Backing up photos

[blhdvm]

How many times do you have your photos backed up??

I have been making a "raw" photo backup of each months photos - these are copies before any sorting, deleting, editing, etc. Then I also have a backup of those pictures after. Plus the main "working" set of pictures.

Am I overboard?? Is that too much????

[Jen D]

I don't think you can ever go overboard when backing up photos. I have mine one two different EHD and then I also backup the keepers online Better safe than sorry!

[anxela]

I have them backed up on an EHD via Time Machine, and online with Crashplan. I don't do dvd's though.

[esther_a]

I take so many photos that are so similar that I usually cull and only keep the best ones (about 1/6th of them) otherwise I'd be drowning in photos. Of the best 1/6th I'll usually keep the originals (raw and jpg) and also any edits (as .tiff files). So yes, I also have multiple versions. There was an instance recently when I wanted the unedited original and it was nowhere to be found. But in the grand scheme of things it didn't really matter. Do whatever works for you.

[maureenreynolds]

I do what Heidi does. Backup on an ehd with Mac's Time Machine and on line at Crashplan.

[lizj]

2 permanent EHDs, 1 portable EHD, Flickr, and Time Machine. And I still make CDs of every event. You can NEVER back up too much.

[DonnaNJ]

Wow! some of you ladies are making me look downright 'normal' :-) I use Time Machine to two EHD + manual backup to a third EHD which is only home once a month + now setting up for Crashplan

[anxela]

Originally Posted by DonnaNJ

Wow! some of you ladies are making me look downright 'normal' :-) I use Time Machine to two EHD + manual backup to a third EHD which is only home once a month + now setting up for Crashplan

I also planned on doing the manual backup to a third EHD stored off site, but I haven't come around to do that yet. Sticking to Crashplan, hoping I won't have to go through the process. I will do the off site EHD thing soon.

[DonnaNJ]

I'll probably do away with the 3 EHD once crashplan is fully operational.. it was my offsite backup.. inexpensive but a pain

[blhdvm]

Am I correct in assuming Crashplan is a paid online storage plan?!?! Is it automatic? How long does it typically take to run?

[anxela]

Originally Posted by blhdvm

Am I correct in assuming Crashplan is a paid online storage plan?!?! Is it automatic? How long does it typically take to run?

Yep, online storage. The least expensive option as far as I know. Great software, automatic backup. The initial backup took a couple of months (300 GB), if I remember correctly, but now it's fast, usually overnight. I think the backup is faster than what I've tried with other online backup solutions.

The software also has possibilities for free backup, to either an EHD, another drive/computer on your home network, or backup to a friend's computer/EHD over the internet.

So basically, it's software that automatically backs up your stuff to the destination you choose, and you can choose an online backup plan for a monthly fee.

[blhdvm]

Thanks Heidi! So that initial backup that takes a couple of MONTHS?!?!? Is it just running in the background the whole time?? Or you do it in increments?!?! How does that work?

[anxela]

I should have clarified that it was a laptop, that was only connected to the EHD (which holds everything of photos, digi supplies, etc) at night. So it ran for 8-12 hours every night, but not at daytime, when I was a work. But I'm pretty sure it took more than a month. 6 weeks, maybe?