The newly wed couple is internet and tech savvy. They’ve been using online photo finishing and sharing sites for years. They upload the files (or mail a disc) to their favorite photo sharing site, or one recommended by their photographer, and the whole family can view the photos online and order inexpensive, high quality prints and albums from anywhere in the world, without bugging the couple at all. Sometimes life does get in the way, but not as often as expensive print and album prices will.

Back up is no problem. They are already digitally archiving all the other digital info and files they use in their lives. They’ve experienced computer failures at home or at work and take the issue seriously.

Just as many wedding and family photos have been lost and destroyed when people didn’t take care of or keep track of negatives and slides. Whatever the process photographs will not survive unless valued and taken care of. Sticking prints in an album and the negs in an envelope or shoebox in the closet/attic/basement is not archiving. The only change the new technology makes is that it’s now easier to make identical copies.

I still have the finished files from every wedding I’ve ever photographed digitally. Out of 300+ weddings one couple has had to ask me for another copy. I don’t have all the negs for the weddings I shot with film. Hopefully the couples who possess their wedding negs are taking care of them. I doubt they are being as careful storing them as I would.