Photography · Practical guide

A photo backup routine you can check

Protect photographs with a simple copy-and-restore routine instead of treating a memory card as permanent storage.

Decide where the main photo collection lives and where independent copies will be kept. Name those locations clearly. A second folder on the same drive is not independent protection against that drive failing.

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Give each session a home

Create a date-and-subject folder and copy the original files into it. Check that the expected number of files arrived and open several examples. Keep originals separate from edited exports so you can return to the unedited version later.

Do not erase the card just because an import progress bar finished. Confirm another copy exists in your chosen backup location. If you use cloud storage, distinguish completed upload from files still waiting to sync.

Test recovery, not only copying

Choose a small folder and restore it to a temporary location. Open the restored images and confirm filenames and dates are understandable. This exercise reveals confusing folders or incomplete backup settings before a real loss.

Check the provider's deletion and version-retention behaviour. Synchronisation can copy accidental deletions to another device; understand whether recovery exists and for how long. Keep account recovery information secure and accessible.

Review the routine monthly

Confirm both the main collection and backup can be accessed.
Check capacity before a large shoot or holiday.
Restore a sample after changing backup software or storage.

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External hard drive

Size it for the collection and realistic growth, then keep a separate backup arrangement. Port compatibility and a repeatable restore test matter more than choosing solely by cost per terabyte.

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External SSD

Useful when frequent travel or transfer speed justifies it. An SSD is still capable of failure or loss, so it should not become the only copy of important photographs.