Useful apps for the photographer
Your Photographic Helper
Photographers are always looking for accessories to help their photography. However there is one item that most already have, but possibly overlook. I'm talking about the smartphones and tablets that have become part of our everyday life. Most of these have built in cameras some of which are of a high spec, but in this case we are not looking at the photographic capabilities, or the dozens of apps connected with taking and editing those photos, instead I will look at apps that can help you with your general photography.
There are a wealth of apps that are specifically produced with a photographer in mind, or which can be used to help with photography. Every persons requirements are going to be different so I'd encourage you to see what apps are available, will suit you best and be most helpful. For example there are numerous apps that help calculating exposures, depth of field, flash compensation etc. After decades doing photography many of these are second nature to me and I can do them in my head, however for someone starting out they could be a god send.
So lets have a look at some of the apps that reside on my smartphone and Ipad...
Photo Tools
Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=be.hcpl.android.phototools
There are a number of apps similar to this available, however I settled on this one as it has a large number of useful (and some not so useful) tools all rolled into the one app. Amongst the included features are such things as...
There are a number of apps similar to this available, however I settled on this one as it has a large number of useful (and some not so useful) tools all rolled into the one app. Amongst the included features are such things as...
- Calculators for DOF, Field of view, Flash exposure, & various others
- Sun/Moon rise-set times and positions for locations
- Check Lists
- Time lapse calculators, times, stopwatch
Magic Canon Viewfinder
Android Canon (Nikon available)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kadru.canonuniversalviewfinder
An app I found and installed just to try out. I must admit I did not think I would have much use for it. In general I was right, however there have been some instances where it has proved very useful. The app uses the camera in the phone or tablet to display the field of view equivalent to a selected lens focal length. On several occasions (mainly at night) I have found it far easier to use this app to check I was in position to get the view I wished, rather than get the camera the camera out and set up.
An app I found and installed just to try out. I must admit I did not think I would have much use for it. In general I was right, however there have been some instances where it has proved very useful. The app uses the camera in the phone or tablet to display the field of view equivalent to a selected lens focal length. On several occasions (mainly at night) I have found it far easier to use this app to check I was in position to get the view I wished, rather than get the camera the camera out and set up.
DSLR Controller
Android Canon only
DSLR Controller is currently only available for Canon
Cameras and on Android devices. If you use both of these though it is well
worth a look. As the name suggests it allows control of your camera via your
phone or tablet. It links via a lead (although it can work wirelessly with some
extra kit) to the cameras USB port and at its simplest works as a remote
shutter release. However it is capable of far more than just that! Using live
view it allows you to view the image on the android device! No more hands and
knees to view low shots, tip toes for high ones. Now you can put the camera
where you want and view and control it from comfort. Pretty much all camera
settings are controllable via the link, from ISO, shutter, aperture, to
metering, compensation, and even file settings. Focus can be simply a matter of
tapping on screen the area you want in focus, and once taken a RAW version of
the picture is displayed along with selectable histograms and EXIF data. All
very useful should you wish to place your camera somewhere unusual and still be
able to control it.
Photographers Contract Maker
Android, iOS
For the professional or even serious amateur, contracts can
be a very important aspect of their work, and this app brings the ability to
produce and sign them to your tablet or phone. It comes with a selection of pre
made templates for standard contracts, however most users will probably wish to
adapt them or start from scratch. Doing so is easy with the ability to add your
logo, signature, as well as a variety of custom fields, like selectable lists,
etc. You can have a number of different templates like wedding contracts, model
releases, 2nd shooter contracts, all stored on your device. Producing a
contract is simply a matter of selecting one of the templates and answering
questions or selecting from lists to fill in the variable fields. Client
information can be filled in manually or pulled from the devices contacts list.
The contract can now be viewed but is still totally editable allowing
amendments or additions to be made. Once finished the client can add their
signature using the devices touch screen. This is added to the document and a
PDF version is sent to both yours and the clients email address, as well as
being stored on the device.
Xtrafolio
iOS
Nothing in my opinion beats a portfolio of printed
photographs! The bigger the better! However it's often impractical to use a
large portfolio, and certainly not something your likely to have on you for an
unexpected showing. Enter the tablet (and to a lesser extent the phone). Whilst
the generic gallery apps are ok, a dedicated portfolio app adds more finesse
to your presentation. After looking at various apps I settled on
Xtrafolio for my iPad (I've still not found an Android app I'm totally happy
with). It supports different albums within a portfolio which can be turned on
or off allowing customisation for each client you show. They can be set up in a
range of different styles with items such as font etc being customisable.
Additional pages such as extra info, about pages and more can also be added.
Should I require it, there is also the ability to add video and a background
track. (update) This app seems to have gone from the app store, however there
are several similar apps available.
Dropbox
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac
https://www.dropbox.com/
For those not familiar with it, Dropbox is a cloud based storage system for computer data. In its free form it allows up to 2gb of storage which can be expanded via various paid subscriptions. The available space can be used however you wish, for example making backups. However it's the ability to access the data in an account by logging in on any computer or device that I find the most useful. It makes transferring files between devices easy, for example I use output presets in my desktop Lightroom to output images to various directories in my Dropbox account. I can then access them with my iPad and download them onto it. There are a number of similar services, however none seem to have as much software integration as Dropbox with many apps and programs supporting it internally. The aforementioned Xtrafolio allows you to sync with a Dropbox directory. It makes adding a picture to my portfolio as simple as outputting it from Lightroom to the required directory in Dropbox, then selecting sync in Xtrafolio. It is also helpful in sharing images with clients and models, as once uploaded into a Dropbox directory, that directory can be shared by way of a URL. Send that to the person and they will be able to view and download the contents of the directory. It overcomes possible email size problems and lengthy downloads as they can view and take just what they wish.
For those not familiar with it, Dropbox is a cloud based storage system for computer data. In its free form it allows up to 2gb of storage which can be expanded via various paid subscriptions. The available space can be used however you wish, for example making backups. However it's the ability to access the data in an account by logging in on any computer or device that I find the most useful. It makes transferring files between devices easy, for example I use output presets in my desktop Lightroom to output images to various directories in my Dropbox account. I can then access them with my iPad and download them onto it. There are a number of similar services, however none seem to have as much software integration as Dropbox with many apps and programs supporting it internally. The aforementioned Xtrafolio allows you to sync with a Dropbox directory. It makes adding a picture to my portfolio as simple as outputting it from Lightroom to the required directory in Dropbox, then selecting sync in Xtrafolio. It is also helpful in sharing images with clients and models, as once uploaded into a Dropbox directory, that directory can be shared by way of a URL. Send that to the person and they will be able to view and download the contents of the directory. It overcomes possible email size problems and lengthy downloads as they can view and take just what they wish.
Evernote
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac
https://evernote.com/
By far the most useful app I use in connection with my photography is Evernote. Like Dropbox, this is a cloud based system, but this one is for storing and keeping track of the various information that we come across in our daily lives. It's based around multiple notebooks into which we can store all sorts of notes, links, pictures, audio, web clips, etc. Notebooks can even be grouped together within another notebook, and it is all searchable with tags, or within the notes themselves. Being stored on line allows all your info to be accessed from any computer or device and changes you make are automatically synced back to the cloud. Upload limits start at 1gb/month for a free account, with bigger upload limits and more features for paid ones. I have various notebooks and collections for my personal stuff, but I keep all my photographic info in a single collection of notebooks. It contains dozens of notebooks each containing notes on a specific subject. Examples include.....
By far the most useful app I use in connection with my photography is Evernote. Like Dropbox, this is a cloud based system, but this one is for storing and keeping track of the various information that we come across in our daily lives. It's based around multiple notebooks into which we can store all sorts of notes, links, pictures, audio, web clips, etc. Notebooks can even be grouped together within another notebook, and it is all searchable with tags, or within the notes themselves. Being stored on line allows all your info to be accessed from any computer or device and changes you make are automatically synced back to the cloud. Upload limits start at 1gb/month for a free account, with bigger upload limits and more features for paid ones. I have various notebooks and collections for my personal stuff, but I keep all my photographic info in a single collection of notebooks. It contains dozens of notebooks each containing notes on a specific subject. Examples include.....
- Manuals. PDF versions of camera & other manuals always available
- Locations. Notes and pictures etc about locations. Snaps taken with a camera phone can contain GPS data & displayed on a map.
- Model Releases
- Contracts
- Ideas for photographs
- Bills. Directly from emails etc or scanned in
- Techniques. Clipped from web sites
- Interesting web articles.
- Equipment Details. Serial numbers, sizes, batteries etc
- Blog Ideas
- Correspondence
Evernote also integrates well with many other programs, for example most of the main web browsers have plugins available. Its great having everything organised in in the same place rather than having to search various directories for that interesting article. Add to that the fact that the information can be available when and where you need it, makes it so useful.
Other Apps
These are some of the apps I use and having such a wealth of information and power available in my pocket can be very helpful. There are many other apps available, some possibly better, or more suited to the type of work you do. It would be most interesting to hear of any you use or feel should be considered. Please feel free to comment.
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