Okay, so RVA has had a bit of warm weather recently, and I know many of us are eagerly awaiting springtime. I know that I am really looking forward to photographing lots of outdoor sporting events as the weather gets warmer.
But there are a few things you might want to do, in February, to get ready for that burst of creative energy most of us get when the warmer weather hits, and we start venturing out of hibernation with our cameras again :)
1. Spring Cleaning
I'm of course talking about our camera gear. But that's not limited to lenses. If you've been putting off having your sensor cleaned, and it's risky enough that you don't want to undertake it yourself, absolutely bring your camera by to any of our locations and we'll get that sensor cleaned for you! We can also clean your lenses, or teach you techniques for cleaning your own lenses. We can also help troubleshoot whether a problem you're having is on your lens(es), your mirror, or your sensor. And we can teach you how to diagnose that as well.
2. Off-Season Repairs
Sending a camera out for a much needed repair is often tough to do. That's because none of us like being without our camera gear for long, even when we know something on our camera needs attention. But trust me, now is the time to get those camera repairs done BEFORE the warm weather and gorgeous nature makes its full comeback. After all, most of us really don't want to have camera gear out for repair during the height of springtime/summer/fall, so take advantage of these last few weeks of winter!
3. Lose the Camera Weight
If you're like me, you might experience 'camera bag weight gain' as you periodically add gear to your backback/bag. Over time, our gear bags tend to get heavier and heavier. Now is a great time to declutter those bags!
Take everything out of your bags, and evaluate each item. How often do you use that particular lens or accessory? Can you save a few ounces here and there, that really adds up. You can even bring your gear by one of our locations, and we can sit down with you and discuss your needs, and which accessories you might want to hold on to, but not necessarily weigh you down all the time.
You might also want to take advantage of the 'Used Gear Buying Event' coming to Midlothian on February 2nd and 3rd!
4. Backup and Print Your Images, Start Fresh
Many of our customers benefit from a 'spring cleaning' of their memory cards as well! They print and backup the images from their card, then format their memory card to start the season with a 'fresh slate'. If you need any assistance with formatting your camera's memory card, or printing images, PLEASE let us know!
5. As always, let us help you get 100% out of your camera!
We have a great Basic DSLR class coming to our Carytown location on February 10th, and all of our locations offer great 1-on-1 classes. Now would be a great time to learn how to get the most out of your camera, BEFORE all the great photo ops of the season present themselves.
So come visit one of our stores, and let us HELP YOU get ready for springtime, so you can take the best photography you possibly can!
-Brian Clary, Store Manager, Richmond Camera Midlothian