Mary Wiebe Photography is a wedding and portrait photographer serving West Texas couples and families

What You Need to Know and How to Preserve Your Images

You’ve had your session—whether it was your wedding day, a sweet newborn shoot, or a long-overdue family gathering—and now you’ve received your beautiful gallery. You’re excited, maybe a little emotional, and can’t stop scrolling through those memories. But what comes next? It’s easy to assume your photos will just “be there” when you want them. But here’s the truth: technology can and does fail. As your photographer, I do everything I can to keep your images safe, but once I deliver your gallery, the responsibility shifts to you. Let’s talk about how to properly preserve your images so they’re safe for decades to come.

---

Step 1: Download Your Gallery Immediately

When you receive your gallery, download it as soon as possible. Don’t wait a few weeks or months—life gets busy, links expire, and you might forget. Most online galleries are only available for a limited time (typically 2–3 months), so downloading everything right away is your first and most important step.

Download the high-resolution files, not just the web-size ones. High-res images are the best quality for printing and archiving. Store them in a clearly labeled folder with the session name and date. For example: “Wiebe Family Session – September 2024.” Preserve your images.

---

Step 2: Save to At Least Two Different Places

Once you’ve downloaded your images, don’t just save them to your phone or your computer. Phones get lost or damaged. Computers crash. Hard drives fail. Unfortunately, it’s not a matter of if technology will fail—it’s when.

To truly protect your memories, you need to back them up in two different places, and ideally in two different physical locations.

Recommended Backup Options:

1. External Hard Drive or USB Drive
   • Use a quality external hard drive or a reliable USB drive with enough storage.
   • These are easy to use—just plug into your computer and drag your photo folder over.
   • Label the drive clearly and store it in a safe, dry place.
2. Cloud Storage
   • Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, or Amazon Photos are great for cloud backups.
   • Cloud storage ensures your images are accessible even if something happens to your physical devices.
   • Make sure you’re using a secure account with a strong password.

Alternatively, you can save to two physical devices—like a USB and an external hard drive—and store one at home and one at a trusted family member’s house. If disaster strikes (fire, flood, theft), you’ll be grateful to have that second backup. Preserve your images, I can’t say this enough.

---

Step 3: Print Your Photos to Preserve Your Images

This one might surprise you, but it’s my favorite tip: print your images.

Prints are tangible memories. They don’t crash, get hacked, or disappear in a tech update. You can hang them on your wall, tuck them in an album, or store them in a keepsake box for your kids to discover years from now. There’s nothing quite like flipping through a physical album with your family—reliving your wedding, your baby’s first smile, or that chaotic but love-filled family session.

Even printing just a few favorites is better than nothing. And if you want to go the extra mile, create an heirloom album. Not only is it a gorgeous way to display your story—it’s a gift for future generations.

Print your images through the gallery link provided with your session. These galleries are directly connected to a professional printing lab to ensure you get the best quality. It is also convenient because you don’t need to download and wait to upload again to another sight. If you rather print on your own, I recommend using Mpix.

---

What Photographers Do (And Why It’s Not Enough)

As a photographer, I take your memories seriously. I back up your images in multiple places and keep them stored safely for as long as I can. But I can’t guarantee I’ll have them forever. Hard drives eventually fail, galleries get archived, and tech changes faster than we can keep up.

That’s why I gently (but firmly!) urge every client to take ownership of their files. Download them, back them up, and print them. Because while I’ll do everything I can to protect your photos, no one will treasure them more than you will.

Whatever portrait session you just had done, is precious. Take the time to download and save your images. For a fun read on a family session, check out this blog post.

---

Your Memories Deserve Protection

We spend time and money creating beautiful, meaningful images—don’t let those memories live in a digital black hole or disappear in a tech mishap. With just a little effort, you can ensure your photos are safe, accessible, and cherished for years to come.

So take this as your friendly photographer PSA:

• Download your gallery now.
• Back it up in at least two places.
• Store copies in different locations.
• And print your photos.

At the moment, it may seem like a lot to have to download and save the photos, but if you take care of it right away, you don’t have to worry about it again. And honestly, it’s the best way to preserve your images after a session.

Want to know what to expect with a session with me, read this blog post.