If you're look for additional backup for your iPhone photos and videos, Shutter by Streamnation has an interesting proposition: unlimited storage for free.

Their iOS app, Shutter combines a useful camera with a clever storage service, and lots of sharing features. One of the things that initially caught my eye was the fact that I could capture an image in Shutter, then open it directly in Instagram.

When you're taking pictures with either an iPhone or iPad with the camera function, you have the basic features you'd expect: focus point, flash control, and a handful of filters. Nothing fancy, but it certainly gets the job done.

Beyond that, Shutter saves all of your photos and videos to your account, keeps the last 200 available locally in case you don't want to use bandwidth to play with them, and will even automatically backup your existing camera roll.

You can save your Shutter images to you camera roll (or leave them in the Shutter app), post them online, or email to a friend. The sharing options are strong with good connections to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Because we've had some bad luck with great services closing down in the past, I don't recommend putting all of your backup eggs in this basket. But I think it's worth testing and using as a redundant service to your primary archiving system. I'm particularly interested to see how this all ties together with the StreamNation app that I've loaded on the iPad that lets my manage the content I have in their cloud service.

I'm on the road in a week. That will be a good opportunity for further testing.

More Help on Managing Your Mobile Photos

In my lynda.com title, Managing Your Mobile Photos, I cover a variety of backup solutions for both iOS and Android users. These tutorials will help you build the perfect backup solution for you, so that you never lose a single memory.

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In a statement from Apple this morning, the new Photos App that will run on Mac OS X Yosemite, will replace Aperture.

"With the introduction of the new Photos app and iCloud Photo Library, enabling you to safely store all of your photos in iCloud and access them from anywhere, there will be no new development of Aperture. When Photos for OS X ships next year, users will be able to migrate their existing Aperture libraries to Photos for OS X," Official Apple statement.

So the new chapter begins. I'll be working with Apple to get the best information possible to help photographers move forward. More to come.

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Light is the soul of photography. And when it comes to portraits, it's one of the first things I think about. In the title, Photographing High School Senior Portraits, I talk about the lighting considerations and preparations for capturing an engaging portrait.

The focus in this movie is scouting locations prior to the shoot so you're confident about the light you'll have to work with when the subject is there. It's good food for thought. And if you have a portrait shoot coming up, or are ready to add senior portraits to your freelance business, I think you'll find this video helpful.

If the movie doesn't play here, you can watch it by clicking on this link.

Learn More About the Art and Business of Portraiture

In my lynda.com title, Photographing High School Senior Portraits, I'll show you how to organize, photograph, and deliver great images for fun or profit. Take a look at the free movies and see for yourself.

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Many Aperture users are feeling like they don't belong to the cool club anymore. While Adobe Lightroom 5 users enjoy annual full release updates, a mobile app, and faster turnaround for new camera RAW support, Aperture is still chugging along at version 3.

So the temptation to switch is natural. If you're thinking of moving your photo library to where the party is happening, then here's a brief list of things to consider.

Lightroom 5.5 sports the latest image editing tools and is compatible with Mobile Lightroom for the iPad and iPhone.

Step 1 - Read my article Moving from Aperture to Lightroom on the lynda.com Article Center. I detail the various options available for moving content out of Aperture and in to Lightroom. All of the options involve a certain amount of work. Some are better than others.

Step 2 - If you're not pleased with the options for a complete relocation, take a look at the article, One Library Shared by Both Aperture and Lightroom that explains how to point both applications to the same set of master images.

With this approach, you still use Aperture as your main organizational tool (a function for which Aperture is superior), but still have access to Lightroom's Develop module and mobile app.

Step 3 - Evaluate the financial costs involved with a move. The best option for Lightroom is the $9.99 monthly Creative Cloud subscription that gets you Lightroom, Photoshop, and Mobile Lightroom. Currently, Aperture updates are free through the Mac App Store.

Step 4 - Identify the Lightroom tools that you want to use in Aperture. Then explore the plug-ins and presets available for Aperture. For example, I wish Aperture had gradient screens. But I have Color Efex and Perfect Effects plug-ins that give me that functionality while staying within the Aperture ecosystem.

Step 5 - Review your ties to the Apple ecosystem. If you're using the iPad, iPhone, Photo Stream, iPhoto, and looking forward to Mac OS X Yosemite, then you might want to evaluate Aperture's role in that ecosystem.

No move is easy, and switching to Lightroom definitely has its challenges. For some, the effort is well worth it. Just make sure you weigh the pros and cons before making the leap.

Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture, check out my Aperture 3.3 Essential Training (2012) on lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

It's a question I'm asked often: "What's the best way to jump start my photography career?"

There's no secret formula. Everyone knows that. For some shooters, it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time. But for most of us, building a career is exactly that. We advance in our profession brick by brick.

I talk about this process in a new title for lynda.com, Insights on Photography: Business and Social Media. Over the years, I've had to reinvent myself a number of times: moving from the world of print and staff photography jobs to an online presence to social media.

In this movie, Getting Started in the Business of Photography, I discuss how the building blocks of my career helped me through those changes. Taking pictures isn't really that much different, but how we expose them to the world certainly is.

If the embedded movie doesn't play, you can watch it here.

If you like what you see, you might want to check out the other conversations that cover: Exploring options for ways to use social media, Utilizing social media to its best advantage, Looking at how photography gear has changed, and Evolving and expanding the business of photography. They are all part of the title, Insights on Photography: Business and Social Media.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: The new Kodak Pixpro S-1 Micro Four Thirds camera, street shooting in Dublin, new title on lynda.com: Managing Your Mobile Photos - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Nikon D800/E replacement should be announced on June 26th. Highlights include: 36MP full frame sensor, No AA filter like the D800E, higher resolution LCD screen, sRAW, no WiFi, better video, and built-in GPS - est. cost: $3,300. (source: Nikon Rumors).

In other news, Adobe Lightroom, Camera Raw, DNG Converter support more cameras including Sony A7S, RX100 III. Other goodies include support for the OM-D E-M10 and the ability to now use Star Ratings with Lightroom Mobile. BTW: Lightroom Mobile is now available for the iPhone too. (Source for parts of this story: Imaging-Resource).

And finally, Tattly Tattoos Photographers Can Rock via Resource Mag Online. Cool photo-related temporary tattoos that run $5 for a set of two.

Story #2 - Street Shooting in Dublin - I didn't fully realize that my May Street Shooting Workshop in SF would be an excellent tune-up for my European adventure. But while exploring the streets on Dublin, I felt very at ease photographing its Irish inhabitants. More about this in today's second story.

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report: "Kodak Pixpro S-1" Created by JK Imaging Ltd and released under the Kodak brand, the S-1 is a 16MP micro four thirds camera body that aims to compete at the entry level of the market. It has sensor-shift stabilization, 3.0" 920k dot tilting LCD that isn't touchscreen capable, built-in WiFi, DNG and Jpeg recording, video, and 3 new lenses. One of the lenses, a 400mm F6.7 with fixed aperture will be very affordable, but it's questionable to how useful it will be. More on this camera and lens during the third segment of the show.

Story #4 - From the Screening Room - Managing Your Mobile Photos with Derrick Story. I've worked on this title for quite a while, and it's finally out. I'll talk about why I think every mobile photographer should watch this one.

You can watch me in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other design, photography, and computing titles, plus every other topic in the library (including my brand new "Photographing High School Senior Portraits."

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (32 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Virtual Camera Club News

From SizzlPix: they've streamlined the SizzlPix! website, so that ordering is now easy as 1-2-3.

1. From any page, go to "Original Low Prices." Decide on your size and hanging option.
2. From there, click on the big blue button, "From Yours" at the top of the page.
3. After filling in the abreviated order form, you're taken automatically to the upload page to send in your image.

Save on Ground Shipping for Red River Paper: Use coupon code ground50c to receive a 50 percent discount on UPS ground shipping for Red River Paper. No minimum purchase required.

Photo Assignment for June 2014 is "Any Kind of Light but Natural".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

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You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

I've just returned from two weeks in Europe traveling with an unlocked iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S. Both devices used SIMsmart cards for calling, text, and data while abroad.

Over the course of the trip, I was able to post to Instagram and Facebook directly from my iPhones. Plus, I could answer email, browse the Web, and check the weather.

One of the best aspects of the SIMsmart plan is the ability to order the SIM cards ahead of time, install them, and enable their data configurations. By doing so, both phones were ready for immediate use when I landed in London.

I charged each card with an $80 credit. The iPhone 3GS still has about $5 remaining, while the iPhone 4S ran out of data on the second to last day. I could have easily recharged either card online at the SIMsmart site, another nice feature of their service. Fortunately, I was able to use just the 3GS on the last day.

Once you receive the SIMsmart card via shipping, simply install it in your phone and go online to activate. Voice and text will be immediately available. If you want data too (and who wouldn't), then customer support will contact you with a link to their profile. It's very easy to install, and that finishes the set-up process.

For each of my phones, it took about 20 minutes in London before they were ready for data usage. I'm not sure what was going on in the background, but once everything had clicked in, they worked like a charm. I didn't have to do anything on my end to make them work.

I had full connectivity in England, Ireland, France, Scotland, and Wales. Phone service was reliable with no dropped calls, and data streaming was better than many of the WiFi hotspots I tried to use.

If you've unlocked an older smartphone (by request to your carrier), I think purchasing a SIM card with a phone number that's local to your travel destination is an excellent plan. I used WiFi when I could. But when it wasn't available, I was thankful for the SIMsmart cards.

The SIMsmart card has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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It doesn't get the same press as other big cities in Scotland, but Glasgow is a bustling city with a lot of soul and sense of humor.

Be sure to follow my journal at thenimblephotographer.com

Photo by Derrick Story, Dublin Ireland

Join me on my Instagram site as I explore the world of mobile photography. And now Instagram features 15-second movies too.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Travel Notes from Europe, Part 1, London and Paris - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - I record this week's show from our ship, docked off the coast of England and preparing to cruise to Ireland. I discuss how my adventures went in London and Paris. Special notes about photography gear and wireless connectivity.

Paris Afternoon - photo by Derrick Story.

Virtual Camera Club News

From SizzlPix: they've streamlined the SizzlPix! website, so that ordering is now easy as 1-2-3.

1. From any page, go to "Original Low Prices." Decide on your size and hanging option.
2. From there, click on the big blue button, "From Yours" at the top of the page.
3. After filling in the abreviated order form, you're taken automatically to the upload page to send in your image.

Save on Ground Shipping for Red River Paper: Use coupon code ground50c to receive a 50 percent discount on UPS ground shipping for Red River Paper. No minimum purchase required.

Photo Assignment for June 2014 is "Any Kind of Light but Natural".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.