Consumer Photo Preservation

Throughout the past decade, much has changed in the way people around the world communicate and share experiences.  I3A’s member companies understand the complexities consumers face from the rapid growth of digital photography, social media, and mobile devices all too well.  The challenges of storing and preserving our collective visual heritage have grown exponentially – choices are no longer even as simple as scrapbook vs. shoebox.  Consumers are now faced with the daunting task of sifting through thousands of photos and the frustration of the time it now takes them to do anything with those images.

As a first step in providing solutions to these challenges, I3A’s Consumer Photo Preservation (CPP) group, which operates as an I3A Interest Group initiative within the Image Preservation IG, developed the SaveMyMemories website.  The site is a rich resource for anyone with a digital camera.  It is the place to discover and learn about how to quickly and easily manage and preserve our digital photo collections.

The two main goals of CPP are to:

1. Educate our customers about the risks they face with preserving their digital pictures and practical paths to minimize these risks.
2. Determine ways to improve upon, standardize, and promote products and services that enable consumers to keep, share, and relive their memories for generations to come. 

Initiative members are currently focusing on improving the existing website to create a more interactive community-focused environment, driven by user needs and offering personalized solutions that may include participating companies' products.  Ongoing initiative efforts include managing a social networking presence, developing educational videos and webinars, updating distributed web content (on the I3A site as well as outside sites such as Wikipedia), and search engine optimization.

How Can You Get Involved?

Participation in CPP is open to all I3A Member companies who are part of I3A’s Image Preservation Group.  I3A and the participants of the CPP initiative encourage participation from all interested members of the imaging ecosystem.  Join us and help build awareness about the importance of digital memory preservation among the ever-growing number of digital camera users.

If you would like to learn more about how to get involved in the CPP Initiative, please contact Donna Cohn, Standards & Initiatives Marketing Coordinator (+1 (914) 285-4933, ext. 1 | donnac@i3a.org) or click here to download a CPP Fact Sheet.

If you are not currently a member of I3A, learn more about membership and how to join here.