Hi there,
I have looked all over the place to post my question, but this is the closest topic forum that i have found. I have a technical question. I have been a model for the last 5 years and recently i have been introduced to using SD cards to store some of my pictures and some short movies as my portfolio to take with me when i go for interviews with different companies as a model. It is a lot easier than carrying around folders with my photos in them and VHS tapes, or DVD. I have been relunctant though using this type of media card, as i have been told by a modelling friend that they can retrieve the images from their hard drive once i have left the interview even though i have the SD card with me. Could someone please tell me if this is true or false. I would really like to just use a SD card in the future, as you can buy 1GB cards, which is plenty for my portfolio, but i am still wary about other people still being able to use my photos and movies without my consent. I am a little shy about going to my local PC shop to ask about this, so i would be grateful if someone here could answer it for me. I am afraid i cannot send you any of my photos or movies, but i am more than willing to donate $5 to this site for the help.

Thanks in advance

Susan

Hi Susan,

Welcome to PCHF! We have a great team here, who will no doubt be able to assist you.

One of the security staff will take a look at your post soon and post back some comments for you, just keep an eye out for replies

Hi there Susan.

I dont use those myself but i dont think they can view the pictures later on. Im not sure though , maybe they get cached in there temp files.

I hope someone else has a more definative answere for you.


Do you have to unpack before viewing , or can you just view the pictures directly of the card?

Most new PC's have built-in card readers-- and I'm sure that anyone in the business would have one. I can find no help so far for protecting those files... I'm sure they are probably cached (at least) -- and there are probably ways to set a PC up to automatically save copies of anything that is read from a card. The SD designation is for WRITE-protection-- any machine can read the files, unfortunately. I will keep poking around-- see if you can password-protect them somehow-- but it does not look good. Maybe a used laptop would be a better solution... that way your stuff does not leave your direct control...?

Totally agree with you ih8bills. If you are carrying around sensitive data then the best way to do that is to keep it fully within your control. If you can't afford a laptop there are many Media devices (such as Archos) that will allow you to store pics/vids and then show them to people without them ever leaving your control. Also, if you actually do want to transfer the images/vids to another party, you can simply do that via usb.

Thank you Scouse, Joe5, ih8bills and Hengis for you quick reply to my question. I was worried that someone might have left a lewd comment, because of me being a model, but you all have been so polite. Thank you for your suggestions, it is a good idea maybe to save up for a media reader which i can keep on me at all times. It sounds the safest option in the future. You have definately made me stick to my folders and good old VHS for the time being, and i thank you for that. As i could have left stuff on the computers of companies who interview me. If you do find anymore information i would be grateful. I am not unfortunately a very computer minded person. I can see my way through the internet just about, but anything technical i am lost. I will now as promised donate $5 for the help you have given me. Thank you all once again.

Susan

No "lewd comments" allowed here... we're here to help people. There are plenty of sites with naughty content-- if that's one's 'thing'... not mine.

As far as showing your pics without risk-- I think the used laptop is the way to go-- you'll get much more "bang-per-buck" the screen would be much larger than a portable video player, just as much storage-space (if you buy carefully), plus you could encrypt/password protect everything. You can pick up a used laptop with plenty of power for what you want for under $400 easily... just make sure the battery/charger are included and in good condition.
You don't need a brand-new video display device to show some of your portfolio for interview purposes... plus with a laptop-- it would b much easier to add /remove/protect your data (at least from a casual search-- you won't keep a hacker out if they want in)