Photos gone from SD card, 5d Mk3

Today I was photographing a wedding and all was going perfectly fine. I was previewing photos here and there as I shot, but once I put the memory card into my computer only 195 of the several hundred photos are there. I have tried using some data recovery programs, and they are pulling up the 195 photos, plus tons of other random photos from months/years ago, but not the missing photos. I have checked to see if for some reason another folder was created on the card, but not dice.

Can anyone give me some advice, or maybe have any idea what is going on?

Sublimejoe wrote in post #17816939
Today I was photographing a wedding and all was going perfectly fine. I was previewing photos here and there as I shot, but once I put the memory card into my computer only 195 of the several hundred photos are there. I have tried using some data recovery programs, and they are pulling up the 195 photos, plus tons of other random photos from months/years ago, but not the missing photos. I have checked to see if for some reason another folder was created on the card, but not dice.

Can anyone give me some advice, or maybe have any idea what is going on?

Kind of a counter question, but, were you writing to both cards? This is one of those reasons to have a camera with dual card slots. Like the 5D3.

Unfortunately I'm not sure what the issue is with the SD card other than perhaps it is bad and failing. I hope you were using two cards and writing to both.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #17816947
Kind of a counter question, but, were you writing to both cards? This is one of those reasons to have a camera with dual card slots. Like the 5D3.

Unfortunately I'm not sure what the issue is with the SD card other than perhaps it is bad and failing. I hope you were using two cards and writing to both.

Very best,

You see, this is one of those always, but not this time type of situations.

I have used two recovery software online but to no avail. Its just so strange to me that all of the photos are fine up to a point, so its not like I formatted it by accident or some crazy scenario like that.

How many cards were in the camera when you were shooting?

Just the one SD card. The photos from today abruptly stop at 195. Using the recovery software, I was able to locate 2005 photos on the card. I am looking at them now and some are from just a few days ago, while some are from June 2014.

So you have 2005 total photos on the card, but only 195 from the wedding? That's very odd. What brand/model SD card is it?

Lyndön wrote in post #17817181
So you have 2005 total photos on the card, but only 195 from the wedding? That's very odd. What brand/model SD card is it?

That is correct. It is a Sony SF-32uy

Sorry to hear this has happened and I hope you recover your photo's somehow... But to shoot an important event like that with a camera with dual card slots and only use 1 slot is, to put it nicely, not very clever..

don1163 wrote in post #17817324
Sorry to hear this has happened and I hope you recover your photo's somehow... But to shoot an important event like that with a camera with dual card slots and only use 1 slot is, to put it nicely, not very clever..

I know, dumbest move ever.

What options do I have if any for data recovery? Like I said I tried programs that I found online, but no luck getting the photos I actually need.

I wonder if it may be possible to send the card to a company that specialises in data recovery... Seems odd though that some of the images are there..Hope someone will come up with a solution for you...

don1163 wrote in post #17817341
I wonder if it may be possible to send the card to a company that specialises in data recovery... Seems odd though that some of the images are there..Hope someone will come up with a solution for you...

I sure hope so. I have never had this happen in my ten years as a professional. I don't even know what I will say to the bride and groom.

I recommend honesty with the bridge and groom as soon as possible. Do this face to face if possible.
If I were the groom, I would hope to find out as soon as the photographer knew something was wrong.

Terrible things happen, but there is much worse situations than lost pictures.
Everyone is in good health, and that sort of thing.

Tell them you are trying to recover the files that 'may' be there, and you are seeking a professional to 'fix it.'

Do you remember visually seeing (quick check) photos taken after the first 195?
Perhaps there was a dismount error with the card during shooting.

A future tip: I have taken many photos without a card inserted.
They even pop up on the lcd screen for a second when taken. :roll eyes:

Now I set my camera to 'deny shutter release without card'
This has saved my from my own mistake twice since changing it.
Perhaps, this issue 'the card not having photos' could be avoided with that error protection.

Unfortunately the couple is in Wisconsin and I am in DC. I just got back to my office so I have a better opportunity to see what my options are.

I have the camera set to not take photos without card inserted, and I was previewing the files far beyond #195 without a problem, but as soon as I took the card out I no longer see them on camera or computer.

Photo #195 is corrupted. I may have already mentioned that. I've been told that MAYBE that one corupted file is preventing me from seeing anything after it, but I am afraid to delete that single photo for fear of losing everything else forever.

In cases like this I often wonder if a utility to rebuild/repair the MFT would be helpful. If the MFT is corrupted, basically you won't see all the files.

Perhaps: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=670801