Storage depends on what you shoot and how you keep files

The amount of storage you need for photography depends on three things: how many photos you take per session, how long you keep them, and whether you store originals plus edited versions. A photographer shooting 200 photos a week on a modern camera needs different storage than someone taking 20 photos a month on a phone. This guide walks you through calculating your own number instead of guessing.

Most photographers underestimate storage because they think only about the photos themselves. In reality, you also need space for backup copies, editing software, and the working files that editing creates. A single raw image file from a professional camera is 30 to 50 megabytes. The same photo after editing, with layers and adjustments saved, can be 200 to 500 megabytes. That difference adds up fast.

Key Takeaways

  • A modern camera produces 30 to 50 megabyte raw files; a smartphone produces 3 to 8 megabyte files, so your camera type determines your baseline storage need.
  • You should keep at least two copies of photos you want to preserve — one on your computer and one on an external drive or cloud service — which doubles your storage requirement.
  • Edited versions and working files take up as much space as originals, so if you edit heavily, plan for three times the space of your raw files alone.
  • A 2 terabyte external drive costs $50 to $100 and holds roughly 40,000 raw photos from a professional camera or 200,000 smartphone photos.

Calculate your file size by camera type

Start by knowing what your camera produces. A raw file from a professional DSLR or mirrorless camera is typically 30 to 50 megabytes per image. A JPEG from the same camera is 5 to 15 megabytes. A smartphone photo is 3 to 8 megabytes as a JPEG. If you shoot both raw and JPEG simultaneously (which many photographers do), you are storing both files for each shot.

To find your camera's actual file size, take a test photo and check the file properties on your computer. Right-click the file, select Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac), and look for the file size in megabytes. This is more accurate than a manufacturer's estimate because compression and resolution vary by model and settings.

Once you know your per-image size, multiply by how many photos you take in a typical month. If you shoot 500 photos a month and each raw file is 40 megabytes, you produce 20 gigabytes of raw files monthly. That is 240 gigabytes per year from originals alone.

Account for backups and edited versions

A single copy of your photos is not safe. A hard drive can fail, a computer can be stolen, or a file can corrupt. The standard practice is to keep at least two copies in different physical locations. If you shoot 240 gigabytes of raw files per year, you need 480 gigabytes just for originals plus one backup.

Edited versions take additional space. If you edit in Lightroom, Capture One, or Photoshop, you create new files alongside your originals. A Photoshop project file with layers can be 200 to 500 megabytes per image. If you edit 50 percent of your photos, that is another 60 gigabytes per year in the example above. Add a backup of those edited files, and you are at 600 gigabytes total.

Cloud storage services like Google Photos, Amazon Photos, or Backblaze can serve as your second copy. Google Photos offers unlimited storage for compressed photos (not raw files) if you have a Google account. Amazon Photos is unlimited for Prime members but only for JPEG and HEIF files, not raw. Backblaze costs $7 per month and backs up everything on your computer automatically, including raw files and working files.

Storage options and their real costs

An external hard drive is the cheapest per-gigabyte option. A 2 terabyte drive costs $50 to $100 and holds roughly 40,000 raw photos from a professional camera. A 4 terabyte drive costs $70 to $130. These drives are mechanical and can fail, so they work best as a backup, not your only copy. Keep it in a different room or building from your computer.

An external solid-state drive (SSD) is faster and more durable but costs more per gigabyte. A 2 terabyte SSD runs $150 to $250. It is worth the cost if you edit video or work with very large projects, because the speed matters. For photo storage alone, the speed difference is not noticeable.

A network-attached storage (NAS) device holds multiple drives and can back up automatically. A basic two-drive NAS costs $200 to $400 and lets you store 8 to 16 terabytes. This is useful if you have multiple computers in your home or office that all need to back up to the same place. It requires some technical setup and a home network.

Cloud storage for raw files is the slowest to upload but the safest for long-term preservation. Backblaze ($7 per month) and Wasabi ($6 per month for 1 terabyte) both store raw files. If you shoot 240 gigabytes per year, Wasabi costs $1,440 per year; Backblaze costs $84 per year but uploads take weeks for large libraries. Neither is practical as your only storage, but both work as a third copy for irreplaceable photos.

Plan storage for different shooting styles

A casual smartphone photographer taking 50 photos per month needs about 2 gigabytes per year of storage. A 256 gigabyte phone or a 1 terabyte cloud subscription handles years of photos. Backup to Google Photos or iCloud and you are done.

A hobbyist with a mirrorless camera shooting 200 photos per month in raw format produces 240 gigabytes per year. Buy a 2 terabyte external drive ($60 to $100) and back up monthly. This covers originals, one backup, and some room for edited files. Replace the drive every five years.

A professional photographer shooting 1,000 to 2,000 photos per week needs 1 to 2 terabytes per year. Invest in a 4 terabyte external drive for backups, subscribe to Backblaze for cloud backup, and consider a NAS if you have multiple computers. Budget $200 to $400 upfront and $84 per year for cloud backup.

A video and photo hybrid shooting 4K video alongside photos needs significantly more space. A single hour of 4K video is 100 to 300 gigabytes depending on codec and frame rate. If you shoot video regularly, a NAS with 8 to 16 terabytes and cloud backup becomes essential.

When to upgrade your storage

You should upgrade when your primary drive is 80 percent full. At that point, the drive slows down and the risk of failure increases. If you have a 2 terabyte drive with 1.6 terabytes used, buy a larger drive before you run out of space.

Upgrade also when your backup strategy no longer matches your shooting volume. If you are shooting 500 gigabytes per year and your backup drive is only 1 terabyte, you cannot keep two years of backups. Move to a 4 terabyte drive or add a second external drive.

Check your drives every two years for signs of failure. Listen for clicking or grinding sounds. If a drive is more than five years old, consider replacing it even if it still works, because mechanical drives fail without warning. Solid-state drives last longer but are more expensive to replace.

Organize storage so you can find files later

Storage amount matters less if you cannot find your photos. Create a folder structure by year and month: 2024 > January > Project Name. Keep raw files and edited versions in separate subfolders within each project. This takes 10 minutes per month and saves hours of searching later.

Use your camera or phone to tag photos with keywords and dates as you import them. Lightroom and Photos (Mac) both let you search by keyword, date, and camera settings. Spending 30 seconds per 100 photos to add keywords makes it possible to find "sunset photos from 2023" without opening every folder.

Write down the serial number and purchase date of each external drive. Keep a straightforward spreadsheet of what is stored where. When a drive fails, you will know exactly what you lost and whether you have a backup copy elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my phone's cloud storage for all my photos?

Cloud storage works for backup and sharing, but uploading large raw files is slow and expensive. Google Photos offers unlimited compressed photos, which is fine for casual shooting. If you shoot raw files or edit heavily, cloud storage alone is not practical. Use it as a backup alongside local storage, not instead of it.

How often should I replace my external hard drive?

Mechanical drives last 3 to 5 years on average. Solid-state drives last 5 to 10 years. Replace any drive that is more than five years old, even if it still works, because failure is unpredictable. Keep backups of your backups so a single drive failure does not erase irreplaceable photos.

Is a NAS worth it for a single photographer?

A NAS costs $200 to $400 upfront and requires network setup. For a single photographer with one computer, a 2 to 4 terabyte external drive and cloud backup are cheaper and simpler. A NAS makes sense if you have multiple computers, shoot video regularly, or want automatic daily backups without thinking about it.

What happens if I run out of storage space?

Your camera will stop recording and your computer will slow down. Before you reach that point, buy a larger drive and move old photos to it. Keep the originals on your main drive and a backup copy on the external drive. Never delete photos from your computer to make room unless you have verified the backup copy exists.

Should I keep every photo I take?

No. Delete blurry shots, duplicates, and photos you will never use. This saves storage and makes it easier to find the good ones. Most photographers keep 10 to 20 percent of the photos they shoot. Delete ruthlessly during import, before you back up, so you are not paying for storage on photos you do not want.