If photos aren't backed up, they remain only on your device, vulnerable to permanent loss from device failure, theft, or accidental deletion, with recovery being difficult or impossible once gone from the device's temporary "Recently Deleted" folder (usually 30 days) or permanently removed, as they're not in cloud services like Google Photos or iCloud. The only safe way to keep them is to ensure backup is enabled, protecting them in the cloud and allowing you to free up space on your phone.
Not all deleted photos & videos can be restored
You won't be able to restore a photo or video if: The photo or video wasn't backed up and: On an Android 11 and up device, you moved it to trash more than 30 days ago. You permanently deleted it from your device's gallery app.
Given this timeline, it's unlikely that anything will happen to your files immediately after you cancel, though we'd recommend getting your iCloud files backed up somewhere else as soon as possible—bearing in mind that any local copies of this data you have won't be affected by canceling your iCloud storage plan.
Peace of Mind
Data loss anxiety is real, especially for photographers who rely on years of work for their livelihood. With online backup for photographers, you can focus on creating rather than worrying about losing files. With Imagen Cloud, your images are safe even if your laptop crashes.
Here's the truth: deleting an iCloud backup means that all the data stored in that backup – photos, videos, app data, and settings – will be lost. But before you panic, let me reassure you: it doesn't necessarily mean losing everything.
When should you make backups? If you wonder how often you should back up your data, just ask yourself, " How many days work can I afford to lose"? Whenever you make changes to files, or add new files, you need to back up your files again.
How do I free up iCloud storage without deleting photos? The best way is to download them to a different device or back them up using another cloud service.
All individuals and organizations risk permanently losing important data if they don't backup their files. For individuals, the loss of personal financial records, important documents, and irreplaceable photographs leads to a great deal of stress and disappointment.
4 Best Ways to Back Up and Store Digital Photos
When you delete a Photo from your Photo Library, it is permanently deleted from your account and is removed from all Photo Albums in which it was inserted.
When you delete photos and videos on one device, they'll be deleted everywhere that you use iCloud Photos. If you delete something accidentally, you can recover it in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days. After that, it's deleted permanently and you can't get it back.
We already mentioned that disabling iCloud Photos will remove your access to all images stored on cloud storage except the ones captured on the same device. Therefore, if you want to disable iCloud Photos, make sure you have created a backup of the images on iCloud that you might need.
The answer is yes — even if you have deleted the photos from your drive, you can still recover old deleted photos from your drive, sometimes. The method on how to restore deleted photos in this article will work for all storage media devices, from SD cards and USB flash drives, to modern SSDs and HDDs.
Check photo or video backup status
If you sort chronologically, photo storage boxes or a photo book might be what you need. A pretty scrapbook will allow you to add some personality and really tell a story as you create a keepsake that will be treasured for years to come. Glassine envelopes are also a good option.
What is the rule of thirds? The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open. While there are other forms of composition, the rule of thirds generally leads to compelling and well-composed shots.
Think of it as your safety net in case your main files get lost, deleted, or damaged. The goal of a backup is simple: if something goes wrong, you've got a copy of your data that you can fall back on, so you don't lose everything.
Risks of Lacking Automatic Data Backup
One of the most immediate dangers is data loss. This can occur due to accidental file deletions, hardware malfunctions, or even software errors. For instance, an employee might inadvertently delete an important spreadsheet, or a server could experience an unexpected crash.
Without backups or replication, a ransomware attack or storage failure could permanently erase customer data, violating compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR) and damaging relationships. Finally, the absence of a DR plan increases legal and reputational risks.
The first time you sign in to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with your Apple Account, you'll get 5GB of free iCloud storage.
The problem isn't necessarily with the photos themselves, but rather with how iCloud storage works. It involves nuances like synchronization delays, the “Recently Deleted” folder, and even hidden culprits like outdated backups.