Backup and Editing
Greg Maxson
Photographers have been using Apple's tablet for viewing and sharing photos since it came out, but the device can also be a useful tool for enhancing shoots in the studio and on location. With the right apps and, in some cases, a few additional accessories, the iPad can work as a remote for setting up shots, an easy-tomaneuver light source, a second screen for editing, and more.
LIGHTS AND PROMPTS
For stills and video in the studio, install SoftBox Pro ($3 on iTunes), which transforms your iPad into an adjustable-brightness soft-light source. Using a Wallee Connect Kit ($119), mount and position the iPad on a Manfrotto Magic Arm and Super Clamp kit ($114), an adjustable extension that connects to a leg of a tripod. If your DSLR records video, use your iPad as a teleprompter with the ProPrompter app ($10) and this same tripod configuration. You can mount the iPad directly below or beside the camera lens, or create a true studio-style mirror teleprompter.
REMOTE CONTROL
Remote camera setups usually require photographers to remain stuck in front of a laptop to compose shots. Using an iPad loaded with the DSLR Camera Remote HD app ($50), shooters can stay mobile while previewing photos, adjusting camera settings, and snapping pictures. The tablet connects wirelessly to a laptop running DSLR Camera Remote Server software (free), which is hooked up to your Nikon or Canon DSLR via a wireless transmitter. If you don't have a wireless transmitter, you can connect the camera to the laptop using a long USB cable.
BACKUP AND EDITING
For a super-portable way to quickly back up and preview photographs, install an Eye-Fi memory card ($50 to $100) in your camera to wirelessly transmit them to your iPad. When you need to edit your shots on the go and want more screen space than a laptop can provide, download MaxiVista ($10). The app extends a Windows laptop screen onto an iPad so the two devices can act as a single large display.