For budding photographers, the fun is in creativity and photographing — not necessarily in the logistics like organization and image backup. But finding the best external hard drive is essential for creators at all levels. A solid editing and image-organization plan will ensure your images not only reach their potential, but last for a lifetime.
That’s where external hard drives come into play. Most photographers work directly from their external hard drives while editing in platforms like Lightroom to keep their computer’s hard drive from getting bogged down with large files. Then, they have second and third (and even more) external hard drives to make extra backup copies of images. This is a great idea if you’re shooting for clients — you can never be too safe. But, if you’re a hobbyist, one or two external hard drives (plus saving your original memory cards) should do the trick for backups.
While many external hard drives were built for high-end photographers, a growing number of brands now offer portable, user-friendly hard drives for emerging photographers. Here are 5 of the best external hard drives to consider.
What is the Best External Hard Drive for Photos?
Seagate 8TB Expansion Desktop USB 3.0 External Hard Drive ()
If you work primarily from a desktop — and you’re looking for a budget-friendly option — the Seagate 8TB Expansion Desktop External Hard Drive is a great option. It offers fast data transfer speeds thanks to the USB 3.0 interface. Plus, the 8TB storage means you can use this hard drive for years. If you do run out, you can add extra space with the Seagate Expansion offering. It works with Windows and Mac, although Mac usage requires a simple drive reformat.
Key Specifications:
- 8TB of storage
- SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0)
- Compatible with Windows operating systems right out of the box
- No software or downloads required
- Measures 176mm x 120.6mm
- Weighs 950g
- AC power supply
- 1 Year Warranty
WD My Passport 3TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive ()
The WD My Passport 5TB External Hard Drive is ideal for new photographers looking to test the external storage waters without spending too much. At 5TB, you’ll be able to use this external hard drive for photos for several years (depending on the size and quantity of your images). It’s lightweight and portable, which makes it great for studying abroad or backpacking. It offers automatic backup, as well as password protection. The WD My Passport works with Windows and Mac.
Key Specifications:
- 5TB of storage
- USB 3.2 / USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB Micro-B)
- Compatible with macOS 10.13+ right out of the box
- WD Backup Software included
- Built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption and WD Security software
- Optional password protection
- Measures 4.2 x 3 x 0.8”
- Weighs 0.46 lbs
- No external power supply required
Buffalo Technology MiniStation Extreme NFC 2TB USB 3.0 Rugged Portable External Hard Drive ()
This rugged and portable external hard drive is perfect for adventure and travel photographers. It has military spec shock protection that keeps your files safe, with an integrated USB cable for quick and easy plug-in. The Buffalo Technology MiniStation Extreme’s USB 3.0 guarantees speed and connectivity with Mac and PC computers. This water and dust-resistant hard drive has built-in backup capabilities with Buffalo Backup Utility for PC and TimeMachine compatibility for Mac.
Key Specifications:
- 2TB of storage
- USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0)
- SATA 3 Gbps interface
- Data transfer rates of 5Gbps with USB 3.0
- Compatible with Windows or Mac OS
- Free software downloads included with purchase
- Measures 140.97 x 89.92 x 21.08mm
- Weighs 0.66 lbs
- No external power supply required
Samsung 1TB T7 Touch USB 3.2 Portable SSD ()
The Samsung 1TB T7 Touch USB 3.2 Portable SSD is one of the CES 2020 Innovation Awards Honorees, and for good reason — this compact external hard drive is impressively powerful. It pairs industry-leading transfer speeds with 8K and 4K footage capabilities. Its fingerprint security will keep your files safe. USB connectivity makes it compatible with computers (Mac and PC), consoles, tablets, and smartphones. While 1TB won’t last you nearly as long as 3TB or 8TB drives, this portable gadget should last you at least a year or two, depending on image size and quantity.
Key Specifications:
- 1TB of SSD T7 storage
- USB 3.2 Gen2, 10Gbps (backwards compatible)
- Fingerprint security
- AES 256-bit hardware encryption
- Read speeds up to 1,050 MB/s
- Write speeds up to 1,000 MB/s
- Compatible with Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X 10.10 or higher, and Android Lollipop or higher
- Free software downloads included with purchase
- Measures 8.64 x 5.6 x 0.76cm
- Weighs 2 oz
- No external power supply required
LaCie Rugged USB-C 3.0 4TB External Hard Drive ()
With the LaCie Rugged USB-C 3.0 4TB External Hard Drive, you can expect fast speeds and durability in one compact body. This LaCie hard drive, which works with Mac and PC, is a favorite among travel and adventure photographers. It’s built to withstand drops, rain, and dust. Plus, its thunderbolt, USB-C, and USB 3.0 capabilities make it speedy and versatile — even when you’re working with RAW images or video. LaCie also offers a second, handy layer of data protection; their included Rescue Data Recovery Services have a 90 percent success rate.
Key Specifications:
- 4TB of storage
- USB C interface (USB 3.0 compatible)
- Data transfer speeds up to 130 MB/s
- Encryption available
- Compatible with Windows 7 or higher and Mac OS X 10.5 or higher
- Free software downloads included with purchase
- Measures 1.85 x 8.59 x 13.49cm
- Weighs 0.22 lbs
- No external power supply required
- Drop, water, and crush resistant
Considerations When Purchasing an External Hard Drive
For any creative on a budget, it’s important to find the best external hard drive for photos at an affordable price. But when it comes to external storage of your important files, you get what you pay for.
So what are the most important considerations for finding the best external hard drive? For most photographers, the choice comes down to portability, capacity, speed, and compatibility. For example, are you looking for a hard drive to use with active projects, or do you need deep storage or an archival hard drive?
Start by figuring out exactly what you need in a hard drive and you’ll have an easier time narrowing down your selection.
What is the Difference Between a Desktop External Hard Drive and a Portable Hard Drive?
The primary differences between desktop hard drives and portable hard drives are physical size and power supply.
Portable hard drives are generally much smaller and more portable than desktop hard drives. Whether you’re working at your desk, in a coffee shop, or anywhere else, you can set up your workstation quickly and without a lot of hassle when you use a portable hard drive. They also get their power from your computer through a USB connection, making them even more convenient.
Desktop hard drives are traditionally a bit larger because they’re intended to sit near a workstation. They’re powered by an AC power supply and usually have an onboard fan to keep them running cooler and more efficiently.
Traditionally, large-capacity portable hard drives are more expensive than their desktop hard drive counterparts. If you need a high-capacity external hard drive for photos, a desktop option will be more economical.
Mac or PC: Consider Your Interface
You can format most backup drives to work with either Windows or Mac operating systems. But some hard drives are designed for use with one system or the other directly out of the box. When shopping for a backup drive, pay attention to the product specs to determine if the drive is intended for a specific operating system.
Some photographers or creatives work in teams, so they need to access their backup drives from both Windows and Mac computers. In those cases, the drive will need to be formatted for compatibility before you start transferring images or files.
The best hard drive for photographers is a backup drive that works seamlessly with your workflow. If you have special interface requirements, it’s best to do your research before purchasing.
SSD vs HDD: What’s the Difference?
An HDD, or hard disk drive, is an older style of backup drive that stores data on ferromagnetic coated platters. An internal head reads those platters, working sort of like the needle on a record player. An SSD, or a solid state drive, is a newer style of backup drive that stores data on flash memory.
Because SSDs involve newer, more advanced technology, they tend to be more expensive than HDDs. As a result, it’s rare to find SSDs with the large storage capacities offered by backup HDDs.
Despite the increase in cost and limits in capacity, many consumers believe an SSD is the best hard drive for photographers. That’s because SSDs read and write much faster than HDDs. In turn, that leads to quicker edits, faster file transfers, and less time waiting while the hard drive catches up.
Ultimately, when deciding on a hard drive vs SSD, the best external hard drive for photos will provide the speed and capacity you need to keep your workflows smooth and hassle-free.
Do You Need a Rugged Hard Drive?
Many hard drive manufacturers make rugged, crushproof, drop-proof, and waterproof backup drives. But do you really need a rugged hard drive? That depends on what sort of work you do and where you intend to bring your backup drive.
Most rugged models are portable hard drives. If you plan to work at the same desk in a fairly safe and reliable environment, then you don’t need to worry about investing in a rugged hard drive.
If you plan to carry your backup drive along with you on trips, to shoots, and to a variety of unpredictable locations, then a rugged hard drive is a great investment. A rugged hard drive is often the best hard drive for photographers with an active on-location shoot schedule. That’s because the tougher technology keeps you confident that your data is safe no matter where you take it. A little peace of mind goes a long way.
