Tethered photography and iPads are naturally suited to work well together. Besides the obvious perks of a better client collaboration and streamlined workflow, iPads also connect photographers to an expanding world of applications specifically designed to improve photography. But in that expanding world of applications, it is easy to get lost in the process and download second-rate apps. Here are our thoughts on some popular iPad apps for photographers:
- Photosmith for Lightroom 3: If you’re looking for a one-stop application where you can upload, edit, organize, and showcase your work, Photosmith for Lightroom 3 is a no-brainer. This app does it all, from non-destructive, state-of-the-art editing, to rating, assigning metadata, filtering, online uploading, and publishing of your images. PhotoSmith allows you to sync images between your computer and iPad, and view full 1:1 zoom of up to 21 Megapixel RAW images. And it is compatible with Photoshop and Adobe image products.
- Capture Pilot: A product from Capture One, Capture Pilot is designed to enhance the experience of both photographer and client. It instantly uploads images from your camera to the iOS device, where it is displayed in high-resolution for better quality viewing. While using Capture Pilot, both you and your subject have access to view, scan, zoom and scroll through high-res images. You also can rate and tag favored photos for instant feedback.
- Adobe Photoshop Express: The iPad-friendly counterpart to the desktop version of Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Express lets you edit images you’ve downloaded from your camera or the web. Once you’ve edited the image, you can re-upload it to your professional, personal or social media site. This application lets you perform basic functions like cropping, brightening, reducing red eye and more.
- Filterstorm: Named the “Best App Ever” by Apple in 2010, Filterstorm has a first-class reputation as top-of-the-line editing software for the iPad. Now, with the recent release of the Filterstorm Pro, editing capabilities of the original application have been modernized and improved. It has a built-in library where you can select, rate, edit, add metadata and even publish photos; expanded RAW file support; more FTP delivery points; and evolved image editing features, including brushes, gradients, color replacement, and vignette tools.
