5 Tethering Essentials | Inside Fashion and Beauty Photography with Lindsay Adler

Tethering is an essential part of all of my studio shoots. Tethering allows me to preview and backup my images, check focus, review exposure, and make color grading adjustments throughout my shoots.
What is tethering? Tethering allows you to connect your camera to your computer so that images are reviewed/imported as you take each frame. On any commercial shoot, tethering will be required so that your creative team (hair/makeup/wardrobe) can review how the images look and of course so that the client can see the progress of the shoot.
In this video, I’d like to share 5 elements that are essential for tethering.
1. Tether Cable: A tethered cable is what connects your camera directly to the computer. When you purchase a cable, remember that it will be specific to both your camera and the computer. In other words, you have to look at both ends of the cable to make sure it works within the system you area using. I shoot with a Canon R5 and a MacBook Pro, therefore I am using a USB-C to USB-C cable. I recommend taking a look at a right-angle cable for a more secure connection (I use the one from TetherTools).
2. TetherBlock: A TetherBlock helps you to secure the tether cable to the bottom of your camera. This prevents the cable from wiggling/disconnecting during your shoot, or accidentally being ripped away from your camera. This is important for maintaining a consistent tether to your computer as well as preventing any damage to the port on your camera.
3. Tether Table: When tethering, you’ll need something to set your computer on. Sure, you could use a regular table, but it is more convenient to use something that can move around the shoot with you. A basic setup is a TetherTools Aero table. It has a grippy surface so that your computer is stable and I can attach the tabletop to a rolling stand. There are more robust tethering tables and carts (Inovativ), but anything mobile is a good place to start.
4. Tethering Software: You’ll need some sort of computer program/software to ingest/import photos will you shoot. This could be Lightroom, CaptureOne, or software specific to your camera brand. It doesn’t matter which one, though CaptureOne is what is most common on a commercial set because of its speed.
5. Harddrive (SSD): When tethering it is important that you are backing up your images during a shoot. You may be shooting to your computer’s desktop and the camera’s memory card, or shooting to your computer’s desktop while also simultaneously backing up to an external hard drive. I recommend a solid-state drive by G-tech (now Sandisk Pro) because solid-state drives are durable- if you accidentally drop your drive, an SSD doesn’t have any moving parts and therefore is much less likely to break/lose data.
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Profoto Large Umbrella + Diffusion:
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Savage Fashion Gray Background:
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TetherBlock:
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TetherTools Tether Cable (USB C to USB C):
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CaptureOne:
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#tethering #canonr5 #adorama
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Photographer: Lindsay Adler
Check out in-depth photography tutorials, guides, and more at: learnwithlindsa...
Makeup: Joanne Gair
Hair: Linh Nguyen
Styling: Raytell Bridges
Video: Samuel Bouret
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Inside Fashion and Beauty Photography with Lindsay Adler Playlist
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[@aalene8925]

Incredibly educational. Not just a list of recommendations, but solid reasoning behind every decision, and it's all explained concisely and in an easy to understand manner.

[@GuidoNietmann]

This is not an ordinary person. Its really a teaching goddess. Thank u again!

[@capturemeinpictures]

There is a simpler way to tether, although with fewer features. My primary use for tethering is to be able to view images in real-time on a larger screen. I want to see them instantly without a buffering pause. I achieve this by connecting the HDMI output of the camera directly to a USB port on my laptop (using an HDMI cable and an inexpensive video capture card that has a USB output). I simply use the "Camera app" in Windows and images from the preview are visible. You can also scroll through the images on the camera card. An external monitor could also be used without a capture card. This is a simple, inexpensive option that does not require software, secondary backup (my camera has 2 card slots), etc. Hope this option helps a few fellow portrait photographers.

[@onlysublime]

Doesn't this method turn off the EVF?

[@maxhighstein]

Cool! And don't tell anyone, but you can use a Manhasset music stand for your laptop, and it costs a fraction of the TT stand. It works great!

[@philippmonihart9940]

Even tough I've been shooting tethered for years, there's still always something to learn from Lindsay. Thank you very much!

[@StevenSmith-nq5xe]

Another essential, beautifully produced, crystal-clear video. No one does them better. Thank you, Lindsay!

[@tomtoms15]

Yes ppl do. John gress, ulissesdepazphoto, fco hernandez, mark wallace, gavin hoey, etc

[@JohnDoe-gb3zh]

@@tomtoms15 Can you share links to ulissesdepazphoto and fco hernandez? I am not finding anything on KZbin

[@fountainvalley100]

Awesome information. I would suggest tie wrapping the cable to the bottom of the stand. That way when you trip over the cable you are pulling on the bottom of the stand which probably won’t cause the stand to tip over or pull the laptop off the stand.

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

Makes sense!

[@Maximilan20]

Very educational, simple and straight to the point. Thank you

[@CappuccinoLife]

M1 MacBook Pro + Lightroom Updated to M1 = Amazing!

[@andyraeber6044]

Lindsay absolutely amazing. Thanks for sharing

[@Goldmangun]

Very helpful thanks. Stunning pics!

[@jer3006]

Lindsay, great rundown and great tips too, thank you very much. FYI, for your viewers with modest budgets, Tethering is available in On1 Photo RAW. It is very fast, well, for 20± MP cameras anyway- I don't know about 40MP cameras. I use it for my in-home-small-studio portraits and just about anything else I shoot indoors. All the On1 editing features are available on the tethered screen just as they are for any photo. Currently it supports Nikon and Canon cameras. Enjoyed seeing your use of tethering, thanks!

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

I haven't tried, good to know! I just know that as long as a photographer has Lightroom, its included... just slow.

[@6rimR3ap3r]

The orange Tethertools cables come in handy as you won't spend much time telling your cables apart and find the tethering cable.

[@ECDPhotography]

Lindsay is so cool

[@JBGuarino43]

Lindsay is a great teacher clear explanation, straight forward brought a few of her courses on CreativeLive.

[@marcelmarcoshierro6438]

😍10;58 and 11:01 shoots!!!! Thanks as usual!

[@wendsignstudio]

Thank you very much Lindsay & Adorama

[@magedzaki9637]

Very beneficial video for me. Thank you so much

[@AJMac1]

This was beautiful. Thank you, I learned a lot.

[@zacgrimaldo]

Lindsay has a gift for teaching, I'm a professional shooter and still learn tons from her! Lindsay, some fashion shooters shoot everything horizontal and then just crop it vertical if they need to, do you switch back and forth or shoot everything in landscape when shooting a commercial job?

[@yassyn96]

This video comes at the right time i hope its gonna help me after being disappointed yesterday where i used WIFI Tethering which was really boring and took half of my time in photo session, Thank you Adorama for this amazing Lessons. Many greetings from Germany

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

I've tried the wireless bit a long time ago and it wasn't great for me, which is why I still choose to tether directly. I know there have been improvements but this is still my go-to! :)

[@yassyn96]

@@lindsayadlerphoto thank you so much for this video at least today i gained something new and i even practiced it using my USB Type C of my Ronin S on my EOS R and it went really perfectly. so i have to buy it thank you!!

[@brad_in_yyc]

@@lindsayadlerphoto have you tried the TetherTools Air tether?

[@tomtoms15]

Yesterday?

[@tubelator]

The SD/CF card saves your files. The macbook is a backup, if you make a lightroom directory straight in dropbox/googledrive, your files are already backupped in cloud. If your connection is fast :)

[@yanafridabinaev]

Thank you for this video!

[@jackzhangxiao]

Lol. Tip 1 said L shape connector is good then tip 2 showing a “awkward cable” connector.

[@jabaridavid]

you took the comment before i could type it

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

It wasn't a mistake. I was illustrating the different versions of the cables. Yes it would have made more sense to show the right angled one throughout but it was done purposely. I use either or sometimes for different reasons.

[@lenl2514]

Well done- very clear and informative

[@josephchan4198]

I see the advantages of having it. I usually wait to edit the photos at home since it personal work. If it was for work I would consider tethering.

[@johnclay7644]

useful content and tips.

[@marcwill8270]

you're an awesome teacher

[@NPC_averagemale003]

I use a Leica M11, but it can't tether natively! So I have to connect it to the fotos app, but iPhone screen so smoll, can't see. So I wirelessly screen mirror it to a 120inch TV, but TV can't edit, and also TV color gamut is in Rec 709! I need it on CaptureOne on sRGB gamma 2.2! So now I use an Arri Alexa 35 to livestream the TV into my Blackmagic Ultrastudio capture device and stream it into Davinci Resolve and do a color space transform from Arri wide gamut Log C4 gamma into sRGB, then I smash everything and buy a Nikon.

[@mjphotos]

Thank you. I use Sony so can only use the image software as lr does not work. WiFi remote is much easier too.

[@dickiedester]

Thanks for another great video Lindsay! How to you connect the external monitor - do use a HDMI cable from the laptop?

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

yep!

[@dat2ra]

Excellent!

[@FitRoby]

So why don't you actually use the right angle adapter on your R5?

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

I do, was just showing options

[@eyvindness]

As an R5 user, LrC and C1 owner, I can confirm only LrC allows you to tether while recording to your card(s) as well. C1 version 21 does not. This is a huge deal for me, so C1 is out. Watching how C1 users desperately try to get around this limitation is quite funny, using backup disks and all kinds of silly tricks (importing using duplicate folders etc).

[@ChrisKSP]

weird. why would C1 block writing to card at the same time on the R5?

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

In this video she is duplicating it to an external drive at the same time, which would be "nearly" the same as saving on a internal card. Lindsay doesn't see this as a restriction as she prefers Capture One because its benefits. But I see your point, and also LR comes bundled with Photoshop so lots of people may not want the extra expense of Capture One.

[@robertvhall]

This is interesting, my LrC only will let me save the images to disk, skipping the cards on my Nikon D750. Is this a cameratype/brand related thing maybe? I switched to Tether Tools software to get this done.

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

Honestly, Captureone is a million times faster and so that becomes far more important on a commercial shoot. I can have an autobackup-- but my commercial clients simply cannot wait around while images come into the computer... know what I mean? They need to see it real time and Lightroom doesn't do that-- way too slow. I'm not sure why C1 doesn't allow both, but each photog has the right to decide which is more important or how to handle their workflow. For me, speed and then chronosync backup is all I need.

[@Chrisdgallego]

@@lindsayadlerphoto Hi, what method for backup do you use in Chronosync? Could it be programmed to check for new photos in capture folder every some minutes and if it founds new ones, copy them into the external disk? I hope what I write has some sense hehe, because my English is not good enough. Thanks

[@renestaghjnielsen1110]

Cool

[@wilmerkrusen7501]

Hi. Great video and I appreciate the value of a second drive. How do you get Capture 1 to write to both drives? I use Windows.

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

Chronosync

[@frits1463]

Tethertools are great (and Lindsay and Adorma), always use it myself. But I refuse to buy the Tetherblock for $ 90 (piece of metal , thats all) where Tethertools also provides the "Jerkstopper" that does exactly the same for $ 17. But hey, i'm Dutch ;-)

[@rogerwalton8160]

In my opinion (even though I use one) the Jerk Stopper is over-priced too!

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

Good to be dutch. We save where we can! :)

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

@@adrianvanleeuwen lol

[@zrowedaartistviews2278]

@@lindsayadlerphoto you’ve been putting out some solid videos lately I thank you! I have a question are you able to tether and save directly to memory card and external drive?

[@dianacossairt7773]

Awesome video, thank you so much Lindsay for sharing! Can I ask what Laptop you use?

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

The new M1 now!

[@Dadlbjm]

Great tips and suggestions. However, I dont have your budget (top of the line equipment), so try to buy less expensive like the table , no cable block needed, etc. Great video nevertheless.

[@kellygellard3482]

Hi Lindsay - Amazing Video as always, thank-you! I wanted to ask a little info on how you shoot to your desktop and back-up to your hardrive at the same time? I can't quite figure this out through their software. Big thanks!

[@dannyveras]

I’ve been watching tons of videos on KZbin about tethering and I’m still looking for an answer of this question “ is it possible to do tethering video shoot” ? Can you please answer me this question ….?

[@saskelee]

Thanks. That monitor do you recommend?

[@melodyrossiphotography214]

Another awesome video Lindsay, thank you! I don't currently tether but I have been toying with the idea for awhile now. I am looking at the cords now, can you tell me please what length cord you use because I see several. TIA

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

15ft!

[@melodyrossiphotography214]

@@lindsayadlerphoto Thanks Lindsay!!

[@karenstaufferphotography8955]

What kind of light stand is that ? The one on wheels and boom arm?

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

Check out ny entire Adorama video on stands!

[@paulkeet6213]

Capture One tethering flaw (has this been fixed?): When I tried Capture One, it did not give me the option of also saving to the camera's (R5's) memory cards. There is a workaround, save to a local folder on the computer and have Capture monitor that folder, but that was slower than Lightroom. I like the safety of writing to two memory cards and to my computer's harddrive all at once, so despite Capture One's strengths, this flaw drove me back to Lightroom.

[@EsotericNY]

Short and sweet overview - well done. Curious to know if you've experienced any technical issues w/ the R5 specifically, flash misfires or files not writing to C1's hot/capture directory. I've experienced the latter several times (using Win 10). There's a healthy thread on this issue w/ the R5 on dpreview. Would love your thoughts.

[@mikel5094]

Hi Lindsay I’m a big fan of your work. I have 2 questions 1. Do you use photoshop at all ? And 2. Have you used the wireless tethering from capture one?

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

I haven't tried the wireless yes, and yes of course Photoshop for retouching!

[@mikel5094]

Nice 👍🏽

[@mikeydmalden]

i'm in the market for a portable tethering station like this. Who makes the rolling stand you mentioned around 4:15?

[@romiemiller7876]

My objection to tethering aside, Capture One gives a lot better color than Photoshop or On1. C1 is the best portrait program out there.

[@imcmodelsagency]

Hi, simple and direct. Loved it| I'm starting my approach to tethering and learning all the things ^_^ One question, after the shoot do you save the pictures from Capture One directly or do you use the photos from the drive, the "originals and unedited" photos and then do the post production? Thanks

[@photo2000]

what software is being used to backup files to external hard drive in real time??

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

Chronosync

[@garyadams5201]

Thanks you for this video Lindsey. Great as always! Do you recommend any of the available cordless tethering offerings? Thanks again!

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

I personally dont use in my own workflow at the moment.

[@CarlyWaarly]

That does not make sense, you have a tether lock on your camera but not on the laptop?

[@keithsanders6554]

I use Lightroom for tethering and via a USB2, 3 metre extension cable and my 50Mb images appear within 2 seconds of taking. I know LR had a reputation for being slow but not any more.

[@Lucy-dk5cz]

What camera do you shoot with? If canon does LR allow you to tether AND record to a card at the same time? Just asking because C1 does not allow the camera to capture to the card

[@eyvindness]

@@Lucy-dk5cz That was exactly my concern, too. And as an owner of both C1 and LrC, I can confirm that LrC allows you to record to the card(s) as well, which is a big deal for me. C1 v21 doesn't. So, LrC it is!

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

The video shows that Capture One displays image almost instantly, maybe half second lag from capture. That's fast, she also has SSD or solid state memory on laptop no doubt. Although 2 sec to display in LR is quite fast also.

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

I shoot a lot (I mean a lot lot). Imagine I am shooting a hair campaign and the subject is jumping with their hair blowing-- for that I have to shoot on burst mode and that is when the difference really shows through. Know what I mean?

[@keithsanders6554]

@@Lucy-dk5cz I use a Nikon D750. It does not record to the card when tethered. However my PC does have two internal hard drives in Raid 1 configuration so have two copies.. Otherwise, like Lindsay, I would need to attach a separate drive to capture a seecond copy.

[@sijilo]

☺️

[@elisaplays6163]

Which program is commanding the real time backup to the external drive. Is Lightroom/Capture One doing it? Is it an Apple script?

[@laymills]

Hey Lindsay, do you know if it is possible to tether with an ipad pro?

[@VideoGizmology]

For backups, can't you just save the RAW images to the camera's media card? I know in Lightroom and ON 1 you can save to the card and tether at the same time, but I'm not sure if you can do the same using Capture One. Is that correct? Maybe that is why Capture One is so fast, it doesn't let you save to the camera's card while tethering, but I'm not sure.

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

According to another comment here who used Capture One, you can only save externally to a drive, and not also to internal card at same time. But Lightroom allows both.

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

@@adrianvanleeuwen to be fair this may be a reason why Lightroom is sooooooo slow

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

I just have Chronosync and have files onto my computer and automatic backup while shooting.

[@VideoGizmology]

@@lindsayadlerphoto Yes, that is my speculation. Capture One is faster than Lightroom because it doesn't allow you to save to the card and tether at the same time.

[@johnlopez8453]

Yet another reason why I’m shocked people don’t give On1 a look. I’d say On1 is the happy all around medium between those other two, but there’s NO SUBSCRIPTION

[@jornidema1884]

100 euro for a metal plate that price is ridiculously expensive.

[@mordavian]

Is there any alternative good quality cable?

[@definedphotography]

any usb cable will do, but obviously if you have usb-c, a certified high-speed cable would be best if you want to save hassle, just get the tethertools ones.

[@jeffreyrosenberg7765]

What backup app do you use on your laptop?

[@ramyahmed787]

thanks .. but PLZ can you explain the lightening you used in these shots ??

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

Profoto D2 with an umbrella + diffusion for a soft light source.

[@isoawe1888]

On my Nikons, if I tether to a ssd, then nothing is recorded on CFEXPRESS card. Am I doing something wrong?

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

with capture one thats how it works.

[@romiemiller7876]

My main objection to tethering is that no images are stored in camera. I've had images corrupted when opening them for editing. It doesn't happen often, but it usually an important image. If the image is still in camera I can upload it again.

[@petepetersen]

Depending on what setup and configuration you use, the images are stored on the camera's SD card and the SSD of your computer + external hard drive. Three possible sources to cull your images from should be enough for most situations

[@SteffiNovaASMR_Replays]

Go into your settings. There is an option to save to computer + camera

[@christyhill5728]

Do you also have memory cards in the camera or save straight to laptop and SSD hard drive?

[@Lucy-dk5cz]

She uses a R5 and CaptureOne. Unless something has changed in the last 6 months, capture one won’t allow you to record to memory cards if tethering directly to capture one.

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

Straight to laptop and SSD. No memory card

[@christyhill5728]

How do you get it to save to both laptop and SSD?

[@chazM6116]

So you tell us how good, and you use, a 90deg plug to protect the camera YET you did not use it yourself in the video? - my Canon came with cable support no need to pay over the top prices tether tools charge for what is only a USB lead I got my lead a Heavy Duty Braided USB in red, Oh no mention of securing the lead at laptop :(

[@lindsayadlerphoto]

I dont secure the lead at the laptop-- and I was show variations of the cable. lol its not that big a deal. :P

[@shanec4441]

You need a computer or laptop 😀

[@SpotBentley]

Nothing new here.