Photo storage - please help, I'm clueless!

[insanelycheerful]

Basically I take most of my photos on my iPhone as they are snaps of moments with my DC. I have almost 3000 photos on my phone currently....

I do want to upgrade so am looking at my options, and one thing it has made me realise is that I must sort out my photo storage. I can't just keep all my photos on my phone like this, I wAnt to back them up somewhere and organise them etc.

So.....what do people do? With my camera I do periodically import to my laptop and that saves them there (although I also keep the memory cards ask like to have a physical thing!) But my laptop is quite old now, about 6 or 7 yrs, and when I try to import my iPhone pics it says there isn't enough space (this is on file 5 of almost 3000!)

Should I get more memory for my laptop? (How do I do that?!) I suspect there is stuff I can delete to free up room but have no idea what's essential etc....

Do people use things like Dropbox?

I don't have space in my iPhone to install Dropbox but I do have it on my iPad. If I wAnt to get photos from iPhone to iPad, and add to Dropbox from there, is there an easy way to do this?

Sorry, I did say I was clueless! Once I get this sorted I am resolved to keep on top of my photos!!

Could I transfer the photos already in my hard drive to DVD to free up space to import iPhone photos to laptop?? Or should I really keep the hard drive versions?

Just read that the maximum expandability is 2048MB and according to my laptop it is already 2551MB, so does this mean I can't add any more? Or is the maximum expandability what I can add to the original?

I bought a memory stick to keep mine on. I have about 10,000 stored on my old computer, which I'm convinced is going to die at any moment! Having a back up on a really portable device means I can keep it on my key ring or at my BF's house and have them safe in case of burglary or fire too.

Memory stick, great thinking, thank you! DH has loads of spare memory sticks, I can transfer all my old photos from the laptop and free up loads of room. Plus I have the memory cards too for the old ones off my camera.

Be careful though as USB memory sticks cannot be relied on for long term storage as they do have a finite life, usually around 5 years or so. For long term storage either store them on a physical hard disk,or even better print them all off.Although that may take a while with 3000!

Guardian article here on backing up photos using hard drive.
I've been meaning to do it for ages years but my laptop fell on the floor recently and died. DH has re-booted it but can't access the photos (nor all my files/downloads etc). I think they're retrievable but probably not without considerable expense and sending the thing away.
Memory stick is probably a good idea, but a hard drive is essential, surely?

Shotgun you could try buying a disk caddy and converting the drive in the laptop to an external drive then try to access the pictures that way. Alternatively try a local independent computer shop and see if they can help.

Thanks cdt - we did that and managed to copy across about a third of the pics, but then it stopped co-operating so I think we'll have to try a computer bod. PC World said they start at £70 depending on how complicated the job is; how long is a piece of string, I suppose?