We take it for granted, but you simply can’t take pictures with digital cameras without a battery. While some old-fashioned film cameras can use human mechanical power to cock the shutter, lift the mirror and wind on the film, all digital cameras have so many electronic components that they become little more than a paperweight when they run out of electricity to run on.

Although the rechargeable lithium ion pack that you get with your DSLR lasts for hundreds of shots before it needs to be topped up from the mains, it is put under more strain than you might think.

Powering the LCDs, processors, and intelligent circuitry is one thing – but the cells also provide power for a number of high-drain motors, as your camera is still a very mechanical machine. The shutter, mirror, image stabilisation and lens focusing are all powered from this one battery.

And then there is the built-in flash, which drains out a significant amount of power from the cells to charge up the high-voltage capacitor needed to provide the charge that creates its signature spark of light. A flash-lit picture takes almost twice the battery power to create as a flash-free image.

Temperature also plays a role here too. In warm climates, a battery will not give you as much service as in a cold one.

This is where a battery grip can prove extremely useful. If you plan to be out shooting for a prolonged period of time, and recharging isn’t an option, a battery grip can double your power by storing extra batteries, letting you shoot for longer.

• For a quick fix, see these 4 easy ways to extend the battery life of your camera

In our latest photography cheat sheet, we looked at the anatomy of a battery grip and explained what’s inside and how they work. To view a larger version of this infographic, simply click on the image below to expand the file. Or drag and drop it to your desktop.

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What are battery grips?

Battery grips are essentially an additional battery compartment that doubles up as a secondary grip for the camera. the main advantage of a battery grip is that the shutter button and usually some other controls are duplicated, making the camera much more comfortable and natural to use in portrait (upright) orientation.

How do they work?

With some cameras, the grip fits into an empty battery compartment after the removal of the battery door. in other cases, it connects to a number of pins on the base of the camera. Either way, it clamps firmly to the camera with a screw that tightens into the tripod socket.

Who makes them?

Camera makers generally make their own battery grips for specific models of camera. However, they can be very expensive, and non-genuine versions are often much cheaper to buy. Independent manufacturers include Ansmann and Hähnel.

When should I use a battery grip?

The most obvious use for battery grips is in portraiture, and any time you’re doing a lot of upright-orientation shooting. However, another advantage is that the additional weight and bulk of a camera with a battery grip fitted can make it more stable and less prone to camera-shake. they can often accommodate two batteries as well, which obviously doubles your shooting time.

Two more things you should know about battery grips…

1. Grips that enable you to still fit a battery into the camera usually only have space for one additional battery in the grip itself (see top of this page); although, they often have a tray for using AA batteries as an alternative.
2. With some grips you can’t fit a battery into the actual camera (see above), but you can usually put two camera batteries or a number of AA batteries into the grip itself.

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