In the past, when we took photos, film served as both the recorder and our backup. The backup contained our processed slides or negatives. With digital photography, the camera’s “camera card” can be considered the recorder. Yet if you only keep your photos on the camera card, it will eventually run out of space. And not only that: In case the card is erased, lost or damaged, you’d be left with no photos at all. To safeguard your photos, it’s good practice to frequently transfer your photos to a new location — usually a computer — to view, share and manage more easily.

• Copy photos from the camera card to another location as soon as possible after a significant event.
• Before you erase your camera card and reuse it, make sure you’ve stored your photos in at least two locations such as an external hard drive, CD or DVD, or online storage service.
• Make and store prints under recommended conditions to create an additional backup that will survive time and technology advances.
• Monitor technology changes to keep your collection up-to-date with current hardware and software developments.