Many DSLR cameras now offer the option of capturing raw photos whilst the camera is connected to a computer. Some photographers would never need, nor see the benefits of, shooting in this fashion as in their chosen area of speciality the added burden of dragging around a laptop computer as well as all their camera gear is a complication that they can do well without. But for studio, product, architectural, commercial and even some landscape photographers, the ability to preview, and even process, the photos captured almost immediately on a large screen is too good to miss.

The utility software that comes bundled with most mid- to high-end DSLR cameras and medium format camera backs does an admirable job of providing the required software link between camera and computer. For instance, the Sony α700 is supplied with the company’s own Remote Camera Control software and the physical connection is provided via a USB connection.

The ‘remote capture’ software supplied by the camera companies ranges from something as simple a dialogue containing a shutter release button right up to a full control panel that allows focus, metering, drive and exposure control right from your desktop. For some lucky shooters the remote capture software links directly to their processing program providing seamless integration between capture and enhancement. The rest of us have to be content with the previews that are provided by the capture software only seeing the processed result when we are back in the studio. Or do we?

Both Lightroom and Aperture provide the ability to use a ‘Hot’ or ‘Watched’ folder system to automatically import photos into their libraries. If the nominated watched folder is the same as the one that your camera software is using to deposit the remotely captured photos then ‘hey presto!’, you now have a way of capturing and processing in the one action. In fact in version 2.0 of Aperture, Apple has even included a simple shutter release utility for some camera models that saves you having to boot up your camera’s remote capture software.

There are several advantages for this type of set up:

• You can review images on a larger, higher resolution screen at the time of shooting
• Critical exposures can be checked closely using histograms derived from the full high bit Raw image data rather than a processed Jpeg, as is the case with most back of camera histograms, and
• It is possible to apply some post-capture processing to the images immediately to display the style of the treatment that will be applied to the final photos. This is a great way to show a client how the images will look seconds after they are shot

Sounds great! Well, let’s look at the steps involved in setting up a typical tethered system complete with immediate cataloguing and post capture processing.

Step 01: Install camera drivers

Before connecting the camera ensure that you have installed any camera drivers that were supplied with the unit. These small pieces of software ensure clear communication between the camera and computer and are usually installed along with other utility programs such as a dedicated browser (Sony’s Image Data Suite), camera-based raw conversion software and shutter release program (Sony’s Remote Camera Control). Follow any on-screen installation instructions and, if necessary, reboot the computer to initialize the new drivers.

Step 02: Connect the camera

The next step is to connect the camera to the computer via the USB cable. Make sure that your camera is switched off, and the computer on, when plugging in the cables. For the best connection and the least chance of trouble it is a good idea to connect the camera directly to a computer USB/Firewire port rather than a hub.

Step 03: Check the connection

With the cables securely fastened switch the camera on and, if needed, change to the PC connection mode. Most cameras have two connection modes – one that uses the camera as a card reader (often called ‘Mass Storage’ mode) and another that connects the device as a camera (generally referred to as ‘PTP’ mode but sometimes also called Remote PC mode). The remote capture software will work with one of these modes only. Most cameras no longer require a change from the mode that is selected by default but check with your camera manual just in case. If the drivers are installed correctly the computer should report that the camera has been found and the connection is now active and a connection symbol (such as PC) will be displayed on the camera. If the computer can’t find the camera try reinstalling the drivers and, if all else fails, consult the troubleshooting section in the manual. To ensure a continuous connection use newly recharged batteries or an AC adaptor.

Step 04: Start the remote shooting software

With the connection established you can now start the shutter release software (Sony’s Remote Camera Control). With some models the action of connecting the camera will automatically activate the software. In other cases it will be necessary to start the software and wait for the program to locate the attached camera.

Most versions of these utilities provide more than just a means of releasing the shutter from the computer and instantly (well nearly, it does take a couple of seconds to transfer big capture files) viewing captured photos. They contain options to set most camera functions as well. This can include items such as shutter speed, ISO, aperture, capture format, contrast, saturation and white balance controls.

Step 05: Set download options

With all these settings to play with where do you start? Start by adjusting the download options. The four big settings are:

• •   Where the files are to be transferred to,
• •   How they are to be labelled,
• •   What metadata is to be added to the files during this process, and
• •   What happens to the file once it is transferred.

The availability of many of these options will be based on the software you are using. Don’t worry if naming and metadata options are available these can be added during import into the image management/editing program (Lightroom or Aperture).

It is a good idea to create a new folder or directory for each shooting session and to nominate this as the place to download the captured files. Now select a naming scheme that provides enough information to allow easy searching later. This may mean a title that includes date and name of shoot or subject as well as a sequence number. In terms of additional metadata at the very least you should always attach a copyright statement as well as any pertinent keywords that describe the subject.

Finally you need to nominate what happens to the captured files. Most users will want to transfer the pictures directly to a preview utility such as one of the browser programs or alternatively if you want to process the photo on the spot you could pass the file directly to a raw converter. In our case we will set the download folder as the Hot or Watched folder for Lightroom’s Auto Import function.

Step 06: Viewing file thumbnails in the watched folder

Vista users who can’t see thumbnails for their raw files will need to install the CODEC for the camera that he or she uses before the images are displayed in the system folders or directories. Search your camera manufacturer’s website for Vista Codec and then follow the instructions for installing the file.

Step 07: Setting up the watched folder

Now that the camera is connected and the remote capture software and download folder organized, let’s turn our attention to the automatic cataloguing of the captured photos.  Select the Auto Import > Auto Import Settings option from the File menu. Use the Browse button next to the Watched Folder entry to locate and select the download folder created in step 5. At the same time you can choose the Destination folder and the folder’s name. The destination folder is the place where the images are transferred to during the auto import process.

Step 08: Adding metadata, keywords and naming the files

There are also options for automatically adding metadata and keywords to the files as they are importing. For best results create a metadata template with the Edit Presets option under the Metadata drop down menu. Here you can include photographer’s name, website and contact details as well as a general copyright statement. It is also good practice to add in general client or shoot details at this point as well.

Next pick some key words that relate to the shoot. This might include the client’s name, the location, the model and or the shooting session. These are added to the keywords section and separated by a comma. Lastly choose a naming scheme for the files. Many photographers like to have a unique name for each of their files. A method for doing this combines the photographer’s name, a reverse date (e.g. year-month-day) and an image sequence number (e.g. 001).

Step 09: Set the viewing folder and create a develop preset

Now select the Auto Import Photos folder (Destination folder from step 7) in the Folders pane on the right side of Library workspace in Lightroom. This will set the program to automatically display the images as they are imported.

Take a few test shots of the subject and then using the enhance features in Lightroom’s Develop module, make some general global changes to the photo that reflect the style of treatment that all the photos from the shoot will receive. These enhancements might be as simple as a white balance tweak or as complex as the creation of a subtle split tone monochrome.

Save these changes as a development preset. This will be used to ‘style’ your photos as they are being auto imported into the library.

Step 10: Add the new Develop preset to the import settings

To add the newly created develop preset to the import process, reopen the Auto Import Settings (File > Auto Import > Auto Import Settings). Select the new entry from the Develop Settings menu and click OK.

To start Lightroom looking for photos in the watched folder, select the Enable Auto Import option from the File > Auto Import menu. Now when the captured file is being imported from the download folder, the photo will be processed, renamed, keywords added and a metadata template applied. All automatically. Cool!.

Step 11:  Compose, focus and release the shutter

Now the nuts and bolts of the capture. Most remote capture systems don’t offer a live preview feature via the laptop screen so composing and framing is still a through the viewfinder and lens event. Some photographers adopt a shoot and review policy, preferring to shoot a couple of test images and review these full size on their computer screens to check composition, focus and even exposure. Once you are happy with all your settings you can release the shutter and automatically transfer the file from camera to computer.

Step 12: Disconnecting the camera

Before turning the camera off or disconnecting the cable make sure that any transfer of information or images is complete. Mac users can drag the camera volume from the desktop to the trash. Windows users should click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the system tray (bottom right of the screen) and select Safely Remove Mass Storage Device from the pop-up menu that appears.