Based on your needs, a 2-bay NAS from Synology would be a good choice for backing up your pictures and media. The Synology DS220+ or DS423+ would be good options to consider. These models come with a user-friendly interface and provide several features for data backup and file sharing.
In terms of hard drives, it is recommended to use NAS-specific hard drives such as Western Digital Red or Seagate IronWolf. These hard drives are designed to run 24/7 in a NAS environment and offer better reliability and performance. For a 2-bay NAS, you can start with two 4TB or 6TB hard drives, depending on your current storage needs.
Setting up the NAS in a RAID 1 configuration (mirroring) would provide data redundancy and protect your data in case one of the hard drives fails. This configuration will also give you the option to replace a failed hard drive without data loss.
Overall, a 2-bay NAS with RAID 1 configuration, using NAS-specific hard drives, and with a user-friendly interface like Synology's DSM software, would be a good investment for your current needs and will also be suitable for years to come.
In terms of hard drives, it is recommended to use NAS-specific hard drives such as Western Digital Red or Seagate IronWolf. These hard drives are designed to run 24/7 in a NAS environment and offer better reliability and performance. For a 2-bay NAS, you can start with two 4TB or 6TB hard drives, depending on your current storage needs.
Setting up the NAS in a RAID 1 configuration (mirroring) would provide data redundancy and protect your data in case one of the hard drives fails. This configuration will also give you the option to replace a failed hard drive without data loss.
Overall, a 2-bay NAS with RAID 1 configuration, using NAS-specific hard drives, and with a user-friendly interface like Synology's DSM software, would be a good investment for your current needs and will also be suitable for years to come.