Top online photo storage systems in 2021

Online photo storage is a necessity for companies working with extensive digital images. As the size, quality and quantity of images grows, these digital tools have become a technological necessity. Of course, it’s possible that your current system lacks the ability to efficiently handle such drastic image evolution.

Here’s a guide explaining important features of these powerful storage tools. Use it to evaluate your current system and assess whether an upgrade is necessary.

The 5 best online photo storage systems for 2021

Online photo storage opens up hard drive space by moving images, videos and other media to a remote server. Online photo storage is aimed toward helping businesses increase productivity and convenience. It is the modern method for storing professional and personal digital assets.

The following photo storage systems all offer something unique and completely different from one another. Evaluate each to see which one best fits your company’s many needs. We’ll begin with the most enterprise-friendly option, digital asset management.

1. Digital asset management

Cost: Varying price packages based on customer’s specific needs.

Why it stands out: The future of online photo storage is here, and it’s digital asset management (DAM). Not everyone is aware of it yet, but a DAM system is quickly becoming one of the biggest necessities when it comes to photo storage.

Breakdown: As photo storage moves into the digital age and onto the cloud, ensure your image library is backed by elite security tools. Digital asset management (DAM) is one such secure system, offering immense solutions to all sorts of modern photo storage issues.

One potential problem DAM is able to solve arises with image copyrights. To deal with this, DAM provides watermarks on photos so that unwarranted outside sources don’t extract them. It is advanced photo software that gives administrators the power to control who views and uses the digital images.

DAM takes online photo storage system into the technologically advanced era. It provides the most complete photo storage features, all aimed at boosting team collaboration, communication, sharing and organizing. Canto DAM is the only system on the market that boosts access, automates metadata and secures images correctly. Choose digital asset management if you need a comprehensive enterprise photo solution.

2. Adobe Portfolio

Cost: $9.99 (US)/month

Why it stands out: One of the most unique aspects of Adobe Portfolio is the way it caters to professional and aspiring photographers. In fact, it offers in-depth layouts and options designed to store and manage pictures in artistic ways. Portfolio even users a way to create a gallery site that demonstrates their pictures, style and talent.

Breakdown: Adobe Portfolio is an underrated storage option, lost in a sea of popular systems like Dropbox, Box and Sync that compete to offer the exact same features. Fortunately, if you’re willing to take a chance on Adobe Portfolio, it will prove quite favorable in a lot of different areas. For starters, its photo organization is optimal for anyone in need of image displays and numerous picture layouts. This gives users a way to quickly navigate their uploaded photos without opening each one.

Finally, Portfolio is a secure system that handles the advanced technological issues automatically so you don’t have to.

3. Amazon Photos

Cost: $19.99 (US)/year

Why it stands out: Amazon Photos caters to the basic user who wants to upload their personal images onto an online system without installing large software programs. As long as these users keep their Amazon accounts, they’ll be able to manage their pictures on the server as well.

Breakdown: Amazon Photos differentiates from the above two systems in that it’s basic by design. Where it truly thrives is its availability and accessibility. The key idea of the concept is that users are already watching videos and listening to music on Amazon, why shouldn’t they store and manage their photos there too? It turns out that this minimalist system is quite efficient and helpful to a lot of users looking for basic storage.

The most standout benefit Amazon Photos offers is convenience. It’s not designed to be a comprehensive professional photo storage tool like Canto DAM or a photographer-friendly system like Adobe Portfolio. Instead,

4. iCloud Photo Library

Cost: 50GB = $0.99; 200GB = $2.99; 2TB = $9.99

Why it stands out: Apple has given their many loyal fans and customers a way to store photos across all the different devices they own. The free 5GB makes it easy to try before committing to any plans.

Breakdown: Apple’s wide reach across the technology landscape continues to broaden, extending to devices like laptops, smartphones, tablets and more. As they continue to expand, it’s more likely that customers will want a unified place to store personal photos.

Though clearly not a realistic business solution for photo storage, the iCloud Photo Library gives users a way to store their images online, no matter which device they prefer.

5. Google Photos

Cost: 15GB free; 100GB = $1.99/month; 200GB = $2.99/month; 2TB = $9.99/month

Why it stands out: As with anything Google does, they usually do it quite well. Furthermore, the synchronization of other Google tools makes it easy to use Photos.

Breakdown: Google’s attempt to steal the show by offering unlimited free storage has come to an end. Instead of continuing to try the impossible, Google realized it couldn’t be done and announced their new pricing plans. Despite this turn of events, Photos is still a solid tool, especially for users who are already committed to using many different Google programs.

Bonus: online photo storage for professional photographers

Where do professional photographers store their photos online? The days of physical drawers, cabinets and files are long over, but where does that leave professional photographers in need of extensive online storage? Here are the things the pros consider most when implementing photo storage:

• Space allotted
• Security
• Showcase features/options

Accordingly, professional photographers gravitate to programs such as Smugmug, Photoshelter and Shootproof.

Closing thoughts

Consider switching up the way your company stores online photos with a system that meets all the necessary requirements. Chances are the current manner in which you handle large quantities of digital photos isn’t effective. Use the right tool to be successful.