Have you ever wanted to capture a photo from a unique angle, trigger your camera from a distance, or avoid camera shake for those perfect long exposures? That's where remote control photography comes in. Remote control photography opens up a world of creative possibilities, allowing you to operate your camera wirelessly. In this blog, we'll explore the various methods and benefits of remote control photography, from simple smartphone apps to advanced wireless triggers, and how to use them to take your photography to the next level.
In this guide:
- How do I take pictures remotely?
- What is a camera remote control?
- Where does remote control photography come in handy?
- Bonus remote control photography tips
How Do I Take Pictures Remotely?
Taking pictures remotely offers flexibility and creative possibilities. You can take pictures remotely using your iPhone or smartphone in many cases, particularly if you have a modern digital camera with WiFi connectivity and a dedicated smartphone app. These apps often provide a live view of the camera's sensor and allow you to adjust settings and trigger the shutter.
Alternatively, dedicated camera remotes, both wired and wireless, offer a reliable and often simpler solution. These remotes range from basic shutter releases to more advanced models with timers and intervalometers, providing precise control over your shots without needing to physically touch the camera.
How Does Remote Camera Operation Work in Practice?
Remote camera operation generally follows a simple workflow: mount your camera on a tripod, compose your shot, then step away and trigger the shutter without touching the body. For smartphone-based operation, pair your camera via WiFi or Bluetooth through its companion app — Canon's Camera Connect, Sony's Imaging Edge, and Nikon's SnapBridge are popular examples available to Australian photographers. For dedicated remotes, either plug in a wired release to your camera's remote port, or sync a wireless receiver to your camera body. Once connected, frame your scene using live view on your phone or remote display, dial in your exposure settings, and fire the shutter at will — all from a distance, with zero risk of introducing camera shake.
What Is a Camera Remote Control?
A camera remote control is a device that allows you to trigger your camera's shutter without physically pressing the button on the camera body. This eliminates camera shake, especially crucial for long exposures or macro photography. These remotes come in various forms, with some being wired, providing a direct connection, while others offer wireless support, using infrared or radio frequency signals for greater freedom of movement. Beyond simple shutter release, many camera remotes offer additional features.
Some include timers for time-lapse photography, intervalometers for automated shooting sequences, and, importantly, the ability to engage bulb mode for exposures longer than the camera's standard settings, giving photographers more creative control over their images.
What Is a Remote Shutter Release?
A remote shutter release is the most common type of camera remote — a dedicated accessory designed specifically to trigger your shutter without pressing the button on the camera body. These come in three main connection types:
Wired shutter releases plug directly into your camera's remote terminal, offering a lag-free and battery-independent solution ideal for studio work or long exposures on a tripod.
Infrared (IR) remotes are compact, affordable, and wireless but require line-of-sight to the camera's IR sensor — best for self-portraits and group shots in controlled conditions.
Radio frequency (RF) / Bluetooth remotes work through walls and obstacles, offering the greatest range and reliability — the preferred choice for wildlife photography, remote angles, and time-lapse sequences.
Prices in Australia typically range from around AUD $20 for a basic IR remote up to AUD $150–$300 for advanced RF intervalometer remotes with programmable timers and bulb mode support.
Where Does Remote Control Photography Come in Handy?
Now that we know what a camera remote does, what are some instances where you simply can't produce your best photography without one?
Minimising Camera Shake: No matter what type of photography you wish to partake in, a camera remote can be a crucial step in reducing blur, so you can capture images with maximum sharpness. Another key point if sharpness is your main reason for using a camera remote, is to always set your camera up on a tripod.
Long Exposure Photography: One of the main areas of photography where you will find a camera remote being used is during long exposure photography. With the key goal of minimising camera shake, a remote control allows you to hold down the shutter button for as long as necessary, including when using the bulb setting, without touching your camera during the process.
Macro Photography: Macro photography involves photographing small and intimate subjects, often at very high magnifications. In these circumstances, any small amount of movement is amplified, resulting in camera shake. A camera remote keeps your hands off the camera during the crucial capture stage, thus eliminating that shake.
Self-Portrait Photography: Want to take your time to shine in front of the camera lens and capture brilliant selfies? Triggering your camera remotely can be an invaluable step up in this regard. Rather than setting up your camera with a timer, depressing your shutter and then getting into position in front of the lens before the timer counts down, you can be sure to perfect your pose before you fire the shutter, thanks to your handy remote control.
Time-Lapse Photography: Time-lapse photography involves capturing multiple images of a single scene over time and then combining these images for a smooth and seamless playback. Moving the camera at all during the process of capturing images is detrimental to the result, making the camera remote an essential piece of equipment.
Bonus Remote Control Photography Tips
We have identified that some key aspects of photography are greatly advanced through the use of a camera remote control. But if your key area of interest falls outside of these boundaries, this doesn't mean you shouldn't consider adding remote control photography to your arsenal. Here are some other great remote control photography tips:
Use a remote to shoot from tricky angles: It can be tricky to locate and fire the shutter of your camera comfortably if it is positioned in an unorthodox manner, which is often necessary if you want to produce more interesting compositions. By viewing and firing your camera remotely, you can experiment with these angles with great success. This is why selfie sticks sometimes come with a Bluetooth remote control.
Use a remote to capture skittish wildlife: Whether you are using your everyday camera or setting up a trap camera, remote photography allows you to capture shy and cautious wildlife within their own environment. By staying physically out of the way, you can remain safe, and also prevent ruining the shots with your presence.
Use a remote to capture better group photos: Tired of being the resident photographer and missing out from being captured in the moment? Similar to capturing selfies, remote photography helps you to produce well-composed group shots with remarkable ease.
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DSLR Remote Control: What You Need to Know
If you're shooting with a DSLR — or a modern mirrorless camera — remote control support is almost universally built in, though the connection method varies by brand and model. Most Canon DSLRs use a 3.5mm or N3-type remote terminal for wired releases, while Nikon DSLRs typically use a 10-pin or MC-DC2 connector. Mirrorless cameras from Sony, Fujifilm, and OM System often rely on Bluetooth or WiFi pairing through a smartphone app alongside a dedicated port.
When choosing a DSLR remote control, check your camera's specific port type before buying — a remote designed for a Canon EOS R won't necessarily connect to a Nikon Z series body. Third-party brands such as Pixel, Vello, and Hähnel offer compatible wired and wireless options at accessible Australian price points, and many include intervalometer functions for time-lapse work. For the different remote types and connection styles in more detail, see the remote shutter release section above.