Backup, backup, backup. Why you need to take this seriously!

One of my hard drives failed today.

Fortunately it wasn't one holding any client images — my backup system meant everything was already safely stored in multiple other locations before the drive gave up. But it was a timely reminder of exactly why that system exists, and why I wanted to reshare this post.

Because here's the truth about wedding photography that nobody likes to say out loud: it's not a matter of if something will go wrong — it's a matter of when. Hard drives fail. Cards corrupt. Software crashes. Cameras break mid-first-dance. I've had all of these happen to me over 650+ weddings, and the reason none of them have ever resulted in a couple losing their photos is because of the system below.

When you're choosing a wedding photographer, asking about their backup process is one of the most important questions you can ask. Here's mine.

Why Wedding Photo Backup Matters More Than You Think

Your wedding photos are irreplaceable. The day itself can never be recreated, which means the images from it only exist once. Unlike a business losing a spreadsheet or a document they can recreate from scratch, lost wedding photos are lost forever.

I've heard stories from couples who booked photographers without asking this question and paid the price for it. A single hard drive failure with no backup system, and years later they have nothing to show for one of the most important days of their lives.

It's a conversation the wedding industry doesn't have loudly enough.

My 4-Location Backup System — Step by Step

Here's exactly how your photos are protected from the moment I press the shutter to the moment they're delivered to you.

Step 1 — Two camera bodies at every wedding

I always have two camera bodies with me on the day. If one fails for any reason — and cameras do fail; a lens came off mine mid-first-dance years ago and shattered on the floor — I have a second body ready to go immediately. No scrambling to a camera bag, no missed moments.

Step 2 — Two memory cards recording simultaneously

Both cameras are set up with dual card slots, recording every image to two cards at the same time. Every single photo is captured in two places the moment the shutter fires. If one card fails or corrupts, the second card has every image intact.

Step 3 — Transfer to external hard drive immediately on return home

The first thing I do when I get home from a wedding — before anything else — is transfer every file from both cards to my main external hard drive. Your photos are now in three locations: two cards and one hard drive.

Step 4 — Mirror backup to a second hard drive

I run cloning software (Carbon Copy Cloner) that automatically mirrors my main hard drive to a second backup drive. Your photos are now in four locations.

Step 5 — Cloud backup via Backblaze

Finally, Backblaze automatically uploads everything to secure offsite cloud storage. This covers the scenario that keeps photographers up at night — a house fire or theft wiping out all local hardware at once. Your photos are now in five locations.

Step 6 — Cards are formatted only after all of the above is confirmed

I never format a card until I have verified that every image exists in at least three separate locations. This is the step where a near-miss happened to me a few years ago — I almost formatted a card before the hard drive transfer was complete. That close call is what prompted me to formalise this system and never skip a step.

What This Means For You as a Couple

When you book me to photograph your wedding, your images are protected at every stage of the process. From the moment they're captured on the day, through editing and delivery, your photos exist in multiple locations simultaneously.

It also means that when a hard drive fails — as one did for me today — nothing is lost, nothing is panicked over and the only consequence is the mild inconvenience of replacing a drive. That's exactly how it should be.

Questions Worth Asking Any Photographer You're Considering

If you're still in the process of choosing your wedding photographer, here are a few backup-related questions worth putting to them:

Do you shoot with dual card slots? Do you back up to multiple locations? Do you have offsite or cloud backup? How quickly do you back up after a wedding?

If a photographer can't answer these questions clearly and confidently, that's worth factoring into your decision.

A Note on Central Coast Wedding Photography

I'm based in East Gosford on the Central Coast and have been photographing weddings since 2010. If you'd like to chat about your wedding day — and yes, my backup system — I'd love to hear from you.

David Maltby — Central Coast Wedding Photographer davidmaltbyimages.com | 0404 122 316

CHECK MY AVAILABILITY FOR YOUR WEDDING DATE

2. Inside my cameras are TWO cards recording every photo simultaneously. Again, if one card fails I have the second card recording as backup.

3. As soon as I return home from a wedding the very first thing I do (after kissing my wife) is to transfer the files from the cards to a folder on my external hard drive. This means the photos are now stored in TWO locations.

4. I also have a 2nd backup external hard drive which mirrors my main hard drive and I run my cloning software to copy any new files across to it. The photos are now stored in THREE locations.

5. Finally, I have cloud software (Backblaze) which automatically uploads all the photos to the cloud. Offsite security in case of losing all the above hardware in a house fire etc. The photos are now stored in FOUR locations!

6. I can now format my cards.

Not only is the above a great way of storing wedding photos, but ALL my important files, documents, apps, software etc. which I use to run my business on a day to day basis.

So, please don’t be lazy when it comes to backup guys! All of these tools don’t cost an arm and a leg and hard drives are getting cheaper by the day.