Wireless tethering vs the SD-card workflow
Shoot-then-import, or deliver live as you shoot? Here's how the classic SD-card workflow stacks up against wireless tethering.
The SD-card workflow
Shoot to the card, get home or back to the studio, pull the card, import, cull, then upload and deliver. It's simple and needs no connectivity — but everything happens after the shoot, the only copy lives on one card until you import, and clients wait hours or days.
Wireless tethering to the cloud
Tether the camera to your phone and every shot uploads as you press the shutter — backed up off-card immediately and delivered to the cloud or a client gallery in real time. The trade-off is you need a connection (mobile data is fine) and the app open while you shoot.
Which should you use?
For personal or unhurried work, the SD-card workflow is perfectly fine. For paid jobs — weddings, events, sports, press — the instant backup and live delivery of tethering is a genuine advantage: no single point of failure, and clients see selects while the moment's still warm. Many pros do both: tether for delivery, keep the card as a second copy.
FAQ
Is tethering better than using an SD card?
They're complementary. The card is still a great second copy; tethering adds instant off-card backup and real-time delivery. For paid work the live backup is a big risk-reducer.
Do I lose the SD-card copy if I tether?
No — your camera still records to the card as normal. Tethering simply adds a live upload on top, so you end up with both.
Tether your camera to the cloud with CloudTether
Deliver every shot to the cloud or a client gallery, live as you shoot — no laptop.