Held Captive

If the pictures in your camera or your cell phone could talk what would they say?
Most of them would scream LET ME OUT!!!

You enjoyed whatever you took the picture of enough to stop and capture it, now LET IT OUT!!
I am not talking about showing everyone that tiny little picture on that tiny little screen, I mean really let them out.  Get them onto your computer or another storage device for safe keeping.  After you release them from captivity it will be a good time to go through them and trash all the pictures of your feet or fingers, and print (YES on paper) your favorites for a photo album. Not into paper? Turn them into a digital scrapbook. 

I know you think your precious pics will always be there to share with everyone, but the truth is they might not. Electronics short out and fail, phones get dropped, sweet tea gets spilled on them, (don't ask) so make sure you are prepared.   I have heard horror stories of years of special pictures being stored on cell phones destroyed and lost in an instant.   OH MY!

SD cards, SIM cards, internal storage and cell phones don't last forever.  All of these things are effected by environmental conditions and your devices power source, one accidental drop or one good power surge and ZAP...no more pictures.  Don't get me wrong I am certainly not saying you shouldn't keep pics on your phone (I would die without mine) I am just saying BACK THEM UP!

How?
If it is an SD card (or similar) from your camera, power off  your camera, remove it and copy those precious pics to your computer hard drive or USB drive.  Reinsert, turn that baby back on and VIOLA! you are good to go.
The SIM cards and other little gems that come in your cell phone can come out and be copied on a  computer or flash drive as well. 
**Be sure to follow your device manufactures directions when removing all storage media, especially those tiny little cards.  If you damage the little gold connectors, you may ruin the card and the chance of your pictures being held captive forever on that little card are pretty high.

If you don't have removable storage look at the manual that came with your device. Maybe you can back it up with a USB cable directly to your computer.
If it is a smart phone with no removable storage be sure to do regular backups to the CLOUD or other off site storage place.  One of my favorite gallery type storage place is called SMUGMUG. They help you showcase your photo's and you can even give friends and family a link to your galleries and they can order prints of your pictures! Perfect for grandparents and long distance families.
    
There are places who specialize in retrieving data off of those damaged devices (think Abby from CSI) but trust me you don't want to pay for that service.  OUCH!! A few minutes and a  $10 USB drive  is a much cheaper way to go.  If you do not have a computer, find a friend with one or go to your public library to see if they have a computer with card slots available.
What a great way to start the year!  With organized and safe pictures

LET MY PICTURES GO!!
They want out...you know they do  *wink*

In the mean time keep snappin'
Jeanne



If you would like to see some USB drives available Click here  This will take you to Amazon.com and what they have listed.  If you don't want to "click here", WalMart, Target, Best Buy all sells great flash drive options.  This time of year they are usually a part of  the Get Organized Now sales.