Seven Easy Steps to Uploading, Storing, and Backing Up Photos from your Digital Camera
By Zach Ahl

The holidays have passed and I’m sure just about everyone reading this had taken pictures with their digital camera and has tons of photos left on their camera.  Now some people stay up to date with uploading their pictures to their computer, however, if you have anything in common with my mother, a 54 year old mother of three who fortunately has me around to take care of all her technological problems, you have all these photos on your camera and that’s how she scrolls through and shows everyone her photos.This would work if only the screen weren’t 1.5” wide x 1.5” tall. So I am going to simply state the seven steps to not just upload your photos but save, store, and back them up.This makes it easier when it comes time to print them and not spend twenty minutes finding them on your computer.

     1. First of all, if you don’t have a folder or briefcase created just for your pictures with other folders for certain times and special events for each group of pictures…. MAKE ONE!! Just right click on your desktop and go to New and then click Folder.

     2. After every 20 to 30 pictures I recommend uploading them to your computer.  Every camera essentially uses the same concept when uploading pictures just different programs.

      3. These programs will have you choose the pictures you want uploaded and then will upload them.  Before you go ahead and hit upload, make sure to save them to the folder you created or a certain area or spot on the computer that you know how to get to. You can do this by looking for the option that says upload files to “this” folder. Change it to your desktop or a folder you created.

     4. Always look to see if you have the box checked or unchecked that says erase all pictures on memory card/camera that are not uploaded. I recommend leaving the photos on the memory card because you never know what photos you’ve never uploaded that could hold some good memories.

     5. Wait a little bit after you hit the “upload files” button and your photos will then be on your computer. Once you have all the photos in view in your folder, then put them into separate folders that I make with simple titles such as: “Christmas 2011”, “New Years 2012”, “Winter 2011-2012” etc. This makes it much easier when it comes time to find the photos you want to see in the future.  I prefer to create the folders chronologically because the pictures are usually in chronological order when you have uploaded them.

     6. Go to Wal-Mart, Radioshack, Rite-Aid (though more pricey there) or any other store that sells electronics and buy a 2GB to 8GB USB Flash Drive. These back up and can store many images.  The more photos you have the more space you need (though 2 gb of space depending on the sizes and quality of pictures saves anywhere from 250-2,000 photos)

     7. Now plug the flash drive into your USB drive on your computer and give it a little time.  Then once you have it open and all of your pictures are organized the way you want them in a folder, just click and drag the folder into the empty space on the drive. Now not only do you have the photos on your computer but have a portable album and a backup file for every picture in case something happens to your computer!!!

ENJOY!!!! 

Zach Ahl graduated from Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business in Dec. 2009 with a B.S. in Business Management and specializations in M.I.S. and Marketing. Born & raised in Alloway, NJ, Zach still lives there while working for award winning web design company, Websketching, LLC, as their Business Development Specialist. Zach is an entrepreneurial, open-minded, enthusiastic, and ambitious young businessman that wants to establish himself as a valuable asset within the Internet Industry.

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