Generating vast amounts of data in the form of high-resolution images, photographers face unique challenges when it comes to choosing a cloud storage solution.
Dramatic improvements in smartphones have made consumer-grade digital cameras largely obsolete to the point we now take over a trillion photos every day. For these everyday users, cloud storage is already the norm, since it is deeply integrated with mobile operating systems like Apple iOS and Google Android.
For professional and amateur photographers, cloud storage is a completely different matter. Free solutions, including Google Photos, are neither sufficiently capacious or feature-rich to meet the needs of photographers. Most photographers will want to invest in a premium-grade solution that can accommodate a variety of filetypes and offers robust backup and security.
With that in mind, here are six things that every photographer should look for when choosing a cloud storage service :
#1. File synchronization
Automated file synchronization comes as standard with most cloud storage vendors, and it is vital for ensuring your files are backed up in real time. Ideally, your photos and videos should be backed up the moment they’re taken. Many professional digital cameras are equipped with WiFi connectivity for precisely this purpose. Be sure to choose a cloud storage vendor which automatically synchronizes your files across at least two online storage locations for maximum resilience.
#2. Scalable data plans
Many cloud storage vendors offer a small amount of free storage space. Anyone who has a Google Account, for example, will have 15 gigabytes of free storage, although this is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Since professional photographers typically work with RAW photo formats with average file sizes of 20 to 40 megabytes. 15 gigabytes will only be enough to store around 500 photos. This is why you need a scalable solution that lets you add more storage whenever you need it. After all, it probably won’t be long before you get to the terabyte scale — especially if you also work with video formats.
#3. Third-party integrations
Taking photos is just one part of the photographer’s job. Since images are their livelihoods, it makes sense to choose solutions that allow you to streamline and automate your workflows for greater efficiency. This means choosing a platform that offers integrations with the solutions you use every day, such as photo editing software and portfolio websites. For example, Adobe Creative Cloud Photography offers such integrations, while generalist vendors like Amazon Web Services and Google tend to be more limited with regards to specific use cases.
#4. Multiple vendors
Most professional photographers have enormous storage requirements, especially if they are also involved in recording and editing videos. As such, it may not always be practical to rely on a single cloud storage vendor. Furthermore, using only one vendor can increase the risk of accidental loss. This is why photographers should consider using a cloud storage connector to consolidate management across multiple vendors including ones for everyday storage use and others for backup and archiving.
#5. Automated archiving
When photos and videos are your livelihood, the last thing you want is to risk losing everything to human error, a data breach, or another disaster. At the same time, you probably won’t want to delete older photos and videos, even if you no longer have any immediate need for them. Over the years, these photo and video sets can grow so large that it becomes impractical to keep them all in a single cloud storage drive. Fortunately, you can use an archival service like those offered by Amazon and Google to keep your old files safe at a very competitive price.
#6. Decentralized storage
Decentralized storage allows you to automatically replicate your data across multiple networks to achieve greater redundancy and control. Decentralized storage, along with similar solutions like blockchain, is a defining characteristic of Web 3.0. By aggregating existing Web 2.0 cloud storage solutions and Web 3.0 decentralized storage, photographers can store and organize their files according to the frequency of their use.
Mineral is a storage connector that centralizes and optimizes your cloud storage solutions to match your unique workflow requirements. Sign up for our early access program today to find out how it works.*