Backing up your photos is one of the most important things you can do — yet it's often forgotten until it's too late. Hard drives fail, phones get lost, and accidents happen. A simple backup strategy can save years of memories in just a few minutes a month.

The 3-2-1 Rule

A professional-grade system includes:

  • 3 total copies of your photos
  • 2 different storage types (like local drive + cloud)
  • 1 copy stored offsite (such as online or at a friend’s)

Common Backup Tools

  • External hard drives: Fast, affordable, and easy to automate
  • Cloud services: iCloud, Google Photos, Dropbox, or StorePhotos
  • Network drives (NAS): Great for households or small studios

Tips

  • Set up automatic syncing so you don’t forget
  • Use cloud services for offsite redundancy
  • Review backups periodically to make sure everything is working

Related Topics