💾 The Golden Rule: Always Back It Up

💾 The Golden Rule: Always Back It Up

If you’ve been in photography long enough, you know this truth: technology can fail at any time. Hard drives crash, memory cards corrupt, laptops glitch, and cloud systems can sometimes betray you when you least expect it.

That’s why one of the most important parts of my workflow — maybe the most important — is backing up my photos. Every session, every wedding, every personal shoot gets multiple backups before I even think about editing.

Because losing your photos isn’t just inconvenient — it’s heartbreaking.

📸 Why It Matters So Much

Photos aren’t just files. They’re memories, milestones, and stories — whether it’s a family session, a wedding, or a personal creative project. Losing those images means losing something that can never be recreated in exactly the same way.

For photographers, backups protect:

• Client work: The trust and investment people place in you.

• Creative work: The hours of shooting, planning, and editing that go into every frame.

• Peace of mind: Knowing you’re safe from worst-case scenarios.

  
  

It’s not dramatic — it’s essential.

🧠 My Backup Workflow

Over the years (and after a few near heart attacks), I’ve created a system that keeps every shoot safe from start to finish:

1. Dual Memory Cards: My camera writes to two cards at once, so if one fails, I still have a copy.

2. External Drives: As soon as I get home, I back up to two external hard drives — one that stays with me, and one that stays off-site.

3. Cloud Storage: I use an online backup service for an extra layer of safety.

4. Multiple Copies: I keep three versions of every gallery — RAWs, edited files, and exported final images.

   
   

It might sound like overkill, but when it comes to protecting people’s memories and my own creative work, I’d rather be overly cautious than devastated later.

🌤️ The Lesson Learned

I’ve heard too many stories (and experienced a close call or two) of photographers losing entire galleries to corrupted cards or failed laptops. It’s one of those things you only have to experience once to never let it happen again.

Now, backing up has become second nature — part of my rhythm after every shoot. Import, duplicate, verify, and breathe easy knowing everything is safe.

🤍 Protect the Art You Create

Whether you’re a professional photographer or just love taking pictures, backing up your photos is an act of care — for yourself, your clients, and your art.

Because while new cameras and lenses can be replaced, the moments we capture can’t.