this data store. Those. the case when the advantage, in this case, the mobility of the device, becomes a disadvantage, as it worsens the reliability indicator.

4. Storage on the hard drive of a desktop computer or laptop

Computer HDDs are fast and capacious devices, but, as noted earlier, quite often they suddenly fail. Moreover, suddenness is characteristic in the full sense of the word - today you turn off the PC and everything is fine, and tomorrow it turns out that the computer's hard drive is out of order and information can be restored only with the help of special equipment for a lot of money.
In addition, to increase the reliability of data storage, it is better to do this on a stationary PC - there, hard drives, as a rule, work longer. There is a chance that the files can be safely stored for a long time. You can then successfully copy, thereby making a backup, in another location.
Therefore, if you plan to use the HDD of a computer or laptop for an archive, take care of a backup copy. For copies, you can choose any of the methods discussed in this article.

Advantages.

No additional costs and wasting time downloading and storing files and data - quickly copied and forgotten.

Flaws.

Low reliability of data storage.
There is a high probability of accidentally formatting a partition with a data archive with an independent, non-professional one.

5. Using cloud storage

Cloud storage is one of the most convenient and reliable ways data storage. I'll explain why.
The convenience of storing photos in this way is that by uploading files to the cloud, you can use them from anywhere. I came to friends or relatives without any drive, empty-handed, immediately opened their computer and showed all the saved photos. Comfortable? Highly.

Reliability is ensured by the continuous operation of WEB servers, their constant duplication in RAID, and besides, I would like to believe that all this electronics operating in data centers is under the tireless supervision of professional system administrators.

Speed ​​is not the strongest quality of cloud storage, but the quality of the Internet is constantly growing, and the price is falling. Therefore, everything is fine.

The capacity available for one user without any surcharges ranges from 15 GB Google Disk to 100 GB Mail.ru cloud. And these are the most famous services that offer unlimited free disks (there are such Chinese storages).

Advantages.

Free use.
High mobility due to access from anywhere in the world.
High reliability.

Flaws.

Possible breach of confidentiality.
The speed of working with the storage depends on the speed of the Internet.

6. USB stick or USB flash drive

Surely, for many it was this method of data storage that came to mind first, in the article this method is last place not because he is the worst or the best - the logic is different. I wanted to intrigue and encourage the reader to read the article to the end :) Sorry.
This method of data storage is quite promising, inexpensive and relatively reliable. It is promising and inexpensive due to the already low price, and, in dynamics, it is constantly decreasing with a growing volume. So, today (end of 2014), on aliexpress.com you can buy a 64 GB flash drive for less than $10. It must be remembered that the higher the price, the better, as a rule, the memory and the higher the write-read speed. Reliability is determined by the conditions of use and the quality of the memory process technology - this is a floating indicator.

Thus, you can write files (create a duplicate archive) and put them in storage. Flash drives, as you know, are not sensitive to shocks, drops, temperature changes, easily turn into a keychain and can be constantly with you. The only thing that needs to be mentioned is that if you insert a USB flash drive into a computer with a damaged or incorrectly connected USB connector, the USB flash drive controller may fail.

Advantages.

Low price with a large amount of memory for data storage.
Relatively high reliability.
Mobility.

Flaws.

It's easy to mess up.
Often there are defective copies.

It's hard to imagine without cloud services contemporary work with data. And this applies not only to work files and documents, but also to personal archives. And yet, many still prefer to store valuable files, especially photos, in a computer, on a hard drive or flash drive, and not trust them to servers located God knows where.

And this is a very big mistake.

It is much more convenient and reliable to store photos, as well as other files in the cloud. This, firstly, gives you access to them from any device connected to the Internet, and secondly, it provides greater reliability, because losing a flash drive or damaging a hard drive with gigabytes of priceless data is much easier than losing access to a cloud archive, for which the owner company replies with its reputation.

But which cloud storage to choose - more impressive, bigger, more functional? To help you navigate, we have selected the most interesting options and studied their advantages and disadvantages. To make it easier, we have indicated not only the minimum free space offered in each of them, but also how many photos will fit approximately (based on an average size of 4 MB per image).

There was a time when Mail.ru scattered free gigabytes: the company provided no less than 1 TB for free use. But the freebie ended as expected, and now only 16 GB are offered in the free Mail.ru cloud. 64 GB will cost 69 rubles. per month or 690 rubles. per year, and 128 GB - 149 rubles. monthly or 1490 rubles. in year. It should also be noted that there is a restriction on maximum size files - up to 32 GB.

There are applications for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, as well as desktop clients for the main operating systems - Windows, OS X, Linux. The Mail.ru Cloud service, first of all, captivates with space and the fact that it is “ours”.

If suddenly for some reason you do not trust foreign Google, Apple, Microsoft and so on, then you are definitely here.

iCloud storage is probably familiar to any user of Apple gadgets. iCloud Drive can store information that makes it great to work with Apple devices and forms a notorious ecosystem. Notes, calendars, reminders, program settings, documents, photos, mail, contacts, media library with playlists, backups - everything is synchronized without user intervention, which greatly simplifies life. Nothing prevents you from installing the official client on Windows, but, as in the case of iTunes, the program works more stable in its native environment.

There is a browser version, but it is not very convenient and also does not work from mobile devices. Otherwise, iCloud Drive storage is a full-fledged analogue of any other cloud: creating folders, storing data in them, and so on. Free 5 GB is provided - enough for text documents and synchronization of the most important applications (say, Notes, Reminders, Music, Documents, iPhone backup), but no more. Apple allows you to buy up to 2 TB of space - the most expensive tariff will cost 1490 rubles. per month.

The iCloud service will definitely come in handy for users of "apple" products, but if you use devices from other manufacturers, it makes no sense to choose it.

Dropbox can be considered a popularizer of cloud storage. The service was founded ten years ago, in 2007, and a fully finished version appeared three years later. With free Dropbox, you can't really go wild - only two gigabytes. This is only enough for working documents, you can immediately forget about a full-fledged photo archive.

For $9.99 per month ($8.25 if billed annually) you get 1TB of space, and there are also enterprise plans that promise "as much space as you need." This option is not available for individuals.

The paid Pro account - the one for $9.99 - unlocks additional features: advanced throughput, access parameters, link passwords, and so on.

Dropbox is undoubtedly one of the most convenient and functional cloud services, but making it the main place to store photos is only worth it if you are willing to pay for the expansion of available space.

Another Russian repository, along with Cloud Mail.ru. Yandex is very generous to its users: it gives additional space for inviting friends, on the occasion of the service's birthday (+5 GB), and also periodically organizes promotions. For each invited friend, get 512 MB, a maximum of 10 GB of space can be increased by this method. Partner promotions are often held: for example, they distributed 30 GB to buyers of Sony laptops and Intel ultrabooks, and owners of several Samsung laptop models received as much as 250 GB. When registering, 10 GB is allocated - it’s quite normal for itself, this is by no means a miserable 2 GB.

Additional 10, 100 and 1000 GB cost 30, 80 and 200 rubles. per month, respectively, and when buying an annual package, multiply the amount by ten. "Yandex.Disk" is presented for the main mobile and stationary systems. There is a separate program for SmartTV: you can watch photos and videos on your smart TV without additional devices. However, there are similar applications for other services.

Yandex.Disk is one of the best offers on the market in terms of price to volume ratio, and besides, there is always a chance to save money using promotions and discounts.

One of the giants of the world market offers a lot of opportunities. Almost any formats are read, close integration with the Gmail mailbox is implemented, smart search by photos, just like Apple's - for example, by writing "cats", a list of not only text documents with this word will drop out, but also photos of animals.

Plus programs for working with tables, texts, presentations and so on. In terms of ecosystem capabilities, Google is not inferior, and somewhere even surpasses Apple. If you combine everything in one service, you get a convenient storage for all occasions. The service provides 15 GB for free, for $5 a month the space increases to 30 GB, and for $10 the space is unlimited.

Google Drive is one of the most popular custom cloud storages, and this fame is well deserved.

Microsoft's OneDrive cloud service used to be called SkyDrive, but due to a lawsuit with broadcaster BSkyB, the name had to be changed. 5 GB is offered free of charge, for 72 rubles. per month - 50 GB. Next tariff plans come with Office 365: 1 TB for 2699 rubles. per year or an account for five people with a total volume of 5 TB, each user has access to a terabyte. And this is not a business tariff: you can, for example, organize a family storage.

A line of tariffs for business is presented separately: a maximum of 9372 rubles. per year per user for 1 TB of space and access to Office 365. OneDrive features are the same as other storage options: file collaboration, document sharing, smart photo tag sorting, and so on.

If sharing cloud storage is important to you, and you also use Office 365 or other Microsoft products, OneDrive is definitely your option.

Mega

The company puts special emphasis on the confidentiality of information: end-to-end encryption is used, which should improve data security. If that doesn't sound convincing, the company has another big trump card - 50 GB free. No one else will offer so much for free.

If that's not enough, the company offers paid plans for 200, 500, 2000 and 4000 GB for 4.99, 9.99, 19.99 and 29.99 euros per month. The service is not particularly popular, but the size of the available spaces is impressive, especially the free option.

The main disadvantage is a little-known startup, not an industry giant. Hence such generosity: neither Google, nor Dropbox, nor Microsoft need to lure users - people go to them themselves. Unlike Megaj.

Certain questions were also raised by the statement of the founder of a startup named Kim Dotcom, who left Mega and said that he did not consider the service safe. And this despite the fact that the cloud uses encryption in the browser itself through a reliable AES algorithm.

If you want the maximum and for nothing, do not be afraid of rumors and negative reviews, Mega will suit you.

We draw a conclusion

Large storages (OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud, Yandex.Disk and others) can automatically sync photos when devices are connected. In addition, you can back up smartphones to iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox. In collaborating on documents will help either general access to files, or collective accounts.

Also note that you add all content at your own risk. It’s better to get rid of materials prohibited by law altogether (if you suddenly have them), but you certainly can’t upload them to the cloud. And pirated movies, for example, may not be downloaded at all.

Some storages are more focused on the corporate segment, others - for home use. If you don’t want to spend money, you can create an account at least in each service: one for documents, another for photos, the third for file backups. It won't be very convenient, but it's free. But the best option is to pay and immediately get all the features and a decent place on the cloud.

Today, cloud storage is becoming more and more popular. Moreover, special services for storing photos are being created, and developers are trying to get as many users as possible. So, Apple has already shared its achievements with the Photos service, which allows you to create a whole library of images available from any i-device, and Google, which introduced an unlimited photo service, and Facebook, whose cloud storage allows you to share photos without uploading them to social network. There are many other cloud services, the advantages and features of which are worth discussing in more detail.

The largest photo service was announced in May of this year. Its main feature is that the space in it for each user is completely unlimited if you store photos with a resolution of up to 16 megapixels or Full HD videos and no more. Otherwise, the space will be borrowed from Google Drive, where the first 15 GB is completely free, and then you have to pay: $ 2 for 100 GB per month, $ 10 for 1 TB, $ 100 for 10 TB, etc.

The service also pleases with its intellectual capabilities: it is no longer necessary to tag photos with tags, sign them and group them into albums to make it easier for yourself to search in the future. It is enough just to enter into the search query, for example, "food", "Moscow", etc., as the algorithm itself will search and display all the photos that match search query. Such advanced algorithms eventually learn to recognize faces, places, objects, group them correctly so that the user can instantly find the right picture among thousands and millions.

In addition, there are additional functions, such as creating collages, slide shows, entire films and presentations. Photos can be processed using the simplest effects, and links to them can be shared with any user, even if he does not use the Google Photos service.

The intentions of the company, which provides absolutely free service to store photos. In the near future, she will most likely want to monetize it, and will show ads to all users.

A giant and trendsetter in the field of gadgets, Apple introduced its proprietary photo and video storage service late last year. The emphasis is on the speed of synchronization between different devices and the desire to connect all devices together as much as possible. So, you just need to take a picture on a smartphone, and after 30 seconds it can be viewed from a computer, which is very convenient.

You can do whatever you want with your photos and make sure your device always displays the most up-to-date version. So, you can edit the frame on the computer, and it can be viewed already updated from the smartphone screen, and if you delete a picture using the iPhone, it will disappear immediately from all devices.

The service offers an intuitive and clear way to group photos, edit them, search for the desired file, etc. This cloud storage could be called ideal if it were not for such a tiny free space, represented by only 5 GB, and the rest of the space is quite expensive.

Probably, only the lazy one does not know about Dropbox cloud storage, and now the developer offers users a special application - Carousel. With it, access to all media content becomes easier, and the files themselves are safe. Firstly, when downloading, they are encrypted, and, secondly, backup copies are always saved, so you can always recover a lost file.

The policy of the application is that you are given only 2 GB of free space, which can be expanded up to 16 GB if you invite friends. This space may not be enough to store entire archives, so you will have to purchase additional space, which will cost $ 99 per year for 1 TB.

The program menu is as simple as possible, all files are grouped by events, and you can share them even with those who do not use Dropbox Carousel. Interestingly, screenshots are stored here separately from all other files, which is very convenient: they do not get confused, do not interfere, which often becomes a problem in similar services.

Flickr - cloud storage, presented by Yahoo. When it first appeared, it immediately surprised users with the amount of space that was enough to post their own photos and videos. So, everyone here is given 1 TB completely free of charge, and photos can be posted at any resolution, and the only condition is that they weigh no more than 200 MB. Interestingly, the service does not degrade the quality in any way, so you can download all the uploaded photos in exactly the same form in which they were uploaded. Video can also be stored on Flickr, but there are more stringent requirements for it: the maximum is Full HD, and the duration is up to 3 minutes.

Since the system has been operating for more than a decade, it has earned popularity and good feedback among professional photographers. In addition, updates are constantly being released and mobile versions are being improved, so this is a fairly large and serious player among all cloud storage for photos.

Photos can be sorted by date, edited with different filters, adjust contrast and saturation, exposure and RGB curves. Absolutely all files can be uploaded from the device to the cloud and at the same time they remain absolutely private, unless they are specifically shared.

The free version of the application differs from the paid version only in that it shows ads. If this is critical for you, then for $50 a year you can buy the PRO version. But there were some obvious drawbacks: firstly, the Russian language is not supported, and secondly, the “smart” search works very unpredictably, which often finds something completely different from what the user was looking for.

It is one of the most popular cloud storage services. It captivates with the fact that it is available for many devices and platforms, it is well known to all users of the MS Office suite, Windows smartphones and the Xbox gaming console.

All files stored on OneDrive are grouped by type. So, photos can be viewed, edited, tagged, created and filled with albums. In total, you can place files up to 15 GB, then you can get another 5 GB for inviting friends and 15 GB for creating backup copies of photos from the camera. Thus, there is enough space to store your own photo archive. In addition, promotions are constantly held, during which you can get 35-40 GB of free space for free.

If the provided space is not enough, then you can buy it: 100 GB will cost 72 rubles, and 1 TB - 199 rubles per month. But there are no chips in this service, so it is well suited for those who already use OneDrive to store other files and have already managed to learn its interface well.

The domestic storage for photos and videos has several proprietary functions: firstly, here you can create albums, inventing names for them and displaying covers, and secondly, these albums, as well as the latest photos, can be immediately shared on social networks. Thirdly, and most interestingly, all photos from a particular social network can be saved to cloud storage, even those pictures in which the user was tagged. All photos are grouped not by the date of the picture, but by events, so photos from different devices taken in the same place and at the same time will be displayed side by side.

Developers have created applications for everything Operating Systems and devices, and each user is given 10 GB of free space. At the moment, Yandex.Disk has significantly reduced its rates, and an extra 100 GB will cost you 80 rubles a month or 800 rubles a year, and 1 TB - 200 and 2000 rubles, respectively.

This service was launched quite recently, but is already ready to surprise users. So, photos can be shared with each other without uploading them to the social network itself. In addition, all pictures can be grouped not only by date, but also by events, or by the people depicted on them.

Created albums on Facebook Moments can be synchronized between several users, add files there, so that a full photo report of an event is immediately available to all its participants. Links to photos and albums can be shared with other users on social networks. The main feature is that the place in the cloud is unlimited.

This service will appeal to those users who take a lot of pictures and have problems placing their media collection. All photos can be easily edited, tagged, sent to friends, etc.

Eyefi Cloud supports synchronization from multiple devices: you can add photos to the library from your phone, camera, and at the same time they will immediately be displayed, for example, on a computer. It's nice that the files are not compressed, and you can download them in exactly the same form as they were uploaded to the service.

True, the service has some drawbacks or, rather, features. Firstly, buying storage space is expensive, and secondly, to fully use all the benefits, you need to buy a branded SD card. You can use it for free only for a month or a year if you bought a memory card, then you will have to pay - $ 50 a year, but the place is not limited in any way.