charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Using the UHH search feature I found that the most recent detailed discussion of cloud storage was in early 2016. In the digital world things can and do change rapidly. So with that in mind I am looking to use cloud storage as backup for all my photos, nothing more. My criteria is: simple to use; no restriction on individual photo size (I shot RAW most of the time); and reasonably priced if not free. For those of you who use the cloud what is your experience? Google and Amazon seem to be the most highly rated, at least two years ago. What other suggestions do you have? I currently store my photos on my windows based computer backed up on a WD external hard drive. Also burn photos onto a DVD. However, would also like to have them backed up at a off-site location.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Just get ready for a whole boatload of opinions.

I used Dropbox Professional, $99/year for 1 Tb and accessible across all platforms. I went one step further and relocated my photo library to the Dropbox folder, so I get realtime backup to the cloud whenever a file is changed, unattended.

rlhazlett Loc: Titusville, FL

Which cloud are you talking about? There are so many now that the word cloud isn't descriptive enough. Google, Microsoft, Apple?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I've used Carbonite for a few years, very pleased so far. No apparent restrictions on file size as my RAWs are there (as well as JPEGs, DOCs, PDFs, etc.) no limit for storage. The files are encrypted when stored. I like that it keeps track of what is/isn't backed up and has little dots on the file names to indicate the backup status. They backup "standard" directories, and I can add directories to the list. The initial backup took about a week because of the number of files, subsequent additions are automatic and rather quick. It costs about $60 a year for my one PC. (This is in addition to my external drive backup and a copy on my laptop.) The primary reason for me using the cloud is it is off-site without having to take a drive someplace periodically.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

The problem with Carbonite is the dead ass slowness of accessing any files and/or folders. I gave up on them and went to Dropbox.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'd recommend Backblaze. They are nicely priced, no upload limits, and easy to maintain.
--Bob

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I haven't had to retrieve any yet.. (But I didn't say that.) I did have a bookend drive go. I replaced it with a pocket drive and did a copy to the pocket drive. I look at Carbonite as an emergency backup in case of total disaster with the PC and drives. I really don't plan on using it, it's like an insurance policy.

Just Trying To Focus Loc: Jackson County, Michigan

I also use Carbonite because it automatically backs up, so the files I've not yet taken time to back up on external hard drives are "in the cloud". The first time I had a computer crash, I was glad to have Carbonite, because I could get my files back, but I had to re-download every file, and it took LITERALLY weeks....and THEN, since I went from one version of windows to another, I had to re-upload them all back to Carbonite again. After that, I switched to their more expensive plan, which includes "courier service". When the computer crashes, they send you an external hard drive, (which is yours to keep) that has all your files on it. I actually had the misfortune of having to utilize this courier service, and I was rather impressed. They Fed Ex'd a Western Digital hard drive to me very quickly, and I had all my files right there, without having to redownload them all from Carbonite. Carbonite is not the perfect solution, though. I have been told by a computer tech that its hard on a computer's drive to constantly be uploading files 24/7, and that using Carbonite may be killing my computers. That may or may not be true. I don't know much about hard drives or how they work. And as another poster mentioned, it is rather slow to find a file you want if you don't have a fast internet connection. I do now back up everything to two external USB hard drives and keep one copy off site.

Sandy

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Carbonite does not upload 24/7, especially after the initial upload. It only transfers what has changed. It is not constantly uploading. It's no different that copying everything to an external drive.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

First of all, understand the difference between backup and archive.

Backup is for things that you are likely to use in the near future.
Archive is for something that you don't want to clutter up your disk with because you don't need it in the forseeable future, but you don't want to lose it.

My opinion:
Local storage is probably best for backup. A combination of cloud and local storage is probably best for archive.
Local storage is immediately available and the speed of transfer can be very fast.
Cloud storage can be limited by bandwidth issues so transfer (either way) can be moderate to slow.
Local storage is under your direct control (and responsibility).
Cloud storage is someone else's control and responsibility (that you probably pay for one way or another) but they put limits on recompense for losses.
Cloud storage can be a viable option when used in conjunction with local storage. I don't believe it should be used by itself.

The terms "near future" and "forseeable future" will mean different things to different people.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

DropBox Pro is excellent.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

I'm going to put this in a "Business" sense, so to spesk!

Most businesses create a "Disaster Recovery Plan" where they run different scenarios about how to get their businesses back up and running after different events occur.

Fires, Floods, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, a Helicopter or Plane crashing into their building, etc.

Now, given those "Events" how would they get their businesses back up and operational?

What pre-event planning would be needed to capture and recreate everything that they need to run their business?

Who would be involved at what stages in the recovery process?

Where would they set up shop short term while they work through their Disaster Recovery Process? Temporary workspace?

What and how often would they need to store items or documents off site, or electronically?

So, this is how I look at Cloud Storage!

Think of it as "Iron Mountain" for photographers! (Iron Mountain is a company that many businesses use nationwide for off site storage of business related documentation.)

Based on my above definitions and scenarios, is cloud storage a necessary business decision?

For many who earn a living with their photography equipment, it should be! But it should be their third layer of back-up, not their first layer!

Remember, there have been companies who have gone belly up with little or no advanced notice that they were going out of business! This has left many without access to their archives, so as I said, Cloud Storage should very your third layer of back-up. Your computer is your first layer, followed with at least duplicate copies on separate external hard drives (one of which you at least store off site somewhere after it's filled up, or rotate on a regular basis.)

It requires due diligence to maintain accurate records, but if you don't, you only have yourself to blame if something goes wrong. Don't forget to upgrade your back-up systems as technology improves over the years!

Thumb drives aren't designed for long term storage! I have a collection of 10 thumb drives that I carry around in a case, but I've finally backed up most of them to my external hard drives.

The most important thumb drive still needs to be backed up!

I blew our a file that I use on a regular basis a few weeks ago, and I had to go back and recreate it, but there was nearly a years worth of data that wasn't recoverable for that one file. Lesson LEARNED!!!!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

+2

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Have you looked at BackBlaze? I backup at home, but BB sounds good.

https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html

tgreenhaw

I've been trying Amazon Prime photo as an alternative to Dropbox. It's free for stills if you already have Amazon prime. It automatically syncs your photo folders and offers sharing features. I use an Amazon fire tv and my photos automatically are available for viewing on my television. With the phone apps photos are automatiacally available on you mobile device.