Photographers, STOP Using External Hard Drives

If you’re still using traditional external hard drives (HDDs) for storing and backing up your photos, it’s time to make a change. While HDDs have been the go-to storage solution for years, they come with significant downsides that impact speed, efficiency, and even the longevity of your files. Photographers it is time to STOP using external hard drives. Instead, switch to external solid-state drives (SSDs), which offer dramatically faster speeds, greater reliability, and better performance when working with large image files. They are also MORE durable due to not having moving parts like HDD’s.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase an external SSD through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help support this blog and allow me to continue creating valuable content for photographers.

The 3-2-1 Backup Method for Photographers

First, here are my FAVORITE SSD’s. As a photographer, ensuring the safety of your work is one of the most important aspects of your service. The 3-2-1 backup rule is a widely recognized strategy that ensures your images remain secure:

1. 3 Copies of Your Files – Keep three copies of your images: the original and two backups.
2. 2 Different Storage Devices – Use at least two different types of storage (such as SSDs and cloud storage) to prevent single points of failure.
3. 1 Off-Site Backup – Store at least one backup off-site, such as in the cloud, to protect against theft, fire, or hardware failure.

How to Use Dual SSDs for Mirroring & Cloud Backup

To implement this method effectively, use two external SSDs to mirror each other. This means:

• Primary SSD – Store all your RAW files and Lightroom catalogs here for fast access.
• Backup SSD – Regularly mirror the primary SSD onto this backup drive using software like Carbon Copy Cloner or ChronoSync (Mac) or FreeFileSync (Windows).
• Cloud Backup – Use a cloud service such as Backblaze, Google Drive, or Dropbox to ensure you always have a remote copy of your files.

By using two SSDs in this manner, you get the benefits of speed, syncing, and security.

How to Optimize Your Lightroom Workflow Using SSDs

One of the best ways to optimize your workflow is to edit your Lightroom catalog on your internal SSD and then move it to an external SSD when you’re done. Here’s why:

• Faster Performance – Lightroom runs significantly faster when the catalog is on your internal SSD rather than an external drive.
• Efficient Editing – Once you’ve finished editing, you can move the catalog to an external SSD to free up space on your internal drive.
• Preserving Internal Storage – RAW files take up a lot of space, so keeping them on an external SSD prevents your internal drive from slowing down.

Why Keeping Your RAWs & Catalog on an SSD is a Game Changer

Storing your Lightroom catalogs and RAW files on a fast external SSD allows you to:

• Open and edit large files quickly without lag.
• Reduce buffering times when navigating Lightroom.
• Minimize bottlenecks caused by slow HDDs.
• Work seamlessly across multiple devices by simply plugging in your SSD.

How Much RAM Does Lightroom Need?

Many photographers underestimate how much RAM Lightroom requires for smooth performance. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• 8GB RAM – Absolute MINIMUM (expect slow performance with large catalogs).
• 16GB RAM – Ideal for most photographers using standard RAW files.
• 32GB+ RAM – Best for high-resolution images, large catalogs, and extensive editing.

Pairing high RAM with SSD storage ensures the best possible speed and responsiveness when working in Lightroom.

Final Thoughts & Further Reading

Switching from external HDDs to SSDs will revolutionize your workflow, providing faster speeds, better reliability, and an improved editing experience. If you haven’t made the switch yet, now is the time!

For more details on safeguarding your images, check out my guide “Photographers Backup Guide To Protecting Images” to ensure your files remain secure for years to come.

Interested in outsourcing your images to a truste Private Photo Editor – learn more here!

Looking for more editing tips for photographers, click here for more!

Happy Editing!

Marissa