I used Claude to solve a problem that data centers helped cause for my photography business. It's saved me thousands.
A commercial photographer used the AI tool Claude to catalog and manage his massive collection of hard drives, saving thousands of dollars in storage costs. By identifying redundant files, he avoided purchasing new hardware during a period of rising prices.
Why it matters
This demonstrates the practical, cost-saving applications of generative AI for small business owners managing digital assets.
Allen Cooley Business Insider Photographer Allen Cooley spent more than $20,000 on hard drives in 2025 as storage costs jumped. He used Claude to catalog old drives and identify files he could safely delete for reuse. The tool saved him thousands in new costs, though video work may eventually force him to buy more. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Allen Cooley, photographer, director, and founder of Allen Cooley Photography, a commercial, beauty, and portrait studio based in Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. I've been working professionally as a photographer since about 2006, and for most of my career, I barely had to think about the price of hard drives. They were a basic cost of doing business. Now, I have to be strategic about every drive I buy.
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