Aperture tutoral: How to use tethered shooting on your Mac

There are many good reasons for shooting straight into your computer. You get to see your image at full size, on a large screen. This is far better than using a tiny LCD viewfinder. You can recompose shots as you go, and keep shooting until you get exactly what you want. Not all cameras work with tethering, so you may need to check the Apple website to see if yours does, but if you’re lucky, this is one of the best ways to shoot. Be warned, your camera won’t record anything to its card, so what’s on your computer is all you have. Tethered shooting is ideal for small studios and close-ups, but it also works with a laptop, making it ideal for detailed landscape shots, time-lapse effects and long exposures. To start with, set up a shot close to your main computer, and once you’ve perfected the technique, begin to experiment.

Step 1: Set up space

In Aperture go to File>New>Project, name it, then hit OK. Set up your camera close enough to the computer so your USB cable will reach.

Step 2: Start session

When you’re ready to shoot, connect your USB cable to the camera, then the computer, and switch on your camera. Go to File>Tether>Start Session.

Step 3: Tether Settings

In the Tether Settings there are many things that can be changed, or you can just start a session. It’s wise to set Store Files to In the Aperture Library.

Step 4: Customise name

Change Version Name to Custom Name with Index, and type a name. Add Metadata, like your name, to the empty fields. Check the Show HUD box.

Step 5: Select camera

Click Start Session in the bottom- right, and the HUD (heads-up display) will appear. Select your camera from the Camera drop-down at the top of the HUD.

Step 6: Capture images

Click Capture, and your camera will take a picture. Moments later it will appear in Aperture. Keep clicking Capture until you’ve got what you need.

Step 7: Check as you go

Double-click an image to see it full size, and click on the Loupe to examine details close-up. Click Browser in the top-right to go back.

Step 8: Reframing

Reframe the shot and keep pressing Capture until you get exactly what you want. Click on the Loupe to examine details in images without expanding them.

 

Step 9: Stop Session

When you have everything you need, click Stop Session. If you need to disconnect and start a new session, images will still be captured to this project.

(Click on the image below to zoom in and view the annotations)