Jon Sienkiewicz

Are all of your digital images safe? If your computer fried today and your cloud service vaporized, would you still have immediate access to all of your photo and video files? If you quickly answered “yes,” you may be kidding yourself—and false confidence could lead to disaster.

Here are seven things you didn’t know you need to take on your photo vacation, plus some photo travel tips from an experienced road warrior.

Mom’s Day is Sunday the 13th and Dad’s is next month. In this era of extended multilayer family structures, gifting all of the parental figures in your life could run into some serious cabbage, so here’s a rundown on some useful and thoughtful items that won’t drain the ATM. And if Mother’s Day slipped your mind—there’s still time to give something more meaningful than a Whitman Sampler from the 24-hour drug store.

With the exception of a birthday cake or sand castle, few Americans have the opportunity to own something that is handmade. The new Bannoch photo messenger bag from Glasgow-based Trakke Ltd combines style, functionality and handcraftsmanship to create a true luxury experience. Keep this on your radar for Mother’s Day (13-May this year), Father’s Day and June Grads. If you want to present a gift that will last a lifetime, think stinging nettles.