Should I be shooting tethered?

Should I be shooting tethered? It’s a question I get asked a lot by various photographers and students. The short answer is yes, especially if you are a studio shooter. Let’s check out some reasons you should be looking at it if you haven’t already.

Not sure exactly WHAT tethering is?

Tethering is the ability to connect your camera to a computer (and soon, your iPad) via a wired or wireless connection to programs like Capture One in the studio (or on-location). I have found it an invaluable tool in my studio. It really is an amazing way to shoot.

Check out this article by me for a little more information on my setup.

Is a tethered workflow suitable for me?

You may have noticed this subject cross your feed in recent months and wondered, is a tethered workflow right for me? Is it worth the time and investment for my style and work?

But tethering is just for pros, right? Not at all! Anyone can tether. I personally feel it is a total game changer. If you shoot landscapes, streets, events or weddings, it is probably more of an inconvenience. But if you are a studio photographer with portraits, products and such, then this could be a game changer for you.

Check out this article by Mark Marrow for more information.

Three reasons you should consider tethering

Tethering is essentially connecting your camera to a computer or laptop for instant viewing of your images as you are taking them. There are several reasons why you would want to do this. Here are three of the big ones:

1. Shorten the sales cycle
2. Increase in sales
3. Increased customer satisfaction

Check out this article by Darren Miles for more information.

These three articles are a terrific place to start when looking at tethering. You can use various cables, but I prefer Tether Pro myself. You can also use Lightroom (depending on your camera make) or Capture One. I am a big fan of Capture One with my Sony equipment.