7 tips to avoid losing image files when traveling

When traveling, with the thought that "I probably do not have the opportunity to come back here again", taking tons of souvenir photos is completely understandable.

But can you ensure your photos are always safe? It would be really bad if every photo that kept your memories suddenly disappeared or your device was stolen. Luckily, whether you're using a digital camera or a smartphone, you can keep your image files safe with the following 7 tips:

1. Automatic backup

Data backup is the key to keeping photos. Smartphones have a convenient feature that allows you to automatically back up, but this feature is not always enabled by default.

If you use an Apple device then you already have an iCloud account . In that case, just click Settings> Photos & Camera> iCloud Photo Library . Or you can use Google Photos , Dropbox or Mozy . OneDrive is also a great storage place if you use a Windows Mobile 10 device (or Windows Phone), just launch the corresponding application, then go to Settings> Camera Upload.

By activating these precautions, the photos will be synchronized to the cloud library, however only when you connect to the Internet. Some services will use mobile data, while others will wait until you connect to Wi-Fi, so check the settings in your app.

In addition, you should note the following two things:

• First, you need to have enough space for regular backups and perhaps you'll need to pay an extra fee.
• The second thing you need to keep in mind, is to encrypt your smartphone. It sounds complicated, but it's not. It simply means using password protection, tampering with your personal information and making data unreadable. Because if someone keeps the device unlocked, they can steal your data and overwrite any backups you have saved.

Using a separate application to lock images can make you more secure such as Photo Vault, Hide It Pro, Keep Safe ...

• Download Photo Vault for iOS , Photo Vault for Android
• Download Hide It Pro for Android
• Download Keep Safe for iOS , Keep Safe for Android

2. Using multiple SD cards

Not all smartphones support MicroSD memory cards, but if you have a device that uses an SD memory card or is actually using a DSLR camera, it's worth preparing a few more memory cards.

Currently, memory cards are quite cheap and can always be reused in subsequent times. Therefore, investing in SD memory card is the right thing to do.

3. Consider a camera that supports Wi-Fi

Online access is a great benefit of taking photos on a smartphone, but your image resolution will be affected. That doesn't mean you can't back up photos over the Internet.

If you're looking to buy a new DSLR, consider a Wi-Fi connection with a sync feature that will upload your photos to social networks or cloud storage services. cloud.

4. Portable backup device

A separate backup device is always very convenient whether you use cloud storage or not. You can take your laptop or use the computer at your place of residence or coffee shop.

An external hard drive will give you more peace of mind and let you free up memory cards and memory on the device used to take pictures. Of course, you need to back up the entire system, especially when we hear a lot about ransomware. In that case, a storage unit plugged in from your laptop after each backup will give you access to all your important information.

5. Create an album on social networks

If you're using a smartphone or tablet to take photos, creating an album on social networks is extremely easy.

Create a social media photo album that acts as an additional backup you can access wherever you go. Facebook recommends it every time you add an image from a smartphone right away.

Flickr is probably the best repository of photos for you to keep to yourself, share with contacts or be public. As an added benefit, it stores metadata, so you can track the time and place of the event.

Even if you download these photos from your camera to your laptop, adding them to Facebook, Instagram or Flickr means adding security in case your computer is lost.

6. Print photos

You spent a lot of time organizing and organizing several USB photo folders and a year later, you can't find it anymore. This can be a problem for storing photos on SD memory cards, external storage devices, or even on phones.

The best way to prevent post-holiday photo loss is to print them out. You can use your own printer if it supports high-quality images or use an online printing service where photos are then sent straight to your home address. Simple and effective.

7. Create a routine

Creating a habit is extremely important. You need to have a habit of backing up your photos regularly whether on cloud services, on computers or external storage devices.

Backing up doesn't take up too much time, so you can take advantage of when you return to your hotel to take a break to back up everything.

The above are tips to help you keep your image files safe while traveling. Surely, no one wants to experience the feeling of losing all memorable commemorative photos of the place I've been, right? Therefore, be careful to have a more full vacation.