Photo Shoot Storage Calculator
Estimate the memory cards and backup space a shoot needs from your shot count and average file size — RAW, JPEG or both.
How it works
Total = photos × average MB × mode factor · Cards = ⌈total GB ÷ card GB⌉ · Backup = total × 2
Shoot storage is a straightforward multiplication — the number of frames times the average file size — but two real-world factors trip people up. Shooting RAW plus JPEG writes two files per frame, adding roughly a third to the total, and every professional keeps at least one backup copy, doubling the space you must actually carry. Rounding the total up to whole memory cards tells you how many to pack, since a shoot that spills 1 GB over a card still needs a second one.
Worked example
An event of 800 RAW frames at 30 MB each is 800 × 30 = 24,000 MB, or 24 GB. That fills one 128 GB card with room to spare, but a safe backup means keeping 48 GB in total.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a RAW file?
It depends on the camera’s megapixels and bit depth: 24 MP RAWs are typically 25–35 MB, while 45–60 MP bodies produce 50–90 MB files. JPEGs from the same cameras are far smaller, usually 5–15 MB.
How many cards should I bring?
Take the total storage this calculator gives, divide by your card size and round up — then bring at least one spare. Many photographers prefer several smaller cards over one large one so a single failure loses less work.
Do I need to plan for backups?
Yes. The industry rule of thumb is to never have footage in only one place, so budget at least double the raw total — one working copy and one backup — before adding long-term archive storage.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.