Best Cloud Storage for iPhoto backup?

Exporting images (according to your post on this forum) does not give the identical image as that in the library, I thought

It depends on exactly how export settings you choose. The "image in the library" is a bit of a nebulous concept. You can certainly export the original exactly as imported. Edited images are more complex, as what is in the Library is the result of an equation: original plus edits to image and edits to metadata. This can be exported at a variety of settings: size, quality, format, depending on the settings you choose in the export dialogue.

This User Tip

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4921

has details of the options in the Export dialogue.

Terence, do you have any suggestions for remote backup of the iPhoto library when one does not have any relatives/friends etc at a remote location to take a removable drive to ? I can use Flickr for the photos but it is the metadata that is crucial.

You should get out and make friends 😉

Sorry, couldn't resist that.

All you need is somewhere safe that is remote from the main collection. At work, if you have a space or a locker? Any kind of deposit box anywhere. Even your car, though that might be a problem if your car is stolen.

Retired so no work locker. Live remotely as well. It was great when I could rely on the laptop in the outbuilding as that was separate from the house and so gave reasonable separation. Knowing my character I can't see me religiously unplugging an external drive and taking it down the garden to put inside a Tupperware box!

Exporting images (according to your post on this forum) does not give the identical image as that in the library, I thought?

Sorry but we can not see you so you have to give details -- specifically if you export the unmodified original you get exactly what was imported - nothing different -- If you export anything else you get a new photo according to your specifications

LN

Terence and Larry, many thanks for you patience and forbearance.

I did read the helpful article that Terence referred to and clearly misread it. Indeed, choosing Original and Title does export the original as an identical image together with the title. But therein lies the rub. One must have developed from the very start a rigorous regime for naming titles. If, like me, you tend to have several Events for, say, a holiday - quite simply because you took some photos on Day One and uploaded them, then another set on Day Two and uploaded them, I would go to the Event for Day One, select all the photos there and simply give them the Title 'Paris holiday 2016', say, with the sequential flag set so that they were titled 'Paris holiday 2016 - 1' etc.

I would then usually select the Event for Day Two and do the same. This, of course, results in photos that effectively have the same filename when trying to export and, naturally, OSX complains. I realise that this is a deficiency in my way of working but while working within iPhoto this is not a problem. Only when one tries to export.

Leaving that aside, the whole business of exporting is not ideal compared to the automatic incremental backup to an external drive that something like SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner provides.

I looked at a couple of plug-ins for Flickr. First up was Flickr Uploadr which frankly is a joke. Second and which I'll probably buy is Flickr Exporter from FatCat. That seems to do what it says on the tin. Any recommendations for others would be very welcome.

Perhaps I can set up a remote connection with someone remote from me with a Mac and we could reciprocate allowing each other to backup to a partition on each others Mac.

Or maybe find someone where I can stick a Mac Mini on their network and use that remotely.

I would then usually select the Event for Day Two and do the same. This, of course, results in photos that effectively have the same filename when trying to export and, naturally, OSX complains. I realise that this is a deficiency in my way of working but while working within iPhoto this is not a problem. Only when one tries to export

So, in Day Two use the Batch Change to title holiday - day two - 001 etc.

Leaving that aside, the whole business of exporting is not ideal compared to the automatic incremental backup to an external drive that something like SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner provides.

True

Perhaps I can set up a VPN with someone remote from me with a Mac and we could reciprocate allowing each other to backup to a partition on each others Mac.

That works too

LOL..."So, in Day Two use the Batch Change to title holiday - day two - 001 etc."

I'd do that now, of course, but I've got a library already set-up with virtual duplicates. I'll do it from now on, naturally.

None. Many problems with cloud backup including the fact that putting thebiPhoyo library on a volume not formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) creates problems and the iPhoto library typically is large making cloud downloading really slow

Wbuy a portable drive and carry it with you

LN

Online doesn’t really work for iPhoto because most solutions don't understand the iPhoto Library structures and also because of the massive amounts of data involved. We often see folks on here complaining of restores taking days to complete.

But you do raise a very important issue and this is what I have done in this case:

My Library lives on my iMac. It’s Backed up to two external hard disks every day. These disks are permanently attached to the iMac. These back ups run automatically. One is done by Time Machine, one is a bootable back up done by SuperDuper

It’s also backed up to a portable hard disk when ever new photos are added. This hard disk lives in my car. For security, this disk is password protected.

I have a second off-site back up at a relative’s house across town. That’s updated every 3 or 4 months.

My Photos are backed up online. There are many options: Flickr, Picasa, SmugMug etc. However, check the terms of your account carefully. While most sites have free uploading, you will often find that these uploads are limited in terms of the file size or the bandwidth you can use per month. For access that allows you to upload full size pics with no restrictions you may need to pay.

Every couple of months I test the back ups to make sure they are working correctly. It’s very easy to mis-configure a back up application, and the only way to protect against that is to do a trial restore.

Use online storage for just the original photos. To do that upload from your camera to a folder on the desktop before importing into iPhoto. You can then have that folder uploaded to the online storage. That would be much less to upload than a full library.

Also, uploading to a folder allows you to give the folder (and the resulting Event) the name you want and rename the photos if so desired to get rid of the boring "IMG_001.jpg" type of file name. I use a file remaner to rename them with their EXIF Capture date like this: 2012-03-10-001.JPG.

OT

Yes icloud has not much storage space. Although I have stored all my files and photo related storage on Just Cloud. It enabled me to store securely, share easily and access files, data from anywhere virtually. JustCloud storage platform includes JustCloud also provides 15 MB free and features including like easy file restoration, Restore deleted files, alsoremote file transfer and others. Although SugarSync will also provides similar features and capabilities. I got related blog post which includes Cloud storage providers with features and full specifications.

<Link Edited by Host>

Thanks for the advertisment, but it doesn’t deal with any of the issues raised re cloud storage and iPhoto - massive data transfers and disk formats

Thanks everyone for your input. I've been asking around and received some more suggestions... anyone had experience or have any thoughts on these options?
Jungle Disk?
Skydrive?

Pogoplug?

FYI this is "saymay" wasn't aware that I have 2 different aliases