The Best Way to Backup your Client's Photos Safely and Securely - What to Look For When Choosing the Best Photo Sharing & Storage Service

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURE PHOTO SHARING & YOUR BUSINESS

Photo sharing is more than being able to send an image to a friend or family member, itā€™s also about protecting your business and building trust with current and future clients.  If you have a secure system you can prevent unwanted downloads from your clientā€™s friends and family members without paying, and help potential clients feel confident their images are secure if they hire you.

This guide will help walk you through the options available with photo sharing, and how you can use them to grow your business. And remember, not every tool is needed right now, so go with what makes the most sense for you now while looking for features that might help in the future.  Personally, Iā€™ve been using Smugmug as my photo storage service since I started my business in 2011, but there are tons of options out there. Iā€™ve tried out a few others but I always end up sticking with Smugmug because of all of the features they offer. Here are a few things to consider when deciding which service to go with:

CLIENT SECURITY

Whether you photograph weddings, corporate events, or do product shots for ecommerce clients, the day will come when someone will try and take the image without paying.  Donā€™t let this happen to you!  You have options to protect your work.

These include:

  • Watermarking

  • Low-res samples

  • Password protected galleries

  • Encrypted links

  • Right click prevention

  • Small file size images in the code base

WATERMARKING

The first and easiest solution for protecting your photos is watermarking.  When youā€™re choosing a photo sharing service, ask their customer support if you can have watermarks automatically added whenever a third party accesses the images within your galleries.  It isnā€™t enough to place your logo on the image, as logos can be cropped out easily.  If you donā€™t like watermarking, donā€™t worry, there are other ways to protect your images. 

RIGHT CLICK PREVENTION

The next level is right click prevention.  

Users will try to right click on an image and download it for free, especially if they can upscale it to reduce pixelation.  By making sure your client galleries have right clicking disabled, you can help prevent these unwanted downloads when you share a link to access the images. 

IMAGE EXTRACTING

And this goes code deep, which gets a bit more complicated.

More tech savvy clients will look at a pageā€™s source code or try an image extractor.  Hereā€™s how to check if your photos are susceptible to this. Open the page source of the webpage and look for the image name.  It is as easy as doing a text search and typing in the file name.  Now open the URL with the image and see if the image shows up with a watermark.  You can also try downloading it and upscaling it to make sure the client cannot do this and bypass paying you.  If this sounds intimidating, donā€™t sweat it.  Thereā€™s lots of ways to keep your work from getting ā€œexposedā€ to unwanted downloads.  

PASSWORD-PROTECTED GALLERIES

Make sure the photo sharing service youā€™re considering offers password protected galleries, or a way to send an encrypted link that only lets clients access the images you put into the private gallery.

Having password protected galleries isnā€™t only important for fine art and custom business shoots. Itā€™s important for portraiture.  

Boudoir is one of the largest markets to make money in.  If you have a secure photo sharing system, you can list the ways you protect your clients by keeping their most intimate images guarded.  Showing that you take extra precautions helps set yourself apart from your competition.  And this could help you land more business. And donā€™t forget parents!

Making sure family photos, or even holiday sessions donā€™t get out into the real world is vital.  Parents want to keep images of their children safe from downloading.  They want to prevent their kids from getting bullied, and the images from being turned into memes.  By letting them know youā€™ll keep everything in their control, youā€™ll help gain their trust. 

EASE OF USE

And thereā€™s one thing outside of security that is important with photo sharing, ease of use.

Once you know your photo sharing service has the levels of privacy needed for your business, you want to make sure youā€™re able to quickly and easily retrieve and display your work.

APP AVAILABILITY

The first step is having an app available that can be used on connected devices.  Being able to open an app while at a client site to display your work is an important safeguard in case your camera or computer gets damaged or breaks. The Smugmug app is pretty incredible because you can also set it up to back up your photo stream on your phone. So instead of paying for iCloud storage or something similar, Smugmug can back up the photos on your phone instead!

RELIABLE ACCESS

Next is having a portal that can let you access your work with ease.

2fa and password protection are important, but what happens if the system locks you out and recovery is tricky.  Make sure you talk to the support team and see what controls there are to access your work when youā€™re overseas, and in different locations.  This is especially important for travel, landscape, and workshop photographers.  Not to mention if youā€™re editing at a client site.  Being able to get the work from unknown locations makes the difference between a productive visit and a flop.

SITE SPEED

Last is the speed to access your galleries.  If the photo sharing solution is too complex, or the load times are too long, youā€™ll have cranky clients.  Test each system before you purchase and use different connection types including cell phone data plans.  You never know when you wonā€™t have wifi and will need to rely on your phoneā€™s network to save the day.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Photo sharing is more than just finding an easy way to get photos to your client, it is about protecting your business.  Make sure you have the highest levels of privacy and security available, and that your clients know you take extra steps to make sure their images are safe.  This goes a long way in helping you prevent images from being stolen and printed, as well as turning potential leads into paying clients!

Smugmug is a great option for photo storage and sharing. Iā€™ve been using it for over a decade! They offer ALL of the services I mentioned above, including an app that makes access and sharing super easy, even when Iā€™m traveling. Click here to get a free 14-day trial!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to leave any questions/comments/concerns! And donā€™t forget to stop by my B&H storefront or Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)

Have a lovely day!

<3 Myles Katherine

Is the Canon 5D Mark IV worth it in 2026? | Starting a Photography Business with the Best DSLR For Your Budget

REAL WORLD REVIEW OF THE CANON 5D MARK IV BY A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Updated March 23, 2026

Iā€™m not going to lie, itā€™s not a cheap investment to buy a Canon 5D Mark IV (the body itself is currently priced new at $1999), even in 2026, and especially if you want a professional lens to go along with it. But if youā€™re ready to start a business or to start working as a professional photographer, itā€™s an absolute necessity to buy an incredible full-frame or mirrorless DSLR camera and lens. And if you buy a used 5D Mark IV on KEH camera or eBay, you can save yourself a LOT of money. I will be the first person to recommend buying used gear, but always make sure that the company is reputable (KEH Camera is great for used gear). eBay is more of a risk but Iā€™ve gotten some amazing deals through eBay. Just make sure the seller has good reviews and ratings, and a LOT of them. Ask the seller questions if you need to and make sure to look at the photos of the item closely for scratches, dings or imperfections and check the return policy. 

The Canon 5D Mark IV is the main camera I use for weddings, portrait shoots, events, etc. For my main lens, I use the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens which currently prices new at $2199. Again, buying a gently used one on KEH Camera or eBay can save you tons! This is an incredible zoom lens with great low-light capabilities and sharp, stunning images. With the 5D Mark IV and the 24-70mm L lens, this set-up can set you back $4198. While it sounds like a crazy number, I just think about how much money my cameras and lenses have made me over the years and it makes much more sense. BUT, consider buying gently used options to save some money, or buy one of Canonā€™s more budget friendly lenses, like the Canon 50 mm f/1.4 which you can pick up for about $400. But in my opinion, the lens is the MOST important part of your camera set-up and the L series lenses are WORTH it. Canon also released an RF line of lenses for their mirrorless cameras that are supposed to be EVEN BETTER. I just havenā€™t been able to justify spending the money on them, especially when I have these amazing L lenses at home!

WHY I LOVE THE CANON 5D MARK IV

My very first full-frame DSLR was a Canon 5D Mark II - an earlier version of the 5D Mark IV. I bought it while I was finishing up college as a studio art major. Immediately after college, I created a website, started uploading my best photos and blogging consistently and before I knew it, I was booking photo shoots in my hometown. However, a year after graduation, I decided to move to Portland, Oregon with my boyfriend and two friends. I was thrown into a sea of photographers and had no idea how I was going to stand out. But I kept blogging and began advertising on Craigslist with low prices, and before I knew it, I had booked 20 weddings for my first year. Back in my hometown, I had been working as a second shooter for a few photographers and was using my 5D Mark II. I used these images to help advertise my business and to be honest, I definitely attribute my first bookings to the 5D Mark II. The images were high quality, professional and straight up beautiful, especially compared to the more affordable line of cameras that Canon offered at the time. 

Over the next 5 years in Portland, the 5D Mark II made ALL of my money. I was photographing weddings, portraits, fashion, music, food, events. Because of the 5D Mark II, I was able to be a full-time professional photographer, pay all of my bills AND have fun doing creative shoots. Flash forward to today, my 5D Mark II was feeling outdated and it was time to sell it. Iā€™d found myself choosing to use my Canon 6D over my 5D Mark II, simply because the low-light capabilities of the 6D were much better. While I was incredibly sad to let go of my beloved camera, I was so excited to upgrade my main camera to the 5D Mark IV. And Iā€™m 100% glad I did. I also tried out the Canon EOS R for a bit, to see if that would be a sufficient replacement for the 5D Mark II, but I was never able to feel comfortable with the controls and set-up within the camera. There was something not so intuitive about it. When I finally got the 5D Mark IV, I felt right at home again. It felt exactly like the 5D Mark II, but better. Better quality in low light, dual memory card slots, sharp and beautiful images and that professional quality that I love. While overall, I would say the EOS R is technically better in low light, and tends to have sharper images, the 5D Mark IV creates images that are more balanced, natural and eye-catching, in my opinion. Especially when paired with the 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens I mentioned above, that camera set-up is flawless. I use my EOS R as my secondary camera at weddings, with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens. I find this set-up to be best for the EOS R anyway, because the combination of the low-light capabilities and sharpness of the camera with the extra wide aperture and quality of the lens, is an amazing portrait set-up. Itā€™s taken me years to determine what my ideal dual camera set-up is, but THIS is it. Just know that you will need an RF adapter for the Canon EOS R if you plan on using EF lenses with it.

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

from a professional standpoint, is the CANON 5D Mark IV worth the money?

If youā€™ve been dreaming of starting a photography business and committing yourself fully, then yes, 100% this will be the BEST investment you can make for your business. These cameras last FOREVER. Theyā€™re incredibly sturdy and reliable. Iā€™ve dropped my cameras onto a concrete floor and theyā€™ve survived. In my opinion, they are worth every penny. Think about it this way, if you were starting a restaurant or boutique or other small business, you would need to make an initial investment into the business. And typically this is a very large amount of money! In this sense, buying a $4000 camera is actually a much more sensible option. Iā€™ve made thousands and thousands of dollars with my camera over the years and have gotten my investment back ten-fold. Now, if youā€™re looking for a camera just for hobby purposes, there may be more affordable options that can yield amazing results - like the Canon EOS R ($1189) ( check out my video about the Canon EOS R here!), for example, which is substantially cheaper than the 5D Mark IV. Or the Canon 6D ($1150), which I place below the EOS R in terms of quality and sharpness. However, the newer version of the 6D, the 6D Mark II, has some updated features that make it a bit more relevant in todays world. My 6D is now my back-up back-up camera and is typically used by my second-shooter at weddings. You could even get a 5D Mark II or 5D Mark III - both incredible cameras that are SUPER affordable now, as they are earlier versions of the 5D Mark IV.

WHY DIDNā€™T I GO WITH OTHER BRANDS?

My first 35 mm film camera was a Canon, so Iā€™ve definitely always had an affinity and loyalty to the brand. However, before purchasing the 5D Mark IV, I spent DAYS comparing every brand and model of camera in a similar price range to see if I wanted to completely switch over. I was truly considering selling all of my lenses and cameras and converting to a new brand. However, for my personal needs as a photographer, none of the cameras were up to par. For example, one of the features I cannot go without is a multiple exposure feature. This cut out all Sony cameras for me, which was one of the bigger contenders for my possible switch because of the video capabilities. Then there was Pentax, but overall the battery life with the pro level Pentax cameras arenā€™t great and the cameras themselves were typically quite heavy. And lastly, I was seriously considering switching to Nikon. However, Canon is generally cheaper and in comparison to the Nikon D850, is lighter in weight, does better in low light AND has better video features, which was important for my YouTube channel. And, maybe Iā€™m biased and missed the comfort of the 5D Mark II. I could use that camera with my eyes closed. After years of using that camera under stressful conditions like a wedding, your fingers learn how to quickly switch between settings. Anyway, I finally feel at home again with my 5D Mark IV and I know this camera will last me many more years before I feel the need to upgrade or change again. And I feel better knowing that I weighed every single camera option and brand out there and still ended up coming back to Canon. I donā€™t think Canon is the best brand for everyone, but in my world itā€™s the best for me, hands down.

WHERE TO FIND THE CANON 5D MARK IV

NEW:

Amazon 

B&H Photo

For used options:

KEH Camera

eBay

MY FAVORITE LENSES

Canon EF 24-70mm F 2.8L II USM and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens

NEW:

B&H Photo

Amazon 

For used options:

KEH Camera

eBay 

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens

NEW:

Amazon 

B&H Photo

For used options:

KEH Camera 

eBay 

MORE AFFORDABLE CAMERA OPTIONS

Canon EOS R Mirrorless Camera

NEW: 

Amazon

B&H Photo

For used options:

KEH Camera

eBay

Canon 6D Mark II

NEW:

Amazon

Used options:

KEH Camera

eBay

CANON 5D Mark II

KEH Camera


Canon 5D Mark III

KEH Camera

I hope this helps in your quest to find the perfect camera! I recommend writing out a list of what your ultimate needs are with a camera BEFORE you start hunting for one. That way, you can immediately start crossing some off your list when they donā€™t meet the necessities. Itā€™s just like buying a house (except way cheaper)! It can be overwhelming when you consider every brand and every camera out there all at once. As a full-time professional photographer for the last 11 years, the Canon brand has been my bread and butter. You definitely canā€™t go wrong with the 5D Mark IV. People will argue that there are better cameras out there, but not for me and my personal aesthetic and technical desires as a photographer. Everyone is different and I wish you the best in finding your perfect camera set-up!

If you found this post helpful or if youā€™d like to see more of my work, Iā€™d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, youā€™ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I donā€™t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!

You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

SAMPLE PHOTOS FROM THE 5D MARK IV

Richmond, Virginia & Washington, DC Food Photography | Natural Light Photography for Restaurants & Small Businesses

 

If weā€™re being honest here, food is my favorite thing to photograph. It doesnā€™t move, it looks beautiful and then you get to eat it! Over the last few years, Iā€™ve been working for a few different companies in Portland, photographing some of my all-time favorite restaurants like Screen Door, Holiday & Fifty Licks Ice Cream. My sister & I both love to bake and cook as well, so we started an instagram (@cestlebrie) where we post all of our favorite food experiences. She lives in DC and I live in Richmond, Virginia now so we finally live close enough that we get to share some of these experiences! Iā€™m excited to start photographing some of the amazing restaurants here in Richmond and in DC too!