Keeping multiple copies of your photos is crucial to ensuring you don’t lose anything in the inevitable event that a hard drive fails or your computer is lost. Having quality brands is also important, as being cheap here increases the likelihood that a drive or memory card will fail. Here are a few of my recommendations on creating a simple, reliable workflow.

In December 2018, my laptop was stolen at the Atlanta airport. This backup workflow ensured nothing was lost. All my RAW images were stored on external drives at home. Apple’s Time Machine backup of my entire MacBook also made starting again with a new iMac was an easy, flawless process.

Memory Cards

The first leg of your backup workflow starts with good memory cards, since this is the first place your images are stored.

I use SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro memory cards (16-64GB) – https://amzn.to/2tYUHGf

These are not only the highest quality, but also among the fastest they make. I wouldn’t recommend using more than 16GB or 32GB unless you’re doing video and need more space. If you have several thousand photos on a single card and that card fails, you lose all your photos at once. If you spread that among four cards and one fails, then you only lose a fourth of those photos.

It’s always best to keep your photos on the memory card until it’s downloaded to at least two different places. After that, only format your card in the camera. Don’t delete images one by one or delete them through the computer. Deleting single images may increase the likelihood of a card going corrupt.

Hard Drives

New for 2019: I plan to use this SanDisk Extreme SSD 1TB (solid state drive) to store all images taken in 2019. Based on previous years, all my RAW images should fit without issue. (1TB will hold 20,000 RAW files easily). The drive is faster, significantly smaller, and more durable than any spinning disk drive available (and only $200 for 1TB).

I would recommend buying a longer Thunderbolt USB-C cable, as the one provided is quite short.

I will have RAW images on the external drive, while my Lightroom catalog and previews will remain on my computer’s internal drive. SSD read speeds of Mac’s latest computers are up to 2800MB/s (roughly 70 RAW files per second!). The external SanDisk drive reads at 550MB/s which is fast, but nothing compared to the internal drive. Lightroom will run much faster if the catalog and previews are stored on the fastest drive you have.

For backup, I use G-Technology G-RAID 4TB for my external hard drive – https://amzn.to/2z6JgSr

I also have a G-DRIVE for a second back up – https://amzn.to/2Kw3xpZ

Though one external drive is okay, two is even better. Ideally you’d have one stored in a completely separate location, in case of fire or other disaster. The third backup below may take care of that issue if you only have one drive, though it’s much slower and less convenient.

Online Backup

I have recently started using BackBlaze for backing up all my files to the cloud – https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html#af9rg3

You set it up once, and all your files are automatically backed up and synced online. If you need to retrieve your files, you can download them or request a physical drive with your files to be mailed to you. At only $5 per month, it’s hard not to utilize it.

Workflow

When I have new photos, I’ll use Lightroom to import them to my first external hard drive and make a second copy to the second drive. Importing through Lightroom allows it to know exactly where your files are.

By creating smart previews upon import, you can still edit your RAW files in Lightroom if you unplug the external drive. I only plug my external back in for backing up online or to retrieve the original full size file for a large print. Smart previews are a sufficient size and quality for posting online.

Once photos are on two hard drives, or a drive and online, then you can format the memory card through the camera. It may take some time for your external drive to be synced to the cloud backup, so don’t unplug it until it’s fully uploaded.

AWAY FROM HOME?

If you’re traveling and don’t carry your external drives with you, I’d recommend getting a couple of these SanDisk portable solid state drives (500GB or 1TB) – https://amzn.to/2z3VDi4

Now you can keep photos on a memory card, plus this portable SSD to have two or three copies until you return home to save them to the cloud and your main external drive(s). The portable drives are solid and moisture/weather resistant, making them great for travel.

Trent Sizemore Photography is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.