Did you know Amazon Prime membership includes UNLIMITED photo storage? It was that claim which led me to investigate Amazon’s backup services a few years ago and it turns out… the backup service is pretty amazing.
Amazon Cloud Backup Features
For Prime Members, unlimited photo storage is free and it will only cost $12 to include videos too (up to 100 GB). Prices are reasonable for non-Prime members too (a 1TB plan costs $60 a year).
But my love for Amazon Photos extends well beyond the affordable price tag. Here are some other features I love:
- Your files are saved at full size. RAW files too!
- Auto-Sync Functionality. Using the Amazon Photos desktop app, you can designate a folder for Amazon to watch- any time you add files into this folder, it automatically adds them to the cloud. Plus, the Amazon Photos phone app will auto-sync all your phone photos + videos to the cloud as well.
- Folder View and Photos View. I keep my photos organized in folders by month/year on my computer and I really prefer that format. Amazon Prime Photos gives you an option to view your files in two ways- a FOLDER VIEW and a PHOTOS VIEW. The FOLDER VIEW can be seen using the Amazon Drive app or by going to amazonclouddrive.com. The PHOTOS VIEW can be seen in the Amazon Photos app or by clicking on ‘Amazon Photos’ from amazonclouddrive.com. In Photos view you can search your files by face, place, date, or keyword.
- Searching by keyword, location, or person. You can type in a keyword and it’ll search the VISUAL COMPONENTS of your photos- it’s pretty amazing. The example below shows the search ‘birthday’ returned lots of images- my son’s first birthday cake smash, my 30th birthday party with family, etc. None of these photos have the term ‘birthday’ in the filename or metadata. IT JUST KNOWS.
You can also search by place or by person (automatic facial recognition):
HOW TO SETUP AMAZON PHOTOS BACKUP
- Download the Amazon Photos app to your phone. Enable Auto-Sync for both photos and videos.
- Download the Amazon Photos program to your desktop computer. Enable the Backup function for the folder(s) containing photos on your computer.- You may need to un-check the defaults and click ‘Choose a Folder…” to locate your folder.
– I recommend changing the ‘Backup Destination’ to be the Parent Amazon folder (see settings below). It will be easier to find what you need.
- Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having your photos backed up to the cloud + accessible on any device!
Amazon Photos Desktop App
There are three functions within the Amazon Photos desktop app.
- Backup designates a certain folder for Amazon to watch and sync additions to the cloud automatically. You can also initiate a one-time backup on this screen.
- Restore initiates a one-time download from the cloud to your computer.
- Sync sets up an automatic and ongoing download from the cloud (for example: syncing your Pictures/iPhone folder will download all the auto-sync files from your phone right onto your computer).
Note: The Amazon Photos desktop program is only for uploading/downloading files, not for viewing. To view your files in the cloud go to amazonclouddrive.com or download the Amazon Drive app and the Amazon Photos app to your phone.
Casey von Stein, aka Miss Freddy, received the nickname “Freddy” at birth because of an unfortunate resemblance to a Flinstone. She’s outgrown the resemblance (thankfully), but not the nickname. She’s a kids photographer living in Golden, Colorado and is known for her ability to make kids act naturally in front of her camera. Casey loves to help others USE their photos in meaningful ways and in 2017 got certified with APPO as a Photo Organizer. Read her blog and follow along on Instagram for lots of FREE tips for taking better photos and fun ideas for using them.
Thank you for sharing!
I absolutely Love amazon prime! And I love the photo back up and how it shows your photos from past years.