Dean Shanson over at the Photopreneur Blog recently sent me a list of questions on how I use the iPad in my photography work. Dean did a good job of highlighting the pros and cons of my answers. See the article: The iPad for Photographers. Not long after he posted the article, I received a couple of emails asking for a detail list of my uses and apps.

What I have and How I use it:

I use the 3G/WIFI 32gb version of the iPad. I currently have 200 songs, 22 videos, 813 photos and 84 applications installed. 15.9gb of 29gb space available.

The iPad has become much more useful than I expected when I purchased it. I use it in several ways:

• A portfolio of my work to include a running slideshow when that is appropriate.
• A visual posing example book for clients and models.
• Property releases.
• Model releases.
• Remote camera control.
• Music at a shoot with small external speakers.
• Show image collage videos I produce.
• Educational videos to watch when waiting or traveling.
• Educational books to read when waiting or traveling.
• Sunrise/Sunset information and direction when in a new area.
• Find locations when traveling.
• Take notes on shoots and locations.
• Find nearby food, gas or shopping.
• Give the MUA/Stylist something to play with when I’m shooting.
• Give me something to do (games, email, surfing, etc) when waiting on the model to finish ‘getting ready’.
• As a prop within the shoot.
• Checking the weather.
• Taking credit card payments.

Apps I use now:

Built-in apps I use aside from browser, email and calendar;

• Videos
• Photos (very nice slide show feature too)
• iPod
• Notes
• iBooks

Third party apps:

• Maps (Locations and directions)
• Easy Release (Model and Property)
• Portfolio to Go (links to Flickr)
• Square (Credit Card payments –iPad version has a couple of features the iPhone does not)
• YellowPages (finding nearby resources)
• Weatherbug (weather – current and forecast)
• MyRadar (weather)
• PS Express (for a quick edit/adjustment)
• Sunlight Tracker (Sunrise/set)
• Loc Scout (Locations)
• DSL Remote (to control camera; not used much – but it does work

How I get a model release signed and emailed using the iPad?

I use Easy Release which is great at want it does; the process below is a limitation of the first generation iPad and not Easy Release.

Easy release sample

This is a bit cumbersome but here’s how I do it.

• Take a iPhone picture of model or property.
• Email it to myself.
• Give model iPad to fill in their information
• Get to photo screen
• Open email on the iPad
• Save image to photoroll
• Open Easy Release and select the image

This process works but it ain’t pretty. The new iPad 2 with a built in camera will solve this problem.

iPad for editing – nope.

A complaint I hear often but makes no sense to me.

I have a desktop and a couple of laptops for post processing and other than a quick and dirty crop or adjustment of a photograph I don’t even attempt to do a serious edit with the iPad. If I think I’ll need to do on site editing I bring a laptop.

Advice for other photographers thinking of using the iPad in their photography?

Think it through; how will it assist your photography in a way that makes sense and works for you? Don’t get it just because you can. Technology is not a replacement for basic business or photography skills.

IF you decide to get it spend the extra money for the 3G/WIFI version – WIFI only is useless in the field.

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