Never Lose a Photo Again: A Foolproof Backup Strategy
As a photographer, your digital photos are some of your most precious assets. They are not just files on a computer; they are memories, moments, and your hard work. But what happens if your hard drive fails? Or if you accidentally delete a whole folder? These moments can be devastating. That's why having a solid backup strategy is non-negotiable.
Why You Can't Afford to Skip Backups 😩
Let's get one thing straight: your hard drive will fail. It's not a matter of if, but when. Technology is not perfect, and relying on a single copy of your photos on your computer is a recipe for disaster. Think of a backup as a safety net—it's what protects you from data loss, technical mishaps, and simple human error.
The Ultimate Backup Strategy: The 3-2-1 Rule
To make backups simple and foolproof, we use the 3-2-1 strategy. It's a gold standard in data protection that's easy to remember and implement:
3 copies of your files.
On 2 different media (e.g., your computer's hard drive and an external drive).
With 1 copy stored off-site.
This rule ensures that even if something catastrophic happens to your physical location, your photos are still safe and sound.
Step 1: Your Primary Copy (The First "1")
Your main working copy is your primary one. This is typically your computer's internal hard drive where you do all of your editing and organizing. However, with the amount of images I have, and the size of RAW image files, I highly suggest using an external hard drive (EHD) as the location of your primary copy.
Here are some EHD’s that I personally use and love!
If your photo library is a mess, the thought of backing it up can feel overwhelming. Before you start, consider getting your files in order.
My "Digital Declutter in Lightroom Classic" course is designed to help you do exactly that. It's a step-by-step guide to organizing your entire image collection, making your whole workflow—including backups—feel easy and intuitive. Learn more and get organized for good: Digital Declutter in Lightroom Classic
Step 2: Your Local Backup (The "2")
This is your second physical copy. The simplest solution is to use an external hard drive. This drive should be a mirror of your primary copy. You can set this up to back up automatically using software or do it manually. I highly recommend an automated process to ensure you're always up-to-date!
Step 3: Your Off-Site Backup (The Second "1")
This is the most crucial part of the 3-2-1 rule. An off-site copy means storing your files in a different physical location, protecting you from fire, theft, or other physical damage. The easiest way to do this is with a cloud-based service like Dropbox, Google Drive, or SmugMug. These services automatically sync your files, so you can set it and forget it. ☁️
By following this simple, three-step strategy, you can protect your valuable photos and get back to what you love most: taking them.
Needing to dive deeper? Check out…
Lightroom Unlocked for editing.
The Ultimate Preset Toolkit for lightning fast, unmatched editing tools.
Mastering Manual Mode for a comprehensive course suitable for beginner or intermediate photographers.
Digital Declutter in Lightroom Classic for photo management and organization.
The Photography Fast Track for a 5 day workshop to get off of AUTO mode.
Nancy’s Recommended Gear and where she buys it used (reputable with warranties!)
