You take a picture and you want it on the laptop right away. Big, sharp, where you and the client can actually see it. Not after the shoot, not after pulling the card. The word for this is tethering, and it's how every commercial set I've worked on since 2011 runs.
How it works
The camera sends each file straight to your Mac while you shoot. The software shows it full screen the moment it lands. You can zoom to 100% to check focus, compare frames side by side, and keep the card as a backup. Most tethering apps also let you fire the camera and change settings from the computer.
Set it up in 3 steps
- Connect. USB-C data cable from camera to Mac, no hub. Or WiFi if your camera supports it.
- Set the camera's USB mode. Sony: Remote Shooting. Canon: PTP. Nikon: MTP/PTP. Fujifilm: USB Tether Shooting Auto. Panasonic: PC(Tether). Exact menus in how to tether a camera to a Mac.
- Open the software and shoot. In TETHER STUDIO the camera appears in the header in a couple of seconds. Press the shutter and the photo fills the screen.
Make every frame land already edited
TETHER STUDIO is also a RAW editor. Set white balance, exposure, curves and color on one frame, turn on Sync to new captures, and every shot after that arrives on screen with the same look. Clients see the final mood, not a flat RAW.
Showing clients, or a TV or projector
Plug the Mac into a TV or projector and use a full-screen view. TETHER STUDIO has a Client View for exactly this: clean full-screen images, no menus, no clutter. Art directors can mark up frames with pens, arrows and pins in Art Director Mode. On headshot days and events, people seeing themselves on a big screen changes the whole energy in the room.
Why not just use AirDrop or the camera's phone app?
Phone apps send small JPEG previews to a phone, slowly. AirDrop means stopping after every shot. Tethering sends the full RAW file to a real screen while you keep shooting.
Frequently asked
How can I see my photos on my computer while I am shooting?
Tether the camera to the computer with a USB cable or WiFi and use tethering software. Each photo appears on the computer screen about 2 to 3 seconds after you take it. TETHER STUDIO does this on Mac for 2,900+ cameras.
Can I show photos on a TV while I shoot?
Yes. Tether the camera to a Mac, connect the Mac to the TV or projector, and use a full-screen view such as TETHER STUDIO Client View.
Does this work with RAW files?
Yes. Tethering transfers the full RAW file (and JPEG if you shoot RAW+JPEG) to the computer, unlike phone apps that send small previews.