Tethering means connecting your camera directly to a computer or tablet while you shoot, so each frame appears on the larger screen the moment it is captured. Instead of squinting at the small rear LCD, you review images at full size almost instantly, which is why tethered shooting is standard in studio, product, fashion, and still life work where precision matters.
The connection is usually a USB cable running from the camera to the computer, though many modern cameras also tether wirelessly. Software such as Capture One or Lightroom receives the images, displays them as they arrive, and in most cases can drive the camera remotely, letting you change aperture, shutter speed, and ISO from the keyboard without touching the body.
The advantages are mostly about judgment and collaboration. Reviewing on a large, calibrated screen makes it far easier to confirm critical focus, check composition, and spot lighting or styling problems while you can still fix them, rather than discovering them later. A client or art director can watch the shoot live and approve frames on the spot, and files save straight to the computer as a backup the instant they are taken.
Tethering also streamlines color and workflow. You can apply a custom white balance from a gray card reference at the start and see every subsequent frame rendered correctly, and shots flow directly into the editing catalog ready for retouching. For repeatable product work, a fixed tethered setup lets you compare each frame against the last with perfect consistency.
The trade-offs are practical. A cable tethers you physically to the computer and can be a trip hazard or pull on the camera, so tethering suits a controlled set far better than fast or mobile shooting. Wireless tethering removes the cable but can be slower and less reliable, especially with large RAW files. For studio photographers, though, the speed of feedback usually outweighs the setup, and many will not shoot a paid product or portrait job any other way.
In practice a tethered setup is built once and reused. Connect a USB cable long enough to give the subject room, or use a dedicated tether port and an active cable for longer runs, then launch capture in your software and shoot. The screen becomes a live contact sheet you can zoom into for critical focus, which is invaluable for macro and focus-stacked product work where a millimetre of drift is invisible on the camera back. Many photographers lock the camera on a tripod and overlay each new frame on the last to catch a nudged prop or a blink instantly. Wireless tethering frees you from the cable but is slower with large raw files, so wired remains the studio default when speed and reliability matter.