Always new batteries

I spent $40 the other day on new batteries for my Radio Poppers.

Yep, that’s all I got.  It’s just enough that I need in addition to my extras for a single wedding.  Then I recently saw RadioPopper actually sells the CR123A batteries for a great price – $10 for 4 or $15 for 8!  Next time…

My point is, as a professional photographer you need to be prepared as best as you can.  This post will just be about batteries – I have a future post on PhotoTuts+ that goes into everything a photographer needs for additional insurance measures.

I also want to preface this by saying that photographers are human – things happen.  I’ve actually not been in the right position (where I preferred to be anyway) for the official kiss, and I’ve also had my memory card get full right when they new couple walked down the aisle.  I told my clients immediately and we reshot – no big deal.  I also have awesome laid back clients and the retakes were way more stunning than the real deal could have ever been.

But I think with batteries, we can at least control a bit beforehand, as much as we can.

My rule on batteries:

• Charge the rechargeable batteries only a few days before they will be used.  They tend to lose their full charge capacity even if they were once fully charged months ago.
• Any batteries that are not rechargeable that have not been used, toss or recycle to use for your remote control – computer mouse, things around the house.
• I only use batteries that I know are fully charged – so newly purchased in the package or rechargeables I charged myself.

Even if a device can show you the battery is so-so by flashing lights and such, I don’t want to take my chances that anytime during an important evening I have to run over and change it.  Sometimes you just do if it’s used a lot, but if you have shot enough and you know how long a battery will last for an evening, that’s your best bet.  Hope that helps some of you – doing so will at least give you one less thing to worry about.

Diana Elizabeth never knew she’d have so many batteries around in her life.