MOBILE FILE MANAGEMENT
Backup, distribute and archive your images to avoid data losses while out on extended shoots
It’s possible to carry the space to shoot as many images as you need, without a huge investment
Moving files and organising your image database is one of the trickiest things to do while on the move. If you are only on a short trip, then often this part of the photographic process can wait until you get home, but if you are moving for a lengthy period or if your images are required immediately, when shooting a sports event for example, then you must figure out a way of integrating file management into your mobile workflow.
Image transfer, data backup and RAW file editing must all be conducted without the use of a desktop computer and your fixed storage solutions, such as RAID drives and wireless studio network. You must ensure the safety of all your images until you can move them into your normal backup and archiving system.
The good news is that, while it may not be possible to work completely unhindered when moving from place to place, in recent years the ability of photographers to shoot, process and store their work out of the studio has been simplified. This is thanks to applications such as mobile RAW editing software, rapid, high capacity USB-powered portable hard drives and the ever-increasing storage capacity of memory cards. These do not totally solve all of the issues faced by a mobile photographer, but with correct usage, it is possible to construct a virtually foolproof remote file handling policy.
With cards as large as multiple terabytes now available, it is possible to carry sufficient memory space to shoot as many images as you need without a huge investment. The biggest advantage is that you can shoot without filling your cards – an advisable strategy to reduce potential data losses. Regularly changing cards does not create redundancy, but can help with distributing images across multiple storage locations.
If you can’t back up your work, at least not all of it will be confined and lost if something goes wrong. Number your cards and change them once you shoot a specific number of shots. In other cases, using multiple card slots on newer cameras is a great way to instantly create backups as you shoot.