Don’t press your luck – back up your stuff!
Losing your digital files and photos is one of life’s known nightmares. Be it from temperamental tech, natural disaster, ransom/malware or any of the umpteen ways it could happen, one thing is certain, it will result in stress, anger, sadness, and financial loss (have you seen the prices data recovery places are charging these days?!).
The good news? A little preparation now can spare your future self a whole lot of regret.
If you have attended any of my presentations or joined one of my Sip & Sorts, you may already be familiar with the 3-2-1 back up method. Peter Krogh, photographer and author of the Digital Asset Management (DAM) Book provided photo managers, and everyone else, a sure-fire way to ensure protection against data loss through the act of creating file redundancy.
Simply put, this is what you want for your digital ecosystem:
3 total copies of your data
Not just your photos but all your important files
1 working copy, 2 backups
2 different types of media
e.g., paper / internal hard drive / external hard drive / cloud
1 copy kept off-site
Use a cloud storage company that has your privacy as top priority
I suggest Backblaze because it’s straightforward and reliable (and no, I don’t receive compensation for recommending it)
While this information is important, sharing this with you now is timely.
The buzz right now in photo management circles (and beyond) is about the shortage of external hard drives and subsequent price increases. This is expected to not end anytime soon. The reason, AI. The buildout for AI data centers is causing a global supply shortage and all of us are paying the price (both figuratively and literally).
Up until last month Costco was selling a 2TB hard drive for $120 – these are now sold out and not slated to be back for a long time. Other reports show that if you can find a steady state hard drive (SSD) they are now triple in price.
What does this mean for you?
First, don’t panic - but don’t wait, either.
If you’ve been meaning to add storage, expand capacity, or replace aging drives, now is a wise time to act. If you are purchasing a new computer (especially if you are a Mac user), consider investing in more internal storage up front. It may feel like a bigger investment initially, but it can be more cost-effective, and far simpler than depending heavily on external drives.
Most importantly, if you are not currently backing up to the cloud, please start. An offsite copy is what turns inconvenience into recovery instead of devastation.
We are the most photographed generation in history. However, without thoughtful organization and protection, we risk becoming the first generation whose memories will quietly disappear. I truly believe your photos deserve better — and so do the people who will one day look for your story.
If you’re unsure whether your current setup follows the 3-2-1 method, I am here to help! Reply to this email, join an upcoming Sip & Sort, or schedule a one-on-one consultation so I can help you create a system that protects your memories now and for future generations.
