This one goes out to all the studio shooters out there! There are certain pieces of gear that are used more often in the studio vs. on location.

There are also certain pieces of equipment that I think every studio photographer should at least have some experience using. Here is my list of the pieces of photo gear every studio photographer should own. 

Tether Tools Tether Kit

They are a staple in photo tethering for a reason, they work! They are coming out with some cool new products that mainly cater towards on-location shooters, but the tried and true in studio tethering kit is perfect for what we are talking about today. This setup has countless positive aspects to it.

It allows for everything from coaching your portrait clients through the shoot on a bigger monitor to instantly transferring the files from your camera to your computer’s hard drive. This kit is something I can’t shoot without, even if sometimes I just end up using it to check focus on a bigger screen.

Below is a list of the tethering gear I use in the studio to help make my shoots a breeze:

1. TetherPro USB 3.0 Extension Cable: https://www.tethertools.com/product/tetherpro-usb-3-0-superspeed-active-extension-cable/

2. TetherBoost Pro USB 3.0 Controller:

   https://www.tethertools.com/product/tetherboost-pro-core-controller/

3. 15-foot Tether Tools Tether Cable:

   https://www.tethertools.com/product/tetherpro-usb-c-to-usb-c/

4. Tether Tools Jerk Stopper:

   https://www.tethertools.com/product/jerkstopper-tethering-kit/

5. Apple 5K iMac:

   https://www.apple.com/imac/

6. Phase One’s Capture One Software:

   https://www.captureone.com/

This set of items makes tethering super easy and consistent. I have talked with many photographers who are using either third party cables or cables that are longer than 15 feet and are confused as to why their connection is dropping in and out. This further underlines the importance of using the proper equipment.

Tether Tools is certainly not the cheapest option, but they are certainly the highest quality I have tested. For that reason, I keep them in the studio. You can’t have a client waiting on you to figure out some sort of technical glitch you may be having with your tethering setup during a shoot.

The Tether Tools cables are only half of the tethering setup. The other half (possibly equally as important) part is the software you use. Those same photographers who are having issues with their computer dropping the camera connection during their shoots are the ones using Lightroom for tethering.

I’m not trying to talk down on Lightroom specifically, but it was not made with tethering in mind. Once I made the switch to Phase One’s Capture One, I felt the tethering burden lifted from my shoulders completely. Capture One is the industry standard on high production sets for a reason. It is super reliable, and tethering is super fast and stable!

Roller Stands

There is no need to break your back when it comes time to move stands around. I slowly converted my in-studio stands to roller stands over the course of about a year. My gear is now easier to move around the studio than ever. This is especially important when you start to use larger and heavier fixtures.

I am a firm believer in the idea of keeping everything quick and easy when changing setups throughout a shoot. If you have a portrait client waiting on you while you change lights around, it may not be a good look for your business. By having lights on rolling stands, you can also easily move things around in a way that doesn’t involve you making loud grunting noises while lifting.

You have many different options when it comes to choosing your roller stands. I have used most of the options on the market, and there really are not any bad ones.

They will all get the job done, but here are a few of my favorites:

1. Impact Folding Wheeled Base Roller Stand: https://bhpho.to/32UoFuf

This impact stand is a good (cheaper) option. I currently use four of these throughout my studio. They are super reliable and can’t really be beaten for the price. They come in two different height options. I admittedly only use and need the 8.5-foot tall version.

2. Impact Lowboy Steel Stand with Wheel and Combo Head: https://bhpho.to/2qlPIBA

This roller stand is great for those instances when you need a light close to the ground. This is also perfect for heavier lighting units that only junior support receiver stands. You can also always attach this adapter on the stand for a low angle stand to mount your camera onto.

3. Matthews Junior Steel Wheeled Stand: https://bhpho.to/2KxUh2G

This is a stand you can throw anything at! This is much beefier than the other stands mentioned above and can hold most any unit you want to use. It has a super stable wide wheelbase equipped with easy to use wheel locks.

If you need to hang a large backdrop, this is the stand for you, and because it can be raised up to be just under 13 feet tall, it certainly provides photographers with many creative options. Please note that if you are looking to use this stand with a light that requires a standard baby receiver, you will need this adapter (good to have some laying around the studio anyway).

4. Paper Background Wall Mount: https://bhpho.to/32RZVD6

I know some people may be in spaces that don’t allow for this type of installation, but for those who do, this is a game-changer. This product allows for you to mount up to three paper backgrounds onto your ceiling and removes the need for stands, therefore saving you precious studio space. There are a million different companies that make these types of mounts for studio use, some with different features than others, but they all do pretty much the same thing. There are even some fancy versions that allow for remote control use.

Using a background mounting system like this allows for more space in your studio (due to no stands needed) and is a simple and fast way to change background colors throughout your shoots.

Well, that is it! This is some of the gear every studio photographer should own. All these items are on the list because they make your life in the studio easier and your client's experience better. Feel free to reach out to me if you need any further information on my experience using these products, as I want to make sure everyone has everything they need.

About the author

Matthew Hamilton is a headshot photographer with a studio located in Philadelphia, PA. He works with actors and business professionals everyday on all the images they need to build their personal brand. His headshot and portrait work can be found on his website https://mhamiltonvisuals.com