A practical media and backup checklist
The quiet parts of a camera kit that protect a day of photographs or footage from becoming a recovery exercise.
Match media to the recording mode
Check the camera manual for the required speed class, capacity limits and supported formats for the modes you actually use. A card that is fine for stills may not sustain the bitrate of a demanding video setting.
Estimate before you leave
Work out the expected number of frames or recording hours, then add a margin for retakes. Format cards in the camera when appropriate, label them clearly and carry a spare that is ready to use rather than relying on one card until it is full.
Keep two copies before erasing
Copy the original files to two separate destinations before formatting a card. A portable drive, a desktop backup or a verified cloud workflow can fill different roles; the important part is that one failed device does not remove the only copy.
Test the recovery path
Every few shoots, restore a small set of files from the backup. A backup that has never been tested is only an assumption, and a short recovery check is easier before an important delivery than after a drive failure.