What do you do if your digital images become corrupt?

We live in a digital world that has so many instant benefits. We can snap a picture one second, and family and friends across the other side of the world can see it the next. How amazing is that! No more needing to wait outside the 1 hour photo lab to see how many of our photos were in focus before we post them off via airmail to update the family at Christmas time.

But along with the benefits of a digital world, there is a downside too.

Digital files actually don't last forever. As well as being outdated by newer technology, they can also become corrupted. Digital corruption can occur in a number of ways, but the most common are when there is a power interruption, problems in the saving process, a faulty disk, or even when the storage device gets old.

So what do you do if your digital family photos become corrupted? Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do. Once a file is gone, it's gone. There is some data recovery software available, but it doesn't always work.

As the age-old saying goes, "prevention is better than a cure". Knowing that digital corruption is a possibility, the best thing you can do is cover all your bases in case it happens.

Firstly, backup your files.

My recommended method is to have at least 3 backup copies, in 3 different places. One on your main computer's hard drive. Another on a secondary portable hard drive, and a third on offsite cloud-based storage like Google Drive or Dropbox. Then, if your computer is stolen or infected with malware, you know your family photos are safe in the other 2 separate locations.

Secondly, print your photos.

Not only is having a hard copy of your digital images another method of insurance in case the files become corrupt, but you actually get to enjoy your memories. Having all your photos printed in an album or box of prints is the best way to enjoy and share your favourite family moments no matter how the state of technology changes over time.

Already in the last 20 years, we've seen floppy disks and CDs become redundant, with top companies like Apple not even including CD drives and USB ports on their latest devices. I often wonder what the technological landscape will look like in another 20 years' time when my children are wanting to relive our family history.

So let's all enjoy the convenience and speed that this current digital age affords us, but let's also remember to treasure, preserve and enjoy our family memories with the same care and reverence that we did in the past.