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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Front page story about lost images
Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 12:30 AM on 12.17.09 |
->> First let me say, sorry for your loss! I would be kinda devastated if I lost all of my family images I have dating back to our first digital camera.
So that leads me to this question, how the hell do you get over 500GB worth of images online?
I want to be able to keep it backed up here on my computer, home server and now online.
But I can't go uploading 500gb worth of images online, that would get me booted pretty quickly by qwest or comcast, plus it would take a year.
Any ideas? |
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Juliann Tallino, Photographer
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Port Townsend/Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 12:35 AM on 12.17.09 |
| ->> if you use photoshelter you can send them an external drive with the images and they will upload them for you for a fee. |
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Chris Morrison, Photographer, Assistant
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Tucson | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:35 AM on 12.17.09 |
| ->> For $100 Photoshelter (above their usual subscription fees) will accept hard drives and they'll load the images for you right off the drive into their system. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Northwest Missouri | MO | USA | Posted: 12:36 AM on 12.17.09 |
| ->> Perhaps you could buy a 1TB drive and ship it to a service like Carbonite to save your bandwidth. 1TB=$79 at Newegg.com. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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Chris Large, Photographer
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Okotoks | AB | Canada | Posted: 1:45 AM on 12.17.09 |
->> For what its worth....
I have a firewire HD at home/office that I use to back up using time machine every day ( plus the usual dvd/external bu on every shoot.) Then, call me paranoid, I have a portable hd that I back up again (time machine) that I keep in a firesafe at home.
When I travel ( alot) I have multiple portable hds that I back up to - at least one saftey plus one more for delivery, then I have the same portable home time machine hd but I leave it in my car, not the hotel room.
Portable hds are so cheap now that its a no brainer to keep a couple of them for back up, delivery, time machine etc.
Remember, it's not if a hd fails...but when.
C |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 9:42 AM on 12.17.09 |
->> Darren,
I just checked with Carbonite and they said it has to come from your computer, as in uploaded.
Will try the other ones as well.
As much as I want to protect them I just can't afford photoshelter at this moment. |
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Harrison Shull, Photographer
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Fayetteville, WV | Asheville, NC | | Posted: 10:00 AM on 12.17.09 |
->> I just recently looked at PS again for storage of my RAW archives and 1TB costs $1000 per year plus the $100 fee to send them a HD plus the roundtrip shipping. I can only assume the $100 fee plus roundtrip shipping is applicable again if you lost your archive and needed it restored by having PS dump it onto a HD and ship it to you.
In my view $1000 per year to just simply store RAW archives makes no sense when, as is so often pointed out, HD's are so cheap. I currently have my RAW archives (600+GB)stored on three HD's - one in the tower, one stored offline but onsite, and another stored across town. So for well under a $300 investment that lasts several years I have my entire RAW archive triple redundantly backed up. I have access to the backups within minutes. And I pay no fees or have any wait times to get access to these backups.
I would be interested in the cloud storage concept if they could even remotely compete on price. I have long hoped that PS would create a strictly storage option for those of us that do not need/want a website, print sales, e-licensing, and all the other cool doodads that PS offers.
And then one last hesitation is memory of watching the DRR file retrieval debacle when that service went under. |
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Eugenio Cebollero, Photographer
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Kernersville | NC | US | Posted: 10:01 AM on 12.17.09 |
->> My 2nd profession is in I.T. and I recently devised a low budget solution to the off-site backup problem for a client that wanted the ability to remotely back up and sync files between 2 locations and 2 computers. They wanted their work computer and home computer files synchronized so that they can essentially work from either location and have the same files readily available on either end. The solution I deployed involves bridging both computers via a FREEWARE software package called "GBridge."
The client's home computer and office computer both had external drives. An extensive description of the software's features can be found on these sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gbridge
http://www.gbridge.com
Summary of key features of interest:
- SecureShare: Share a file or folder on one of your computer, so you can access them from other computer. Or you can grant your friends' access to those files.
- AutoSync: Automatically synchronize folders between computers.
- LiveBrowse The remote shared folder can be browsed without having been synced. Gbridge automatically generates thumnails and slideshow for picture files. Some types of media files, e.g. mp3, wma, flv, wmv, rm, midi, swf, can be played online.
- EasyBackup: Easily setup backup of files between your own computers.
- DesktopShare: Remotely access your own computer desktop or invite your friend to your computer desktop.
- Chat: You can chat with your friends who are running Gbridge, Gtalk or Gmail.
- 3rd party applications: Microsoft remote desktop, Microsoft share folder, ssh, ftp can run on top the Gbridge VPN. Since Gbridge implements these features on top of its custom made VPN, it allows the user to have fine control over what resources other people can see. For example, user can have fine control over which friend can access for each SecureShare.
So what do you do if you don't have 2 offices? Simple. If you have a relative that you can trust to keep a computer turned on with a broadband connection, then you've got a 2nd location. Buy a $250 netbook, or repurpose an outdated PC/Laptop, and attach a 2nd external hard drive to it. You can remote into the netbook and control it if you have any issues with files. GBridge will handle sync'ing file changes and will give you all the control you need over your files. There are TONS of other possibilites with GBridge like HTTP file access. If you need to access your files from a remote location, just pop open a web browser and access your files. LOTS of features and possibilities for photographers with this solution. |
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Curtis Clegg, Photographer
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Sycamore | IL | USA | Posted: 10:43 AM on 12.17.09 |
| ->> Very cool Eugenio! I think Gbridge would be a good subject for an article. |
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Eugenio Cebollero, Photographer
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Kernersville | NC | US | Posted: 10:51 AM on 12.17.09 |
->> Curtis, I was just thinking the same. If I wasn't in the process of selling a home (i.e. packing), trying to sell a car, and preparing for a roadtrip to Florida after the move I would start writing something up.
The solution is incredibly affordable since it relies on hardware most of us already have laying around. The freeware is really what makes it a sweetheart deal. Their forum is pretty good. I had posted a question about scheduling backups and one of the site admins replied fairly quickly. You can't beat that kind of support! |
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Fred Greaves, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 11:13 AM on 12.17.09 |
->> In addition to using a couple of Drobos in my office, I have a safe deposit box that is large enough to put hard drives in and regularly swap and update the drives so that everything is kept relatively updated. I also trade storage space with another photographer and they store backup hard drives of mine, and I theirs.
For short term offsite redundancy, I use Dropbox and back up all new files there, and then delete them from Dropbox after they are stored either at the other photographer's or in the safe deposit box.
When shooting on location, I use multiple drives to backup everything as well and make sure that everything is not stored in the same place unless I am with it. Depending upon where I am shooting (and whether or not I have a decent internet connection) I will often upload selects to Dropbox as well.
Sorry to hear about the fire and losing everything... that is a bummer.
In addition to the importance of redundant backups, your story also speaks to why having good business insurance is a necessity and why having good relationships and doing business with good camera stores pays off in a pinch. |
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Cameron Davidson, Photographer
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Alexandria | VA | USA | Posted: 1:31 PM on 12.17.09 |
->> On my annual report and advertising shoots - my assistant carries a back-up hard drive with him on his person and is kept in another room - every day.
I carry three additional ones. One in the rolling camera case - another in my Timbuk2 day bag that sits by the hotel door and a third in my jacket.
I carry five to seven portable drives with me on every shoot. Usually on the second or third day of the shoot, I Fedex home a drive with the first days shoot on them.
Sorry to hear about your loss. No words can express the horror you most likely felt and the sadness.
Best of luck to you and I hope the recovery is successful. |
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Jim Comeau, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 2:25 PM on 12.17.09 |
->> I know its been said before, but I'll say it again:
Redundancy is extremely important.
A repurposed tower with a few drives in it costs much less than a single HDD recovery. There's so much free software out there that can make this simple for the least technical among us.
If images are worth taking, they're worth saving. |
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Alex Witkowicz, Photographer
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Denver | Co | USA | Posted: 4:54 PM on 12.17.09 |
| ->> FYI, Photoshelter is having a year-end sale on storage upgrades. 1TB is now only $500. |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Ogden | UT | USA | Posted: 5:52 PM on 12.17.09 |
->> I have been using PhotoShleter since it opened and have 200 GB of stored files.
I uploaded as I went along with a fast internet connection.
$500 a year sounds like a lot but I never worry about the security or access to my images.
I think it is a small price to pay. |
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Derek Montgomery, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 6:15 PM on 12.17.09 |
| ->> Let's say I drop $500 for 1TB of storage, would I be able to renew at that price a year from now even if they didn't have a similar sale going on? Can anyone answer that? Thanks! |
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Derek Montgomery, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 6:15 PM on 12.17.09 |
| ->> Oh and I'm talking about Photoshelter... sorry. |
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Brad Mangin, Photographer
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Pleasanton | CA | USA | Posted: 6:51 PM on 12.17.09 |
->> I don't want the pressure of having to worry about having hard drives all over the place. I shoot pictures for a living, and I don't work for the Geek Squad. For me, the price I pay for PhotoShelter is worth it's weight in gold.
In fact, I just took them up on this offer. Added 1TB to my archive for only $500/year. Probably the best investment I made all year.
The offer is for members only, so if you're not a member, I think the price savings on storage should be all the incentive you need to sign up. It expires on 12/31.
Click on this link to get the offer:
http://bit.ly/52kVlh |
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Vincent Johnson, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | USA | Posted: 7:15 PM on 12.17.09 |
->> Honestly I think the bigger picture here is the business insurance.
I'll admit that if my house burned down, all my negatives & a good number of digital images would be lost, but I can't imagine how financially strapped I'd be if I had to max out my credit cards just to replace my camera bodies, lens & laptop, not including desktops, studio lights & large format cameras.
While I wish it were different, most of my assignments stop adding to my income when the images are turned in. So if I couldn't shoot I couldn't generate income.
So if you can do both (paying a service like photoshelter or getting business insurance) I say do it. But if I had to lose a years worth of images or $25,000 in gear I need everyday to live. I'm making sure State Farm gets my $600 a year first. |
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Mike Ullery, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Piqua | OH | USA | Posted: 7:40 PM on 12.17.09 |
->> Much can be learned from Kort's experience as everyone is mentioning.
One other thing really stands out in his story. How great is our photo community where Kort's friends and /or business acquaintances were willing and able to get him enough basic equipment and assistance to fulfill his business obligation to his client?
There is not enough silver to give a "silver lining" to the loss of that much equipment and images but it is nice to know that we have folks who will come through in the clutch to help out. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 11:13 PM on 12.17.09 |
| ->> Is that 500 dollars on top of the monthly charges as well? |
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Jesse Beals, Photographer
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Tracyton | WA | USA | Posted: 2:45 AM on 12.18.09 |
->> I just took advantage of this. I was at my limit of 35 gigs and was about to pay the new price to upgrade to 500 gigs. Thanks to this post and the Photoshelter savings I saved $200.00.
Looks like this fat guys going to Sizzler Friday night!!!! |
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Michael Durisseau, Photographer, Assistant
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Santa Fe/Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 12:07 AM on 12.19.09 |
| ->> Is there a version of Gbridge for Mac? |
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Margaret Bowles, Photographer
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Houston | TX | | Posted: 8:17 AM on 12.19.09 |
| ->> I want to add to Vincent's post about business insurance, which I did not have when the burglars cleaned me out two weeks ago. Nationwide is dragging out the claim investigation, and I have Bowl games coming up. I just dug into my savings to purchase some replacement gear and am renting some for a month. I never thought of buying business insurance. |
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Hassel Weems, Photographer
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Locust Grove (Atlanta) | GA | USA | Posted: 11:06 AM on 12.19.09 |
->> The difference between Photoshelter and a simple archiving solution is that Photoshelter is also a way to promote, sell, and distribute the images. Your pictures aren't just sitting in in your desk drawer on a second hard drive or on a server somewhere that only you can access.
As for fast backup on site a portable hard drive is the best solution for me. When I shot a wedding in CA this year (I live in Atlanta) I copied the entire raw take to a portable drive and FedExed it back to my office. I also had all the images on my notebook and kept them on the CF cards on my belt until I got home. |
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