When it comes to capturing the happiest day of your clients’ lives, you want to do everything within your power to ensure their photographs are safe. “Safe” might look different, depending on your preferences. But as a full-time wedding photographer and educator, I have perfected 5 steps to ensure your images are safe. I swear by these, and utilize all 5 steps whether I’m capturing a wedding day, an engagement session, family session, you name it! There’s nothing more important to me than protecting the memories my clients have trusted me to capture. Let’s get into it!

5 Steps to Ensure Your Images are Safe

1. Utilize a Dual Slot Camera
   
   Invest in a camera that has dual slots. Some cameras have space for 2 SD cards, while others have space for 1 SD card and 1 CF card. CF cards are typically faster and more durable than SD cards, but it all depends on your preferences and what capabilities your camera has. Make sure to always be recording on both.
   
   
2. Capture RAW Images
   
   Okay, okay. This one might be controversial. When shooting on a dual-slot camera, make sure both cards are set to shoot in RAW. Some may prefer to shoot RAW on one and JPEG on the other. In my mind? If something were to happen to one of my cards, I would still want the RAW images from the 2nd card.
   
   
3. Backup onto External Hard Drives
   
   When I get home from a wedding, I download the images onto not one, but two hard drives. My personal favorite is the SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD. Click here to shop!
   
   
4. Store Hard Drives in a Fireproof Safe
   
   Pro-Tip: Store your SD cards and hard drives in a fireproof safe until the images have all been delivered. Nothing would be more heartbreaking as a photographer, or couple, to lose the images. I’m adamant about downloading the images onto my hard drives, then storing them in my safe.
   
   
5. Upload Images onto the Cloud
   
   My final tip to ensure your images are safe it to upload all images onto a Cloud service. My Cloud of choice is Backblaze. There are a ton of resources to choose from – do your research and find the best fit for your business.
   
   

I have one more secret for you – let you client in on these 5 Steps to Ensure Your Images are Safe. I let me clients know each step I take so that they know I am reliable and will do everything to keep their memories safe. Did you learn a new tip today!? Shoot me a DM over on Instagram (@sarahyatesphoto) and let me know! Looking for more photography education? Head over to The Candid Community for alllll the goodies.