How to Back Up All Your Photos Without a Cloud Subscription Alerts You don’t necessarily have to pay by the month to keep your photos and videos safe. The photos and videos you’ve captured are probably the most important files on your phone, which is why Apple, Google and other storage service providers want to give you ways to get these pictures and movies up into the cloud as quickly as possible. As convenient as that cloud storage is, it usually comes with a monthly subscription that you’re then locked into paying. Advertisement Even if the monthly subscription fee you’re paying is a low one, they all add up. Affordability aside, not everyone wants to be committed to an ongoing fee just to keep their photos and videos safe. Plus, what happens when you want to switch devices or storage providers?