After getting back from a shoot in Northern California, I came home to one of the worst things a photographer can deal with: my main RAID system would not turn on. No lights, no fans, no power. For a second, it felt like years of photo and video work could be gone.

In this episode of the SHOOT TO ILL podcast, I talk through what happened with my G-RAID Shuttle XL, why Backblaze might be saving me right now, and the backup system I use to protect client files. I also get into the real “storage tax” photographers and videographers pay when shooting high-resolution photos, 4K video, 7K open gate, RAW files, CFexpress cards, SSDs, and massive archives.

This is not the flashiest topic, but it is one of the most important. If you create for a living, your files are your business. Losing them is not just stressful. It is unprofessional, expensive, and avoidable if you build the right system before something goes wrong.

Keep shooting.

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📢 More from SHOOT TO ILL

► SHOOT TO ILL Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY6Y3cKoSaPXsUHFlqO0fBSQrHCBsbXUA

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➖ 00:00 Intro

➖ 00:20 My RAID system died

➖ 02:00 Why I use Backblaze

➖ 03:00 Calling Western Digital

➖ 04:10 Warranty replacement options

➖ 05:12 Why losing client files is unacceptable

➖ 05:55 My backup workflow after shoots

➖ 07:01 SSD backups and client drives

➖ 08:35 Working off the G-RAID Shuttle XL

➖ 10:09 Recovering files from Backblaze

➖ 12:33 RAID 0 and cloud backup

➖ 14:34 The storage tax for creators

➖ 15:47 Why 7K open gate can be a storage problem

➖ 18:38 Choosing the right camera for the job

➖ 20:55 Memory cards are getting expensive

➖ 22:42 SanDisk vs ProGrade CFexpress cards

➖ 25:35 A simple memory card safety system

➖ 26:42 Why photographers should archive client work

➖ 31:03 Build your backup system now

➖ 31:54 Final thoughts

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Martin Depict is a photographer based in Los Angeles documenting the process of building a creative career. On this channel you’ll find photography vlogs, behind the scenes shoots, camera gear experiments, and honest lessons from working in the industry.

If you're a photographer, filmmaker, or creator interested in the process behind the work, SHOOT TO ILL follows the journey as it unfolds.

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