E-commerce sites for high-capacity backup drives

For a photographer who needs dependable, high-capacity storage, I'd start with B&H Photo Video or Adorama. They're photography-focused retailers, and I'd also consider Best Buy or buying directly from the drive manufacturer. The key is to buy a genuine drive with a valid manufacturer's warranty, rather than simply choosing the lowest price.

For photo backups, I'd recommend a 12TB–16TB desktop external hard drive if you mainly work at home or in a studio. If you take your drive on location, a portable model may suit you better. Desktop hard drives generally offer more capacity for the money, while SSDs are faster and more resistant to physical shocks.www.westerndigital.com+1

Best places to buy

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1. B&H Photo Video — my first choice

Best for comparing storage built for photographers, including high-capacity desktop drives and rugged portable drives. Its catalog lists professional options from LaCie and other storage brands.www.bhphotovideo.com+1

Shop external hard drives at B&H

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2. Adorama — good alternative

Worth comparing for creator-oriented storage, especially if you want a faster portable SSD for editing alongside a larger backup drive.

Shop at Adorama

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3. Best Buy — good for convenience

Offers mainstream WD and Seagate drives, with customer reviews and potential in-store pickup.www.bestbuy.com+1

Shop external drives at Best Buy

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4. Western Digital — buy direct

A strong option if you already know you want a WD Elements or My Book drive. Buying from the manufacturer is a straightforward way to reduce uncertainty about seller authenticity and warranty eligibility.www.westerndigital.com+1

Shop WD drives directly

What I'd buy for photo backups

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Best value: WD Elements Desktop 12TB External HDD

Desktop storage · Large photo archives

A simple, high-capacity drive for storing RAW files, finished edits and older shoots. Requires external power.

View listing at Micro Center

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For a creative workstation: LaCie d2 Professional 8TB

Desktop storage · USB-C · 7200 RPM

A more professional-oriented option with fast transfers for a conventional hard drive. Consider a larger capacity if you shoot a lot of high-resolution RAW images or video.

View listing at Sweetwater

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For shoots on location: G-DRIVE ArmorATD 5TB

Portable · Ruggedized enclosure

Better suited to travel and fieldwork than a desktop drive, although it still needs careful handling and isn't a substitute for a second backup.

View listing at Best Buy

Prices and availability can change, so compare the final price, return policy and warranty before purchasing.

One important photographer's tip: Don't keep your only copy of a shoot on a single external drive. Ideally, maintain two separate backups, with one stored somewhere else. Even a highly rated hard drive can fail.

Let me narrow it down

One question: How much do you want to spend?

Budget in US dollars

Under $150

$150–$300

$300–$500

$500+

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Your computer

Mac

Windows PC

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Where you'll use the drive

Mostly at my desk

Travel and location shoots

Both

[Find my best drive]

For storing photography work, I’d prioritize established retailers, a high-capacity drive from a reputable manufacturer, and a good return policy. RAW files, high-resolution images, Lightroom catalogs, and photo libraries can consume a lot of space, so 8TB–16TB is a sensible starting point for a desktop backup drive, while a portable drive makes more sense if you regularly travel to shoots.

Best e-commerce websites to buy an external hard drive

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1. B&H Photo Video

(Best for photographers)

A photography-focused retailer with a broad storage selection, including WD, Seagate, and LaCie drives. Its listings offer useful filters for capacity, drive type, connectivity, and customer ratings.www.bhphotovideo.com+1

Shop external hard drives at B&H

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2. Best Buy

Best for comparing prices, checking customer reviews, and potentially collecting your drive in person. It lists capacities ranging from portable drives to desktop models of 12TB and beyond.www.bestbuy.com+1

Shop external hard drives at Best Buy

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3. Newegg

A strong option for comparing high-capacity drives and computer-storage specifications. It carries models such as WD Elements desktop drives in 8TB, 16TB, and 20TB configurations.www.newegg.com+2

Shop external hard drives at Newegg

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4. Adorama

Another photography and video equipment specialist. Worth checking if you want a more professional desktop drive, such as the LaCie d2 Professional, alongside your camera equipment.www.adorama.com+1

Shop storage drives at Adorama

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5. Western Digital — official store

A good place to investigate the manufacturer's own storage products and support options. Compare its official offerings with retailer prices and check the exact warranty for the model you choose.

Visit the Western Digital website

Which type of drive should you buy?

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Best value: WD Elements Desktop, 12TB–16TB

A practical choice for storing large photo libraries at home or in your studio. It connects over USB and uses external power, so it is intended for a desk rather than a camera bag.

Compare WD Elements drives

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For professional workflows: LaCie d2 Professional

A desktop drive worth considering for photographers who regularly transfer large RAW files and maintain extensive working archives.

Shop LaCie drives at Adorama

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For travel: LaCie Rugged

A portable option with a protective exterior, useful for photographers moving between locations. Portable hard drives typically offer less capacity per dollar than desktop models.

Shop LaCie Rugged at B&H

Three things to check before purchasing

• Capacity: Aim for at least 8TB if you have a substantial photography archive. Consider 12TB–16TB if you shoot frequently or work with RAW files and video.
• Connection: Check whether your computer uses USB-A or USB-C and whether the drive supports the connection you need.
• Data protection: No external hard drive is guaranteed to be dependable forever. Keep a second copy of your irreplaceable photographs on a separate drive or in a reputable cloud backup service.

My recommendation: Start by comparing B&H and Newegg for a WD Elements Desktop in the 12TB–16TB range. If you travel often with your photography equipment, look at a portable model instead.

One question to help me narrow it down: What is your budget, and will the drive mostly stay at home or travel with you? I can then recommend specific models that fit your needs.