Securing the right shot is probably the main reason to consider shooting tethered. As a photographer, you’ve probably been there before. You’re shooting, viewing your photos in a tiny screen on the back of your camera and believe you have the results that you want. However, when you transfer your images to your computer you then notice that the focus may have been off, or the model’s hand positioning is out of place. These problems could have been easily avoided if you shot tethered. If you’ve never heard of tethered photography, we’re here to explain with the help of professional photographer Glyn Dewis.
Join Glyn Dewis as he goes through the What? How? and Why? of tethering and how this can benefit your own approach to client interaction, photography workflow and your business.
Glyn Dewis’ Gear List
- Sony A7RIV
- TetherPro Cable
- Air Direct Wireless Tethering System
- Air Direct Arca Clamp L-Bracket
- JerkStopper
- TetherBlock Arca
- Smart Shooter
- Capture One
- Lightroom Classic
For a full list of Glyn’s entire setup, visit his Gear Kit Page.
What is Tethering?
Tethering is the act of connecting a computer to a camera so the pictures you take are displayed and downloaded on a desktop, laptop and or other storage device rather than (or in addition) to a memory card. This can be done through a tethering cable or wirelessly with Air Direct or Case Air.
What Do You Need to Tether?
- Tethering Cable or Wireless Tethering System
- Tethering Software
- DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
Tethering with a Cable
If you tether using a cable, you’ll need a tethering cable specific to your camera and camera make and model. To make this simple use our Cable Finder to find the right cable. Once you’ve got your cable, connect it to your DSLR or mirrorless camera and then to your computer, tablet or mobile device.
Tethering with a Wireless Tethering System
As technology has grown so has tethering. Now you can wirelessly transfer image files to a laptop, tablet or mobile device using the software of your choice with Air Direct Wireless Tethering System or to tablet/mobile device using the Case Air Wireless Tethering System.
Wired vs Wireless Tethering
In the studio or in more controlled environments where the camera and computer will not move much, your best bet is to likely shoot using a wired connection. This way, the computer can be anywhere that’s comfortable for the client and the images transfer as fast as possible directly from camera to the computer. There’s almost no delay between firing the shutter and seeing the images on screen.
Cue wireless tethering. Less gear, more options! Wirelessly tethering means you don’t have to haul around a computer, you can comfortably move around while shooting. If you have others on set they can easily pass the smartphone, tablet, or your device of choice to view images in detail.
Tethering Software Options
Once you’ve made the connection, you’ll need tethering software of your choice to show the images on either your mobile device, tablet, or computer as you are shooting. As you shoot, your photos will appear, allowing you to things like check critical focus, zoom in, check your model/subject, and even check lighting.
The right tethering software for your needs begins with your camera and your photography style. Each software or app is made compatible for particular camera models and operating systems and offers its own set of features. To find compatible software and a list of features visit our software finder here. We also recommend you check the compatibility guides provided by the software maker to ensure the one you choose is both — made for your camera make and model and compatible with your computer or mobile device operating system. Not all software is compatible with all cameras nor with all operating system versions. It is best to check before you download.