How to iPad Like a Pro
Productivity tips for enthusiast photographers
Thanks to the iPad and fantastic mobile photography apps like Photomator and Nitro, photographers can produce top-notch work while relaxing in a coffee shop or flying to their next destination.
Cloud connectivity and storage can sometimes dampen the party. Lightroom Mobile, for example is tied to an Adobe Creative Cloud account where the more you use, the more you pay. Fortunately both Photomator and Nitro can work from both Apple’s iCloud when convenient, but with the Files app when desired. The latter is the focus of this newsletter.
The Files app in iOS is often overlooked. But it’s powerful and enables you to connect USB-C accessories to the iPad. Through Files, photographers can upload images from a camera SD card, browse files on a flash drive, and even backup their work to another device while on the road.
Here are two power user examples of combining the Files app with your photography.
On the Road Backup with the Acer USB-C Card Reader
I recommended the Acer USB-C Card Reader ($18) because it's compact, has two card slots (SD UHS II and micro SD), and works great with all my devices. Not only can it copy pictures from my camera's memory card to the iPad, iPhone, or laptop, but it can also serve as an ultra-nimble backup device.
The key is that the two card slots can be used simultaneously. On the iPhone and iPad, this functionality can be tapped to backup your camera's memory card to a secondary memory card for safe keeping.
The most common scenario will be copying pictures from your SD card to a micro SD card via the files app. Here are the steps.
Remove the camera's SD card and insert it into the Acer.
Insert a micro SD card into the second slot of the Acer.
Attach the card reader to your iPad or iPhone.
Open the Files app.
Note the two cards under Locations in the left-side column.
Tap on the camera's SD card to display its contents.
Navigate to the folder containing your pictures.
Tap on Select in the top nav bar.
Tap on the folder you want to copy. A blue checkmark should appear on that folder.
Tap on Move in the bottom nav bar.
Navigate to the backup micro SD card.
Once you're in the location you want, tap Copy in the top nav bar.
You can monitor the transfer progress via the round status indicator in the top nav bar next to Select. Do not interrupt this process until all the files have been copied.
Once the process has been completed, you can safely remove the Acer card reader from the device.
The Files app gives you the flexibility to create folders on your backup card. You can also rename existing folders, and the card itself! So you can organize it for easy retrieval once you return home.
Keep the backup card in a separate location than your camera SD card. This will enhance the security of your archive.
Expand Device Memory with a USB-C Drive
Since both Photomator and Nitro support Apple Files, you can plug-in a USB-C flash drive to your device and edit photos on it. You can save those changes back to the image on the external drive. And you can organize the files on the flash drive to keep things straight.
I like the Samsung Type-C 256GB USB Flash Drive ($27). It transfers 4GB files in just 11 seconds with up to 400MB/s USB 3.13 read speeds and is backward compatible with USB 3.0/2.0. It's the perfect partner for the iPad.
256GBs provide plenty of room for your on-the-go photo library. Organize the folders to your liking, then browse them from within Photomator or Nitro in "Files" mode. Edit to your heart's content, and all the changes are saved back to the Samsung drive. You don't have to worry about Cloud storage limits or running out of room on the device itself.
Final Thoughts
As photographers, we will always need our laptops and desktop computers. But we no longer have to lug them with us on the road. With a few inexpensive accessories, we can build a robust workflow with tools that weigh ounces, not pounds.
Don’t forget an extra battery or 3 as the iPad battery is certainly nowhere near what it needs to be to fully allow remote / disconnected working .. I was certainly surprised just how quickly that sucker drains
Thanks, Derrick. I’ve not heard of Nitro before on the iPad but will give it a try.