Bio: In addition to being Tether Tools Director of Business Development, Wes Maggio is a long-time photographer and educator.
When I first heard of tethered photography, I sort of wrote it off as being difficult, or a workflow limited to “the pros”. Turns out, I wasn’t alone. A lot of photographers thought that way. (Still think that way!) Little did I know then, shooting tethered is quite simple!
It wasn’t until I got a product photography gig—back in 2011—that I decided to investigate the concept of shooting tethered. The product was cookies and other edible treats for a local cookie shop. I was going to be working with the proprietor who would be assisting me with the set up and styling, so I thought that it would be convenient to look at the images that I captured on a larger screen vs. the back of my camera.
Not sure exactly what I needed, I searched the internet (of course) and found Tether Tools. Specializing in products for photographers that shoot tethered, I trusted that they would steer me right. Always on a budget, I simply purchased a 15-foot cable for my Nikon D800. For this camera, I needed a cable with a Micro-B connection to the camera and a USB 3.0 connection to the computer.
The shoot was to take place in the kitchen at the cookie shop. I knew that it was going to be pretty tight quarters, so I opted to set my laptop right on the counter next to the light shed that I would shoot the product in.
Making the connection between the camera and the computer was the first part of the setup. From there, I needed some kind of software to shoot “to”. And the best software to start with, is the software that you have! For me, that was Adobe Lightroom. I had been a Lightroom user for a few years already, and I knew that it supported tethered capture, but without a need (or understanding as was the case) I never explored it.
Lightroom did the trick, and it was ridiculously simple to set up! I just plugged my cable into my camera and computer, and then started tethered capture in Lightroom.
With each capture, the images popped up on my laptop within a couple of seconds. From there, the client and I looked over the frame and made sure that the product looked good. While she was concerned with aesthetics, I was looking at exposure and detail. Together, we got the shot!
Having enjoyed the collaborative aspect of shooting tethered, when my next portrait shoot came around, I thought I’d give it another try. This time however, I wasn’t going to have a counter to set my laptop on, so I decided to get a “Tether Table”. To be specific, I got a Pro Tethering Kit which included the table and a bunch of accessories to make up a complete tethering workstation.
The Tether Table attached to the top of my tripod in place of the ballhead. This setup put my laptop within arms-reach of where I was shooting, making it convenient for me to review the photos as I took them. Further, it enabled me to share and discuss the photos throughout the shoot with my subject.
Again, I loved the collaborative aspect of shooting tethered. The one downside to the portrait shoot was having to set my camera on a chair each time I went over to speak to my subject or work on the computer. It wasn’t a hinderance to the shoot itself, but it certainly could have been more convenient, and it didn’t look very professional. The other thing that I noticed was the tension that the cable placed on my camera as I moved around the set. Concerned that it would break my cable or damage the USB port, I figured that there had to be a solution for that.
Back to Tether Tools! First, I addressed the stress on the port from camera movement. Tether Tools makes an inexpensive product called a JerkStopper which takes the strain off the camera port and places it on the cable which is much stronger.
Next, I picked up a Rock Solid 4-Head Crossbar. Just like the Tether Table, the crossbar sits on the tripod in place of the ballhead. It has two moveable heads on top and one on each side of the bar. Using one of the two heads on top of the crossbar, I attached my table. I then placed my ballhead on the adjacent head. This gave me a place to put my camera when I am not holding it! No more setting it on the floor or chair!
That’s how I got started, and quickly grew to appreciate what shooting tethered could do for my workflow, creativity and overall product. To this day, the crossbar, table, ballhead combination is my preferred tethering setup. Whether I’m headed down the street to a shared studio that I use, or some other on-location shoot, I’ve got a compact and convenient tethered workstation with me. And it all started with a cable!
This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about our visitors. Accept
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
Save & Share Cart
Your Shopping Cart will be saved and you'll be given a link. You, or anyone with the link, can use it to retrieve your Cart at any time.
Back
Save & Share Cart
Your Shopping Cart will be saved with Product pictures and information, and Cart Totals. Then send it to yourself, or a friend, with a link to retrieve it at any time.