Introduction
As a professional photographer, my photos are incredibly valuable assets of my business. Losing images due to hardware failure, theft, or accidental deletion could be detrimental. That’s why having a robust photo backup strategy is essential for me. In this article, I’ll share my tips for developing an effective backup plan to protect my photo library as a pro photographer.
Choose the Right Storage Media
When selecting storage devices for photo backup, I consider capacity, speed, reliability and cost. Here are some of my top choices:
External Hard Drives
External hard drives offer high capacities (often 4TB or more) at relatively affordable prices. Models with USB 3.0 provide fast transfer speeds. Portable drives allow me to store backups offsite. I use Western Digital My Book Duo drives in my studio and LaCie Rugged portable hard drives when traveling.
Solid State Drives (SSDs)
While more expensive per gigabyte, SSDs provide very fast transfer rates. I use Samsung T5 and T7 portable SSDs to store my working photo library and my latest backups due to their speed, durability and compact size.
Cloud Storage
Services like Backblaze B2 allow me to store backups remotely. Cloud storage offers extensive capacity, ubiquitous access, and protection against local disasters like theft or fire. I use it to archive older projects but prefer local backups for my primary library due to faster speeds.
Use the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy
The 3-2-1 backup strategy is my overarching approach to ensure redundancy. It consists of having:
- 3 total copies of my data
- 2 local backups (on different media)
- 1 offsite backup
This covers me in case of disk failures, accidental deletion, file corruption, theft and natural disaster. I keep my working photo library on an internal SSD and back it up to two external hard drives stored onsite. My cloud archive serves as the offsite copy.
Back Up Regularly
I back up my current working library nightly to ensure minimal losses in case of drive failure or accidental deletion. I use SyncBackPro software to automate this process and provide versioning. For older, archival projects I back up to the cloud about once a month. I often back up photos immediately after a major shoot or when traveling.
Use Redundant File Systems and Partitions
For maximum protection, I use RAID 1 mirroring on my local backup hard drives to duplicate data across both drive partitions. This guards against data loss if one disk fails. I also partition drives into smaller sections as a precaution against full drive failure.
Encrypt and Password Protect Backups
To secure backups against unauthorized access, I use BitLocker encryption on Windows and FileVault on Mac. I also password protect and encrypt external SSDs. This provides an extra layer of security in case backups are lost or stolen.
Test Restores Regularly
I routinely perform test restores by accessing random files from backups to ensure they are working properly. It’s essential to verify backup integrity on a regular basis and replace defective drives.
Use Proper Storage and Handling
To maximize drive lifespan, I avoid exposing backups to extreme heat, moisture or magnetic fields. I store backups in fireproof/waterproof cases and handle them with care. Solid state drives are more durable in transit than spinning hard drives.
Consider Offsite/Online Storage
For an additional layer of protection, I recommend storing at least one backup copy offsite or in secured cloud storage. This guards against theft, fire, flood or other disaster scenarios where all onsite backups could be lost or inaccessible. Popular options include Backblaze B2, Amazon S3 and Dropbox.
Final Tips
- Don’t rely solely on the cloud – have local redundant copies too
- Backup before erasing cards or clearing photo libraries
- Consider drive cloning for faster backups
- Rotate backups on a regular basis
- Label drives clearly and keep records of contents/dates
Following these best practices for photo backup ensures I can maintain the integrity of my irreplaceable image libraries while minimizing risk. A diligent backup protocol is essential piece of my workflow as a professional photographer.
