Triggers for Real Estate Photography

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

UPDATE February 2023: This particular video is a few years old and cameras, lights, and software have changed since then, so I have up to date information in two sources that can help with this process. The first is my online course at prointeriors.nathancool.com and the other is my books on real estate photography, in particular the introduction to using this at amzn.to/3wTZrNZ You can find the entire series at amzn.to/3YmXAgn

[@albertlewis]

Question, what shutter trigger do you use on your Nikon Z5? I don’t find a yungnuo that fits the Z5.

[@felixfernandez3016]

Totally enjoy all your videos! You explain everything so clearly for everyone and your Interiors book is an excellent tool!

[@thedronemediacomvancouver4976]

Great videos! Great information. 👍

[@juliegallaher1481]

You are a great teacher! Reading your book now and supplementing with your KZbin videos. I also have the Benro Tripod in your video with the geared head. Coming from a ball head, there is no comparison. It was a great investment. This video answers the question I have been trying to figure out on how to use different brand speedlites together. Thanks for the great information.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks Julie! For the tripod I'm using a Feisol in this video...the head though is a Benro. I also have more info on gear, speedlights, triggers, etc. in my interiors e-book, which might provide you with even more info: www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@guydeboor5751]

Perfectly explained and easy to understand. Very timely for me as I've been trying to understand the different trigger configurations. Thanks.

[@av4464]

Yes! Exactly the remote trigger advice I needed. I've been using the Play Memories app on the sony a7iii, I love the live preview, but the transmit and img processing time slows me down so much.

[@toddstrong1353]

Hi Nathan, I had a question that isn't trigger/ flash related. I noticed that you have the same geared head in this video as I just purchased. My question is, was it (or is it) super stiff and difficult to turn the knobs when fine tuning or really difficult to move using the large release wheels. Mine is really difficult to move and the pan is especially hard to move and if I don't use two hands the tripod will move. Did you have this experience when yours was new? I had a Manfrotto X-Pro geared head that was really easy to adjust but it was stolen along with the tripod. I just purchased a new set up and was just wondering if I need to send the geared head in to be looked at and adjusted. Thanks.

[@HealthFitnessMartialArtsDEng]

Hi Nathan. Mahalo for all your great videos. In another video, you had touted the Yongnuo flash trigger. In this video, you tout the Cactus wireless trigger. What do you find as the difference? Because of you, I realized that I can use my Phottix Strato II Multi as a wireless as a flash trigger. However, what I discovered is that I have to use 2 transmitters if I want the off camera flash to be in sync with the camera and to actuate the flash from the hot shoe. One transmitter will be used in my hand the other transmitter will be connected to the hot shoe. The receiver will be connected with a cable to the trigger port on my Nikon D7100.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

In photography, gear tends to change year over year, and I'd imagine you are referring a video that is likely 5 years old, or more. For the latest on triggers and my recommendations, you can download my e-book on interior photography, which covers that, and more. Here's a link if you'd like to check that out: amzn.to/3vAlmIC

[@clarkbarrow6750]

Thank you so much. In your first two parts you explained how for me to solve my problems. I have learned so much from the one book of yours that I bought and your videos. I need to order your other books. Excellent information!

[@alanabley525]

This is great and I have just purchased some Cactus Triggers. Could you please tell me how you secure the shutter release trigger to you tripod. I have your books but I don't see the information there. Thank you

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Alan, I show a link to that in the video, here ya go: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UNSDG6Y/

[@dhh2000]

Which shutter trigger should I use if my camera is a Lumix S5ii ? Thank you.

[@jamesduckworthphotography6138]

Nathan...... I've really enjoyed your videos. You do a great job providing help for your fellow photographers. I have some old Pocket Wizards that I can use as a trigger. I use the Godox Xpro triggers. When I attach the Pocket Wizard as a camera trigger I cannot preview my images after exposure unless I use a cable with a switch to disable the PW connection. If I purchase the Cactus triggers does this issue go away? Do you have any insight as to why the PW behave this way?

[@ericnguyen23]

Thank you so much for your videos! Love your channel and learning tons! Do you happen to have a link to the cactus triggers?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks Eric! It looks like the V5 is discontinued as of just the past couple weeks, I'll contact Cactus and look at alternatives. You can though use any dumb trigger, like Yangnuo

[@ThePaintedLadyLLC]

Nathan, I have an EOS R Canon mirrorless. Will the cactus trigger work on my camera model? Thank you.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

That's quite and old video and that gear/triggers are outdated. I have updated info in amzn.to/40pMvNl and I go much further in-depth in my new course at prointeriors.nathancool.com

[@dpceee]

Hi Nathan, Love your videos. I had one question. Where did you get your male to male sync adapter on your big light to the flash trigger? I have cables, but I like you mentioned in your book they are a pain to have dangling off of the light. I have looked online, but unable to find anything. Let me know and keep the videos coming. I just did my first job with the techniques you have posted here and in your books.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! Here ya go: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LTIYQE/

[@dpceee]

@@NathanCoolPhoto Thank you!

[@davorsubotic2391]

Thank you very much for your effort, Sir! Great tutorials! One question: how are you satisfied with your Tokina 16-28? I am still looking for wide angle for my D750..

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Very :)

[@nerywasserman]

Nathan ...great videos...need a suggestion ..recently using ad200 and a couple of flashes all is working very well...i did purchase a wireless shutter release which doesn t work as expected... what do you suggest.. using nikon d810 need to walk around and pop ...are you using a ipad and camranger ...would appreciate your help thx

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks Nery. I spell out the various options and what I recommend versus others and why in my e-book at www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@ez8937]

Hey Nathan, greetings from northern Germany 🖐🏼 I love your videos and books, they are very helpful to me 👍🏻 But i have a question & would be glad if you could answer it: Can't i use the same trigger for shutter release & the flash? For example, if i would buy the Yongnou 560 Mark III and also the Yongnuo RF603 CII and connect it via cable with the camera?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Richard, shutter release should be an isolated circuit than flash.

[@ez8937]

@@NathanCoolPhoto Much appreciated, im totaly satisfyed that you answered me from the other end of the world 😁I now bought the Yongnuo trigger you recommended (but for flash) as well as a seperate shutter release👍🏻

[@imagineN0religion]

Hi Nathan, thanks for your channel. Just wondering if you’re not using cam ranger, how do you preview your photos as you’re walking around setting off your lights? Are you bracketing your lights and guessing then previewing on back of camera?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Yep, just looking at the backscreen display. After a while flash settings become fairly easy to remember (I have a video on that on this channel called Flash Settings for REP), and as I'm popping around I can change flash power quicker than waiting for image downloads from the CR, so I find it quicker to just fire, adjust, fire, adjust, fire, adjust, etc. and just go back to camera and ensure it looks good.

[@piercepixels]

Another GREAT video, thank you. Question: I use a cactus trigger on my ad600 and have the R2 remote on my belt for adjustments, works great. I do the same with YN560iii with a YNRF603cii on my hot shoe (cactus stacked on that) and the YN560tx on my belt for adjustments. I tried to get rid of the little yn603cii and put cactus on all my speedlights to control with the YN560tx, as I lose line of sight sometimes, but it wouldn't work unless they were on Manuel mode (not Rx). Why does it work with the ad600 and R2 but not with YN speedlights and the YN560tx on my belt? I have your books, where do I turn?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Pierce, sounds like this may be a bit overly complex, and there's likely a similar solution. I'd need to spend some time with you to help figure it all out, but I do provide remote coaching for these instances. You can email me at [e-mail] for pricing and availability with that. In short though, I'd try to reduce the brands of triggers to something simpler, perhaps just using "dumb" triggers across the board...two disparate commanders (R2 and YN) combined with separate branded receivers sounds like too much complexity.

[@visionhometours4487]

Nathan, as always, loved this video. Quick question: What do you use to hang your Speedlight from your belt (when not on a stand like in the video)? Thanks

[@blackhousemediaboise7131]

I am so confused on what to purchase for my trigger. I have a 1dxM2 and i have never used lights before. I purchased the AD200 and also have a yongnuo cheap light and dont know how to make them go off at the same time and also i dont understand which clicker to purchase....i feel like pulling my hair out...ugh

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

If you've never used light before then I'd recommend downloading my e-book on interior real estate photography, which covers all the basics for lights, triggers, and more. Here's a link if you'd like to check that out: amzn.to/3bszo6n

[@CJ-ly5sd]

Awesome video as always. You should become an amazon affiliate and put the links to all the gear below. I would have made you some extra income today! I'll just buy the book instead lol

[@keithshenkin3674]

Many thanks for this really helpful tutorial - fills in :) some of the details that put in your excellent book. More than anything, reassured me that I'm correct in sticking exclusively with Cactus triggers and not mix and matching with Godox triggers, If you''re saying that 3 lights is the maximum you'll need, then you're talking about 5 triggers maximum?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

6 triggers: 2 for Shutter release (tx and rx), one for each of the 3 lights (rx), and one as a transmitter on the camera (tx).

[@keithshenkin3674]

@@NathanCoolPhoto Thank you... calling B&H!

[@rockeraaj]

If you use a dumb trigger to trigger a handheld smart trigger, does that impose some sort of lag, shutter or otherwise? I'm thinking of carrying a Camranger (app on device) and the smart trigger (triggered by the on-camera dumb trigger) so I never have to run back to change settings.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

All wireless triggers impose a short delay, but negligible.

[@ahdiboumaraf8020]

hi and thank you for everything you're doing, why stay away from infrared trigger ?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Lights can be in other rooms, hidden by walls...same goes for the photog as you step through a house, hiding yourself from mirrors, window reflections, and hand-holding lights in far, overlapping rooms.

[@jbenedict100]

I have been searching all day trying to figure out why my Godox x2t flash trigger will not adjust the flash output of my Neewer N250W's. I can do everything else but that. Any ideas?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi John, sorry I can't help you there, but I don't think the Neewer N250 can have its power adjusted remotely by any trigger.

[@jbenedict100]

@@NathanCoolPhoto Thanks for responding. I think you're right. They're acting like dummy triggers.

[@mikeandmarynell]

My setup is Nikon D810, AD200, Nikon 910 flash. Do the "dumb" triggers have a model number? Based upon my setup, it seems I would need 5 "dumb" triggers (model ?), a wire shutter release, and a male to male. Is that right? Since the AD has a built in receiver, do I need a "dumb" trigger for it?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Mary, I break down all the various triggers and gear I use with links as well in my interiors e-book at www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4

[@hotwireman49]

my canon 80d has a TINY remote control terminal. I finally found the curly-q cord in my bag, but it doesn't fit the cactus trigger. Too small. I just got the 600 watt light and haven't messed with it yet or even connected it or the triggers, when suddenly I HAVE A SHOOT TOMORROW! FREAKING OUT. What connectors do i need to make this work? Why can't they just make everything the same size? lolol

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

You need a 3.5mm male connector on one end, and remote fitting on the other, like this: www.amazon.com/Vello-FreeWave-Shutter-Release-Cameras/dp/B00NLQ8H46/

[@eulogiomaldonadojr6774]

I have that same Benro gear Head. BEST INVESTMENT EVER!! Well Second to your book! lol

[@magicmmissy]

This might be a dumb question regarding the dumb trigger method, you explained how to take a picture without flash going off for the ambient shot but what about taking a picture with the flash. Camera shutter and flash are on 2 different channels. How do I get them both to go off? Thanks!

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Michelle, you may want to rewatch that section of this video, but I also show this step by step with more explanation in the interiors e-book, which I think would help you understand this better. See www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0755KXSL4

[@BigEasyTrucking]

Not a dumb question at all. I’ve watched the video, read the book, and have the exact same equipment. Transmitter and receiver to channel 4 with shutter release cable works just fine. If a trigger is placed on the hot shoe of the camera and set to TX, it won’t do anything unless I press the button on that trigger, which means my shutter won’t release. I’m just as confused.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

@@BigEasyTrucking Three things could be going on with your case: 1, the trigger in your hotshoe is not making contact with the hotshoe's contacts. This happens sometimes due to these dumb triggers being made from plastic, thus having sometimes-sloppy tolerances. Try a different trigger in the hotshoe and see how that goes. 2. The second problem could be that you have the hotshoe and flash triggers set to channel 1, which is a fire-all channel, and thus will fire flash prematurely when your shutter is released. 3. Make sure that the flash triggers and hotshoe triggers are set to the same channel, preferably channel 3 if you are using channel 4 on your shutter release.

[@BigEasyTrucking]

Nathan Cool Photo You were correct, at times the cactus triggers cease up my camera (Cannon 5D MK IV), or my Speedlite Newer for Canon. Resetting it on the hotshoe and turning everything off and back on did get the TX to transmit on a different channel. I then ran across that my speedlite flash was triggering before my shutter (wasn’t being captured). Further digging into blogs, I read that the Cactus triggers have a “blue group” channels 1-5 and a “white group” channels 6-12. This discussion was for Cactus V, but I gave it a go for my Cactus VI. Shutter release TX and RX on channel 2; speedlite and camera hotshoe TX and RX on channel 6. Worked like a champ and flash was then captured.

[@sylviastagg-giuliano6229]

Do you have a video on your favorite lenses?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

I don't but I cover it in e-books 1 and 3 in my REP series: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KPJ5QQ8?ref=series_rw_dp_labf

[@PatMcCandlessRE]

I just got my XPLOR600 today! I hooked up my dumb triggers (Yongnuo) and when I fire the shutter and light the light goes off before the shutter even has time to open. Do I need to set a delay on the XPLOR600? Didn't see you mention anything about that in the video.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Sounds like you have your channels set wrong on the triggers. If you are using the same channel on the flash triggers as you are on your shutter release triggers, then what you described will happen...firing the shutter will fire the flash at the same time, possibly slightly before.

[@PatMcCandlessRE]

Nathan Cool Photo ok so what is the correct way to set the channels? I thought they just all needed to be on the same channels to communicate with each other just as I do when using my speedlights. If you discuss this somewhere on the video I apologize!

[@PatMcCandlessRE]

Nathan Cool Photo I think I found it at 12:50ish! So I need 4 triggers total if I’m listening correctly?

[@PatMcCandlessRE]

Hmmm still not working. Maybe I need the Yongnuo sync cable instead of the 3mm?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Hi Patrick, it sounds like you should review the "Gear" section in the interiors book, which shows this in greater detail: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0755KXSL4/ref=series_dp_rw_ca_1

[@chrisaustin584]

I’m still confused. You can trigger the shutter but how do you trigger both the shutter and the flash remotely.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

These are separate setups: one is a shutter release, the other fired from the hot shoe. If you're not familiar with how to set that up then I'd suggest downloading my e-book on interior photography which delves into that in detail, along with other information I think you'll find useful. Here's a link if you'd like to check that out: amzn.to/3vkolnJ

[@ray_han_ls]

Well explained NC. Yet a bit complicated with a lot of channels and signals etc.

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Thanks! Complexity is the nature of the beast when it comes to triggers, which is why I keep it simple with dumb triggers ;)

[@kenstanford726]

“Cactus” is a name brand?

[@NathanCoolPhoto]

Yes, one of the larger manufacturers of triggers. I have links to the recommended triggers and other gear in my interiors e-book at www.amazon.com/dp/B0755KXSL4