Top Five Benefits to Storing Memories on the Cloud

Geoff Weber, CEO
May 26, 2023

Why cloud is perfect for your photos and videos.

Before our cameras became phones that created digital pictures, most of us stored an ever-growing stack of photos and videotapes in whatever box would fit them. Even though most of us stopped creating physical memories a long time ago, we still have those boxes of photos and videos tucked away.

Unless you already store your pictures in the cloud, you’ve probably opened that box and found some of your memories damaged. It’s heartbreaking to find an irreplaceable photo ripped, folded, or wrinkled, or to find out that cherished VHS tape won’t play anymore. Even if safely stored, there's no guarantee they won’t get lost. Sometimes, no matter how long or hard you search, you just can’t find that certain memory.  All these scenarios certainly make you wish you had a digital copy.  

It’s important to keep your memories safe and accessible.  When disaster strikes, you can replace many of your possessions, like furniture and clothing. But what about that box of memories? Losing those can be devastating – especially if you only have a single copy. If something happens to them, they are gone forever.  But you can have that same comfort and peace of mind for your memories by using cloud storage.

Moving and storing all your photos to the cloud may seem difficult, but it’s quite simple. But why do you need to store your photos in the cloud?  Simply put, with the cloud your photos are safer, more accessible, readily shared, easily organized, and it won’t break the bank.

1. Security

Digital memories can be stored on DVDs, external hard drives, portable flash cards, or even on the cloud- but which is best? Which can withstand an emergency or natural disaster? Can any of them do all of the above and still remain easily accessible?

Portable thumb drives and external hard drives can safely backup your computer to keep your memories safe, but they are susceptible to the same loss and corruption as your computer. Photo albums are a great way to organize your memories, but are no safer unless stored in a fireproof box, making them far less accessible. DVD storage may seem like a safe alternative, but the discs can get scratched and damaged. Even when stored safely, many computer manufacturers are no longer including DVD readers with their devices.

While all these options provide more safety and security for your memories than simply storing them in a box in the garage, they are all susceptible to natural disasters, computer viruses, or even getting lost.

Cloud storage is the safest, most reliable method you can use.  Uploading and storing photos on the cloud allows automatic backups and saves your photos in multiple locations.  This redundancy provides an added layer of protection for your photos, even safeguarding them if your computer crashes. It also protects your memories when disaster strikes, so you don’t have to worry about losing your memories.  

2. Access

Transfer your memories off of outdated technology.

Cloud storage gives you the ability to see your memories anytime, anywhere, from any device. When you save your pictures and videos to the cloud, you won’t have to worry about carrying extra external hard drives, discs, or thumb drives. You will be able to access your memories without worrying if your old VCR still works (or worse, worrying that it will eat your tape), or whether someone will accidentally spill a drink on that beautiful wedding photo of your parents.

Even if something happens to your device, you can rest easy knowing that your memories are safe. You will be able to find them easily on any device with internet access. With cloud storage, you can let go of your worry and spend more time enjoying your favorite memories.

3. Portability

Digital files are easy to share.

No matter where you store your pictures and videos – in a box in the closet, in photo albums in the attic, or scattered in drawers across your home – it can be cumbersome to dig them out and relive those precious moments. Constantly packing and unpacking them into boxes time and time again can cause dangerous wear-and-tear on delicate pictures.

Scan all types of photos to JPG. Convert audio to MP3. Convert video to MP4. Scan documents to PDF. Transfer them all on the cloud and set smart sharing permissions.

When you store them in the cloud, your memories can be shared without lugging your box around the house. You can create digital albums that let you easily browse and share specific pictures without the clutter. You can even share them instantly and easily with loved ones who are far away.

4. Savings

Good cloud storage isn’t free, but neither are replacement DVDs or hard drives, which can get prohibitively expensive quickly. The cost of those replacements doesn’t even account for the opportunity costs to manage that process. Unlimited cloud access plans can cost as little as a few dollars per month. There's no need to buy a more powerful computer with a larger hard drive. Putting your memories on the cloud will save you hundreds of dollars and countless hours of frustration. Some cloud providers allow you to do more than store your files online. Many services let you stream your videos, allow for portable curation, and scale as your needs grow.  

5. Organization

Priceless memories don't belong in a cluttered storage locker.

Once you’re in the cloud, you’ll quickly notice that there is no more opening cluttered drawers, no more pulling old albums from dusty bookshelves or storage spaces, and no more carrying heavy boxes to find multiple video cassettes, photo albums, or stacks of discs. You’ll have all the benefits of modern media – like no longer having to rewind tapes to find a perfect moment – without the bulk and fragility that comes with keeping older memories. With the cloud, you can just tag a digital file with a special name and find it in seconds from any desktop, tablet, or mobile device.  Just by clicking and dragging, you can organize similar memories into digital folders to declutter your life.  By putting them in the cloud, you can find your favorite photos and videos immediately without waiting.

Heirloom forever stores memories for only $19.99 per year.

Millions of memories preserved.

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Lost & Found

Memories from thrift stores, flea, markets, and abonded storage lockers.

Older couple in front of mountain viewing spot looking at each other

Yosemite Valley, ~1960s

We found this picture of a beautiful couple standing in front of Half Dome, one of Yosemite Valley’s most recognizable landmarks. Yosemite Valley in California sees millions of visitors each year (a record 5 million people visited in 2016!). Even though the park sees so many people, each person typically only sees it once…and it’s always a special memory. This picture was nestled in a collection of photos from all over the world – from California to New Orleans to Paris, Germany, Africa, and more. But despite the awe-inspiring view behind them, the couple seems more entranced with each other than anything around them.

An image of highschoolers about to attend prom with their dates

Prom, 1966

The charm and beauty of prom captures the hearts of young men and women across the country every year. For many, it’s their first formal affair, their first step into a glamorous world built only for them. But perhaps more memorable are the days and moments leading up to the ceremony. Before the first song ever plays, ladies are shopping with friends to find the perfect dress, gentlemen are building up the courage to ask for a date, and both are speechless at the first sight of each other. The laughter and smiles found in these moments often planted roots for love to blossom.

Mother showing toddler in a crib their reflection in a mirror

Love unbound, circa 1966

Every generation faces unique challenges. To meet them, we stand on the shoulders of our loved ones and become more than they ever could. In time, we do the same for our children, lifting them higher still to achieve what we could only dream of. While we were busying admiring those who guided us, candid memories like this remind us of the care they took to show us the world we live in. Hairstyles and fashion choices come and go. Pop culture changes with the wind. But the excitement that comes from these experiences – whether learning them for the first time or passing them along to the next generation – creates unforgettable feelings that deserve to last forever.

2 men holding animals a chihuahua and a donkey side by side

Sharing laughs, circa 1965

Some of our memories are defined by the times. We proudly showed off our bellbottom pants and 8-track tapes, wore loud clothes and big hair, and proved that grunge wasn’t just music, it was a way of life. These were the times of our self-expression. But our most important memories weren’t shaped by self-expression, they were shaped by mutual expression, by the friends who stood beside us. Friends have a way of bringing out the best in us. They help define who we are through the experiences we share. The smiles, the laughs, and even the tears create a bond stronger than time.

Children on a swing set looking at the camera

Swinging, ~1965

Autumn brings about a time of great change. Like the trees that shed their leaves, we put the summer behind us, trading t-shirts for sweaters and beaches for playgrounds. And it was on the swing sets of our youth that we learned we could touch the clouds if we but yearned to fly. As Robert Frost once told us, “Nothing gold can stay.” Nearly a century later, his words remind us that true beauty lives only in the moment, and those moments are worth remembering.

Man sitting on a giraffe statue

Riding Giraffes, ~1965

Life has a way of forcing our focus on the future. We plan and schedule and organize and hope that it all helps us get to where we think we want to be. But when the meetings are over and the offices close, we escape to the places that make us forget it all. Places like the Nut Tree in Vacaville, CA, offered retreat to residents and tourists and foreign dignitaries alike. At its height, it was “the ‘go-to’ spot no matter your passions or your age. We all had a place like this, somewhere we could be ourselves among friends that always made us smile.

Image of people at a table in a home smiling at camera

Change, ~1970s

We often take pictures to capture the moment, to relive the happiness and joy we felt in years past. But when we look back on them decades later, we find that pictures are so much more powerful. They preserve the smiles, of course, but they also chronicle change. We all experience it. The laughter and tears, the wins and the losses, and at every turn we love and mourn and grow. Pictures like this show that as we grow, so too does the world.

Image of a teen boy holding a soda while 2 elementary boys make silly faces

Choices, ~1977

Just because we were there together doesn’t mean we had the same experience. We remember things differently because our priorities were different. Some of us let the experience define the memory, while others chose to define it themselves. We often rush through life, bouncing between the big moments and taking ourselves too seriously. We move from one day to the next with little regard for the small moments that fill each one. Meanwhile, those around us are having the time of their lives in every moment they can. So, we have a choice: we can wait for the memorable moments to find us, or we can create the times that are worth remembering.
When you look back at your own pictures, do you see a defining moment, or a moment defined?

Image of a boy wearing a blue power ranger costume

Transformations, 1994

As we get older, holidays tend to take on new meanings for us. New Year’s Eve becomes less about the party and more about spending another year with friends, Christmas less about getting gifts and more about giving them, and we understand the things we’re thankful for during Thanksgiving more than ever. But no matter how old we are, the excitement of putting on a costume for Halloween never changes. Whether we’re giving the candy or getting it, Halloween allows us to transform into whatever we want. We can be spooky ghosts wrapped in sheets or wear plastic teeth and threaten to suck the blood from our friend’s necks.

Image of an older man showing his fish catches of the day

Showing off, 1996

We all have our own hobbies. Some of us like golfing with friends, or painting a comforting picture surrounded by idyllic scenery. Others enjoy playing music, writing stories, or woodworking. But almost everyone has spent at least a day on the water with nothing but a fishing pole and the hope of catching the big one. Whether you’re bragging about your amazing hole-in-one or that giant fish that got away, we all love sharing our adventures. That’s why memories like this are so important. Our friends won’t always believe us when we tell them how big that fish really was, but they can’t argue when we show them the picture.

Black and white image of US Navy Sailors

Camaraderie, 1954

When we remember significant events in our lives, we remember the friends who supported us the most. As we get older, these memories become more caricatures than factual, and many of the people we enjoyed being with are lost in the fog of our minds. Military members meet a significant amount of people all the time. Whether through the constant rotation of personnel through a unit or the many classes that provide networking opportunities, service-members often remember events more often than names or faces. But when we look back on pictures like this, a flood of memories comes rushing through. Suddenly, we’re a part of the conversations all over again. We see the faces and hear the laughter and we remember the smiles that carried us through those important times.

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