How Do I Back Up My Photos Without Google?
Two copies on two drives, plus one somewhere else. Fix the metadata first so the backup is worth restoring.
The old rule still holds: three copies, on two kinds of storage, with one kept somewhere else. Two external drives and a copy at a relative's house is enough for most families.
Fix the dates before you back up. A backup of a disorganized library is a disorganized library you now have three of, and fixing it later means re-copying everything.
Takeout JSON Metadata Fixer gives you one clean, dated library to back up, in plain folders that any future software can read. It runs on your own computer and is free for your first 500 photos.