Guide
Keeping a photo library intact over many years
Photos tend to be the single category of file people most regret losing, and also the category most often left protected by accident rather than by plan.
Volume works against casual backup habits
A photo library grows quietly into tens of thousands of files, which makes manual, occasional copying unreliable. Automated, ongoing backup specifically for a photo library tends to be necessary rather than optional once it reaches that size.
Originals matter more than edited copies
If an editing step is ever applied, keeping the original unedited file alongside any edited version protects against an edit you later regret or a program that stops supporting a particular edit format.
Duplicate storage protects against duplicate risk
A photo library that exists only on a phone, or only in one cloud account, carries the full risk of that single device or account. Keeping a second copy, ideally offline or in a different service, meaningfully lowers the odds of total loss.
Questions people ask
Should I keep every photo I take?
Not necessarily — periodically removing clearly unwanted duplicates or test shots keeps a library manageable without affecting the photos that actually matter.
Is one cloud backup of photos enough?
It is better than none, but a second, independent copy protects against problems specific to that one account or service.