Photography Explained Podcast
Photography Explained Podcast
Rick McEvoy
Shiny New Camera? Calm Down and Do This First
19 minutes Posted Apr 10, 2026 at 10:00 am.
Brand new camera. Half-charged battery. Clock set to 2020.
Hello and welcome to episode 230 of the Photography Explained Podcast
1. Charge the battery before you do anything else
2. Format the memory card inside the camera — not on your computer
3. Set the date and time — you will thank yourself later
4. Set the image format to RAW and JPEG — options are good.
5. Set image quality to the highest setting your camera offers
6. Spend ten minutes with the first chapter of the manual — just ten minutes
7. Put it in Auto mode and go and take some photos
Quick Recap
What If I Use a Phone?
What Do I Do?
Here’s Something for You to Do, Dear Listener
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Thanks for listening. 👍 Stay safe. 🛡️ Cheers from me, Rick! 🍻
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Send us Fan Mail 📸 About This Episode You’ve just got a new camera. The excitement is real — but most cameras come out of the box in a state that will cause you problems at exactly the moment you most want to take photos. In this episode, Rick walks you through seven quick setup steps — about twenty minutes in total — that get your camera properly ready before you take a single shot. Perfect for anyone who’s just unboxed their first camera, or who wants to start things off the rig...