There’s nothing glamorous about website backups.
You can’t post one on Instagram.
No one high-fives you for setting one up.
But here’s the truth:
A solid backup system is the difference between a small hiccup and a total meltdown.
Imagine my morning yesterday (and this is 100% true), relaxing in bed with a coffee, and receiving a phone call from Kieran to say that my website was just a big pop-up screen and nothing else. He was about to send a couple in my direction as a referral, and there was nothing to refer them to!
It could have been a major issue, it might have been a dodgy plugin update, a hacked server, a hosting glitch — whatever the cause, my website had gone walkabout.
Now imagine me calmly clicking a button and restoring everything in a few minutes. No drama. No sweat.
That’s what a good backup plan gives you. Quiet confidence.
So let’s walk through exactly how to get it sorted — no jargon, no fluff, just what you need to know.
Why Website Backups Matter (Especially for Photographers)
Your website is your shop window.
It’s how potential clients judge your work, your vibe, and whether to hit “enquire.”
If it goes down, gets corrupted, or wiped — and you don’t have a backup — you’re rebuilding from scratch.
And no, your hosting company won’t always save the day. Some hosts offer backups, but many don’t — and even if they do, you might not have full control or access.
You need your own system. Something reliable, automatic, and easy to restore when the worst happens.
Step 1: Know Your Platform
Let’s start with the basics. What you use to build your site affects how you back it up.
WordPress
You’ve got the most flexibility — and the most responsibility. You’ll need to sort backups yourself, but there are great plugins that make it easy.
Squarespace / Wix / Format / Pixieset
These hosted platforms handle backups behind the scenes. That’s great — until it’s not.
You’ll want to periodically export your content or pages (just in case), especially if you’re making big changes.
We’ll cover both styles below.
Step 2: If You Use WordPress — Use a Plugin That Does the Heavy Lifting
There are lots of backup plugins, but here are the ones we’d recommend:
1. UpdraftPlus (Free + Paid)
Probably the most popular choice — and for good reason.
You can:
- Schedule automatic backups (daily, weekly etc)
- Store them in Google Drive, Dropbox, or other cloud services
- Restore your site with a couple of clicks
The free version is solid. The paid version adds features like cloning and migrations.
2. BlogVault (Paid)
This is more than a plugin — it’s a full backup and security solution.
It’s brilliant if you want peace of mind but don’t want to tinker with settings.
Set it and forget it.
3. Jetpack Backup (Paid)
From the makers of WordPress.com — it offers real-time backups and one-click restores.
If you already use Jetpack for other things, it might make sense to bundle it in.
Step 3: Where to Store Your Backups
Your backups shouldn’t live on your website server — if the server crashes, they go down with the ship.
Instead, send them to:
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- Amazon S3 (if you’re feeling fancy)
All of the plugins above support these options. Pick the one you already use and have space on.
Step 4: Automate It
You’re a photographer. You’ve got enough to do without manually backing up your website every week.
Whatever plugin or platform you use, set up automated backups and get them running regularly.
For most portfolio sites:
- Weekly full backups are ideal
- Daily backups if you blog or update your site often
Then, check once a month that everything’s ticking over nicely.
Step 5: Run a Manual Backup Before Any Big Change
Installing a new plugin?
Updating your WordPress theme?
Changing hosting?
Rebuilding a page?
Hit backup first.
Even with automation, it’s smart to run a fresh manual backup before doing anything major. That way, if things go sideways, you’re one click away from rolling back.
Step 6: If You’re Using Squarespace, Wix, Pixieset etc.
These platforms do backup their systems — but they don’t give you direct access.
So while total data loss is rare, editing mistakes, deleted pages, or formatting disasters are still your responsibility.
Here’s what to do:
- Export your content (where possible) before making big edits
- Take screenshots of layouts before redesigns
- Duplicate pages before rewriting or replacing them
- Save image galleries in separate folders locally and in the cloud
It’s not as neat as a plugin, but it’s still a safety net — and that’s what matters.
Pro Tip: Set a Calendar Reminder
The best backup plan is the one that actually happens.
- Create a recurring monthly reminder to check your backups
- Make a note to test a restore every so often — just so you know it works
- Keep login details for your backup storage somewhere safe
It doesn’t take long, but it can save you hours — and a whole lot of stress.
Final Thoughts
You’re a photographer. You capture memories that matter.
But your own website is one of the most important assets you’ve got — and it deserves protecting, too.
A backup isn’t just insurance. It’s a quiet, behind-the-scenes superhero that gives you confidence to experiment, update, and grow — knowing you’ve always got a Plan B.
Set it up once, check in occasionally, and you can rest easy knowing your online presence is safe, secure, and ready for whatever comes next.
#BackItUp #CreativeConfidence #ShutterCircleSupport
