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How I got Into Tethering

Lesson 2 from: Tethering: Why It’s Important and Why You Should Do it

Clay Cook

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Lesson Info

2. How I got Into Tethering

Lesson Info

How I got Into Tethering

When I initially picked up the camera, in 2011, I found it very difficult to work with a team of people. Everything I did was based on collaborations. It was hard to collaborate with people though when, you couldn't really, when all they could see was the detail on a three point nine, five inch LCD screen on the back of your camera. But, again, I didn't know anything about tethering, I didn't know it existed, I had no idea. I just knew that I was working with hair, make-up, stylists, and people to collaborate on. And of course, they didn't know anything about that world. So, I did a lot of research into finding the best method to basically have some sort of client preview. I learned that you can connect the camera to some sort of capture software, such as Lightroom or Capture One, with a USB cable, also known as tethering, but I found it to be very slow... Not to mention having all that computer equipment was like super overwhelming for me at the time. I didn't even have like a laptop ...

or I didn't have the power that was truly required for tethering. So I scoured the internet for a wireless solution for that client preview to an iPad, because I did own an iPad. After various attempts with like an ifi card, and a lot of poorly designed, sort of wireless devices, I stumbled upon a device called the1 CamRanger. And the CamRanger is a device that allows you to actually wirelessly control any DSLR camera from any mobile device. Come to find out it was actually designed for wildlife photography, but it was the perfect solution for me. And so it was a game changer. It changed everything for me. Although it wasn't necessarily a tethering system, it was all that I needed. Which was a simple viewing platform for my creative team and clientele. Now eventually as the caliber of my clientele grew, so did the demand for the industry standard techniques, such as tethering. My clients required a live preview of the image, actually it's in the contract a lot nowadays, so I soon had to ditch the CamRanger for more dependable tethering workflow, which what I use now. When I first started to tether, my clients actually loved it. They had never had a photographer, especially in the small market, that we had talked about earlier, they had never had a photographer provide the solution, or the option to see the images live as I was shooting them. While it seems crazy not to tether now, I remember it being an extreme asset for my business, when I first started.

Ratings and Reviews

JennMercille
 

I have been wanting to add tethering to my workflow for quite sometime, but it seemed so daunting and expensive. Clay Cook walks you through every tiny detail and tool, in a buildable, step-by-step process. And as an added bonus, watching him shoot with a model was really cool and informative. He brings an inspiring energy with him as an instructor who has worn many hats in the creative industry. I highly recommend this course!

Gabriel Caro
 

Justin VanDyke
 

Student Work

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