Frugal Friday - Batteries

As photographers we have found that there is a common need and a common issue in our profession regarding batteries.  We all need to conserve battery power, lengthen the lifespan of our batteries, and save on the all-mighty dollar.  Batteries are a necessary part of every photographer's arsenal and we just cannot do without them.  Fancy equipment is just a pile of plastic, metal and mirrors without the proper "juice" to make them work.  Through our experiences we have found that there are a few, simple ways we can maximize the power and lifespan of our batteries, not to mention ways to make our lives just a little bit easier.

1.  BUY RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

This up front cost will definitely save you money over time.  Although rechargables are a bit more pricey at the beginning, we have definitely saved time, money and peace-of mind with them.  Our Eneloop batteries (by Sanyo purchased from COSTCO) have been our go-to batteries for powering our external flashes and YongNuo receivers since 2007.  They are solid and dependable.

We like rechargeable batteries because they last - we rarely have our batteries die on us during a shoot anymore.  Rechargeable batteries in the past were hardly worth anything because they just didn't have the "umph" to work longer than a few hours.  New technology has really benefited the longevity and strength that these batteries now offer.

We like rechargable batteries because we KNOW when they are full.  Before every portrait session or wedding we always "slow charge" our batteries so we know we started out at full power.  A 'slow charge' completely drains the battery and then recharges it fully.  By fully draining the battery first will give you a longer overall life of the battery as well as a better charge during each use.  This peace of mind has saved us from running into a potential problem of equipment failure because of dead batteries.

2.  SHOOT TO CONSERVE

You can elongate the life of your batteries simply by adjusting the settings on your flash or equipment.  We always shoot our external flashes on manual and put the power down to the lowest setting we can and still get the look we are aiming for.  The lower the power setting (i.e. 1/32 verses 1/1), the less battery drainage and the longer your battery will last.  Make the necessary adjustments (shutter speed, ISO, etc) to compensate your lower power setting in camera.

This is a nice fact to know if you're shooting an all day wedding or event.

3.  GET OUT EVERY LAST BIT OF JUICE

Have you ever had your camera battery die while you are in the middle of a session, a shoot or a ten-mile hike into the scenic wilderness?  Did you know that even after the camera registers that the battery is dead, you can usually still squeak out a little more power?  Now, this tip won't get you another hour of shooting, but it might allow you to sneak in one or two more necessary shots.  Don’t waste what’s left of your battery power by turning your camera on and off. Set up the shot you want and snap the image as soon as the camera turns on (if it turns on at all).

The first trick is to pop your battery out, rub the metal contacts against your clothing to create a bit of friction and quickly pop it back in.  This personally has worked for us multiple times and has given us just enough power to grab a shot.  

Another trick requires cooling your battery down.  Heat dissipates the charge of most batteries fairly quickly, but if you can remove the battery and cool it off on hot days, you might stand the chance to capture one last image. 

4. LABEL

In order to keep track of which batteries are fully charged and which are dead, we recommend a good labeling system.  It's very frustrating when you accidentally mix up good and bad batteries when you're in a hurry.  Our labeling method is simple, but effective.  We use small carrying cases that we purchased from B&H Photo and Kevin fashioned a "charged"/"dead" label that lays just below the clear plastic.  At a glance we know which batteries to grab and which batteries need to be recharged after a wedding or session.  Simply.  Easy.  Effective.

May your batteries always be fully charged and their lifespan long!

~ Heather

A few of my favorite apps...

In this electronically-enabled day and age, many of us have smart phones and many of us are self-proclaimed app-addicts.

I will be the first to admit that this is something I may need to seek counseling for.   When downloading productivity or task management apps I have great and noble intentions of using them, however my problem comes when I keep searching for a better one and in the end never fully use any of them!  I'm sure there must be a self-help book out there for other 'app junkies' like me.

On my phone are many apps, but not all are created equal.  I'd love to share with you the apps that I find the most useful and the most often used.  These apps are iPhone specific, but I'm sure there are Droid compatible apps out there too.

CALENGOO

First, one that we couldn't handle our busy lives without is CalenGoo. If you use Google Apps or, at a minimum, Gmail and you make use of their calendar then this is a MUST. CalenGoo synchronizes with your Google Calendar and looks pretty much just like the online version. You are able to create Events and Tasks and within seconds it will synchronize with the web. Heather and I share our calendars with each other online, and when each of us links our CalenGoo to our own Google Calendar, we can view each others schedule.  Definitely super cool and super helpful in our busy lives!!!

FLASHLIGHT

On to number 2.  It may seem sorta goofy, but Flashlight comes in super handy regularly. I have been surprised at how often I end up using this app.   I have flipped it on anywhere from working in a tight area (like fixing a plumbing leak) to a night time photo shoot where our auto-focus is having a rough time focusing in the dark.

DROPBOX

Number 3 - Dropbox.  For those of you who haven't heard of Dropbox at all, it is pretty much a must have for multiple computer users (even for those without smartphones). I have a few entrepreneurial friends that I've introduced Dropbox to and it has helped change how they do business - anywhere from a CPA transferring Quicken and Quickbooks files to and from their clients, to a bookkeeper keeping certain files synchronized on multiple computers. The way Dropbox works is that it installs a very small application on your computer (PC or MAC) that keeps a folder and all of its sub-folders synchronized with a web server. You can then install that same application on as many other computers as you would like and 'VIOLA' all of your computers, as well as the web server, are constantly synchronized.

The smartphone app for Dropbox basically makes the web server available on your phone. A couple of ways that I make use of it is for active client contracts, a document or article that I want to read but am not sure when/where I will be to read it, audio/video lectures or training material to listen to while in the car, etc.  With the Dropbox app I don't have to go through the process of putting the files on to my phone, they're just accessing them from the "cloud".

SQUARE

Last for today is Square.  This app is another must for every merchant, and it can even be great for people that are active on CraigsList, etc.  When you sign up with Square they send you a little card scanner that plugs into the headphone jack of your smartphone (iPhone and Droid). Once the app is installed and you have the scanner, you can swipe a credit/debit card and make transactions all day long.  Don't have the card in hand, just punch in the card number and you're all set.  I love the convenience of this!  Square then does a direct deposit into the linked bank account. The per transaction amount that they charge is less than most places and with the $0.00 monthly fee you really can't beat Square.

~ Kevin