Do you really want to lug around another piece of equipment just for the sake of tethering at shoots?
Yes. Here’s why!
Encourages People to Purchase in Real-Time
No one wants to wait weeks to see their images. Tethering at events like weddings or social gatherings is a fantastic way to not only generate interest in your photographs, but it also makes on-the-spot sales easy when people see your beautiful shots and get caught up in the emotion and excitement of the day.
Makes You Appear More Professional
Almost everyone has a phone with a camera or a DSLR that they like to pull out during your shoot. Often, this can make the client wonder why they would pay for a professional photographer when Uncle Joe has a similar-looking camera right there.
Although Uncle Joe may know how to use the auto setting, he probably doesn’t have a tethering setup with a dedicated Tether Table Aero, TetherPro Cable, and robust tethering software at his fingertips. And when it comes to your client experience, tethering makes a big difference. By tethering, you’re able to show your client the shots in real-time, getting them excited on shoot to see their vision come to life.
Builds Your Client’s Confidence
Clients and/or subjects can often spend so much time worrying about how they look in the shots or if their ideas are coming through, and sometimes, hovering clients can be a little unsure about the positioning or angle of the shot. When tethering, the client can quickly look through the shots building their confidence on the shoot and you as a professional photographer. This boost in confidence is key when acquiring referrals or additional sales with the client.
Saves Time
One of the most time-consuming parts of a photoshoot is going through and culling photographs. When you tether, you can have the client choose their favorite photos right then so you can edit and send the final shots later on.
That means far less back and forth over email trying to get their final choices and more time for you to book shoots! Plus, because most photographers give themselves a few weeks to go through the shots and send options, your clients will love being able to do it on the same day.
Reduces the Chance of Reshoots
The worst nightmare for many photographers is getting home after a shoot and uploading the files to a computer, only to realize the focus was slightly off. Tethering is clearly beneficial to your clients, but it’s also incredibly beneficial to you because you can avoid situations like this.
It can be incredibly difficult to tell if an image is in focus and correctly exposed, especially if you’re shooting in the field. When you tether, you reduce the risk of reshoots due to focusing, composition, or exposure errors.
Increases Collaboration
Finally, tethering is beneficial because it can increase collaboration between the client, art director, assistant, makeup artists, and more. Instead of just you seeing the results, additional experts can provide feedback and make adjustments as necessary.
It saves time in the long run, reduces the risk of reshooting, and means less will likely be needed. Plus, the client will be able to tell you at that moment if it’s what they’re looking for, so there will be fewer difficult conversations later on when you deliver the photos.
How To Start Tethering
If you don’t have a tethering setup, it can be the single most important upgrade in your kit. Tether Tools provides all the essentials to get you up and running in a matter of minutes. For more on tethering visit our Tethered Photography Basics article, and to get started follow the links below to find your cable, software, workstation, and accessories.
