ShutterSnitch, Eye-Fi, and MyWi

Rob Galbraith wrote an excellent article regarding iPad tethering. Tethering allows me to use a much larger and more color accurate screen to review my images. The LCDs on the back of cameras are wonderful, but it is hard to analyze your photographs on such a small screen. Using an iPad (or iPhone/iPod touch) to get around this limitation has proved to be amazing on photoshoots. It has become an integral part of my equipment that I bring to each shoot.

Having the photos on my iPhone has also proven to be very useful when talking to prospective models, giving art directors greater input during a shoot, asking property owners for permission to use their building/land for a photoshoot, etc.

The basic premise revolves around 4 parts:

• ShutterSnitch: This program runs on any Apple iOS device (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch). It receives photos from your wireless transmitter and displays the photo within a few seconds. On average, it takes about 4 seconds to transmit a photo to my iPhone.
  
• Wireless transmitter: An Eye-Fi card or dedicated wireless transmitter. The Eye-Fi card syncs well with ShutterSnitch, but it may or may not play well with your camera. Check this page on Rob Galbraith's review to see what is recommended for your camera. Canon and Nikon also make wireless transmitters which offer more versatility and throughput, but are significantly more expensive.
  
• Wi-Fi network: Due to shooting on location, I require a wireless router. There are many battery powered options, but I have chosen to go with a program called MyWi. Unfortunately, this program is not on the App Store, but it is on Cydia. If you wish to use this program, you will have to jailbreak your iOS device. It allows me to create an ad-hoc WiFi hotspot, and also enables USB tethering.
• Display: Any iOS device. An iPad is the ideal solution, but an iPhone or iPod touch will work as well. I currently use an iPhone, but have been lusting after an iPad to analyze my photos on a much larger screen.

This combination has been fantastic for me. I was initially worried about the iPhone's battery life, but after using it in 30-35 degree weather for 3 hours, the battery life only dropped 40%. If you happen to use MyWi, and leave it on constantly during the shoot, make sure to change the transmit power to the lowest setting (30%). At the highest setting (80%), it does go through your battery life at a much faster rate.

Below are two screenshots of ShutterSnitch in action. The first photo shows image preview, while the second shows the UI with three photos that I have selected.