Where your footage should live

01

Raw footage vs finished videos

Finished videos are small, important and easy to keep: a few files per project, stored in several places. Raw footage is large, and many businesses do not need to keep all of it forever. But for weddings, events, interviews and anything you might re-edit later, the raw footage is the only way to make a new version, so decide deliberately rather than by accident.

02

At least two copies, in two places

One copy is no copy. Keep at least two copies of anything you care about, on separate devices, ideally in separate places. A common approach is a working hard drive, a backup hard drive kept somewhere else, and finished videos also stored in the cloud.

Two drives in the same bag can be lost, stolen or damaged together.

03

Hard drives

External hard drives are the cheapest way to store large amounts of footage. Portable SSDs are faster and more robust against knocks, but cost more per terabyte. All drives eventually fail, often without warning. Label each drive, note what is on it, check it every six months, and replace or copy drives after several years of use.

Do not keep the only copy of anything on a memory card. Cards are for recording, not storage.

04

Cloud storage

Google Drive, Dropbox and similar services keep files safe from local accidents and make sharing easy. They are ideal for finished videos and for project files you share with an editor. Storing years of raw 4K footage in the cloud can become expensive, and uploading large files on a slow connection takes time, so many people use the cloud for finals and drives for raw footage.

05

Name things so you can find them

Use a consistent folder structure: year, then date and project name, then subfolders for raw footage, audio, graphics, project files and exports. For example: 2026 / 2026-10-12 Diwali product shoot / 01 Raw, 02 Audio, 03 Graphics, 04 Exports. Searching for "Diwali 2026" five years later should take seconds, not an afternoon.

06

How long editors keep your files

Most editors keep project files and footage for a limited time after delivery, often a few weeks to a few months, because storage is costly. Some offer longer archiving for a fee. Do not assume your editor has a copy years later. Ask at the start, and if you might want changes or new versions later, keep the footage yourself.

07

Ask for the right deliverables

At the end of a project, ask for the finished videos in the formats you need, a high-quality master, and the subtitle files. If you think you will want re-edits or new versions, ask whether project files and organised footage can be handed over on a drive you provide. Store them with your two-copy routine.

For couples: your wedding footage

Wedding footage is irreplaceable. When the film is delivered, download the finished videos immediately, store them in the cloud and on a drive, and share them with family who will also keep copies. If raw footage is offered, keep it on two drives. Many couples discover years later that the only copy was on a studio's drive that no longer exists.

The only footage that is safe is footage in at least two places.

Set a calendar reminder once a year to check that the drives still open and the cloud copy is still there.

What is the best way to store video footage?

Keep at least two copies on separate devices in separate places, such as two external drives kept apart, with finished videos also stored in the cloud.

How long do video editors keep raw footage?

It varies, often from a few weeks to a few months after delivery. Ask at the start, and keep your own copies if you may need re-edits later.

Should I store raw footage in the cloud?

It is ideal for finished videos and shared projects. Storing large amounts of raw 4K footage in the cloud can be expensive, so many people use drives for raw footage and the cloud for finals.