A radio sync system for photographic equipment including a transmitter unit and a receiver unit. The transmitter unit utilizes a power-management scheme for keeping the transmitter unit in a low-power stand-by state except when an RF signal needs to be transmitted, and returning the transmitter unit back into the low-power stand-by state within a predefined short period of time after transmitting the RF signal. The receiver unit utilizes a power-sensing scheme for keeping the receiver unit in a low-power stand-by state when it is not connected to a remote photographic equipment or the remote photographic equipment is powered off but turning the receiver unit on when it is connected to a remote photographic equipment and the remote photographic equipment is powered on such that when an RF signal is received, the receiver unit can send a command signal to operate the remote photographic equipment.