How to Shoot Tethered to an iPad via Lighroom Mobile

Tethered shooting is a core workflow for many professional photographers in portraiture, product, fashion, commercial, and architectural photography where real-time image review is critical. While Lightroom Mobile does not support direct, cable-based tethering from a camera to an iPad, it does enable a practical and flexible workflow that allows photographers to shoot tethered to Lightroom on a computer and view those images instantly on an iPad, iPhone, or Android device. This approach combines the stability of traditional tethered capture with the mobility and collaboration benefits of tablets and phones, making it a valuable option for many modern photography sets.

How Lightroom Mobile Works with Tethered Shooting

Lightroom Mobile is part of Adobe’s cloud-based Lightroom ecosystem. Instead of connecting your camera directly to an iPad, Lightroom Mobile acts as a synced viewing and editing extension of your primary tethered workstation. Lightroom Mobile Tethering Workflow: 

1. Connect your camera to a laptop or desktop using a reliable, high-speed tethering cable
2. Shoot tethered into Lightroom (Lightroom Classic or Lightroom Desktop)
3. Enable cloud syncing for the active catalog or collection
4. Images sync automatically and appear on Lightroom Mobile on or iPad or iPhone

Images typically appear on mobile devices shortly after capture, depending on internet connectivity and file size.

HDR Capture and Reviewing RAW File on Mobile Devices

One of the biggest advantages of this workflow is full RAW file support across devices. When shooting directly with supported mobile devices, Lightroom Mobile also supports HDR image capture in RAW, providing increased dynamic range and greater flexibility in post-processing.

• Images shot tethered to Lightroom sync as full-resolution RAW files, not previews
• Lightroom Mobile supports non-destructive RAW editing, with changes syncing back to desktop automatically
• Exposure, white balance, color, and detail can be accurately reviewed on a tablet display while shooting

While mobile HDR capture isn’t a replacement for tethered camera workflows, it can complement hybrid shooting setups.

Lightroom Mobile on Android Devices

Lightroom Mobile is available on both iOS and Android, and the tethered-sync workflow works the same across platforms. On supported Android phones and tablets, Lightroom Mobile offers comparable capabilities as the iOS version of the app.  This makes Lightroom Mobile a viable solution for photographers working with mixed-device teams or those who prefer Android hardware for on-set review.

When to Use Lightroom Mobile for Tethered Workflows

This workflow is especially useful in scenarios where mobile viewing and collaboration matter more than direct capture on the tablet itself. Common use cases include: 

• Client review on set without crowding around a laptop
• Studio environments where an iPad can be mounted for easy viewing
• On-location shoots where mobility and flexibility are important
• Collaborative teams, allowing stylists, assistants, or art directors to review images live
• Education and demonstrations, where images need to be displayed clearly as they’re captured

While Lightroom Mobile doesn’t replace a full desktop tethering setup for heavy editing or file management, it significantly extends the reach of your end-to-end tethered workstation system. 

Mobile Apps For Direct Cable Tethering to Tablets

While Lightroom Mobile relies on a computer-based tethering workflow, other mobile apps do support direct camera-to-tablet tethering via cable, allowing photographers to shoot straight to an iPad or tablet without a laptop in the setup. These solutions can be useful for photographers who want:

• Direct USB-C tethering
• Live view and camera control on a tablet
• Lightweight, computer-free workflows

Photographers can create flexible, modern workflows that adapt to both studio and on-location shoots, especially when paired with professional-grade tethering cables and mobile mounting solutions designed for on-set use. Compare Lightroom Mobile with other professional mobile tethering options, including options for tethering with cable, in our full guide on Choosing the Right Mobile Tethering App: A Guide for Professionals.