A specialized multi-smartphone rig is configured to simultaneously hold and operate multiple camera-equipped smartphones to enable capture of the same image by each camera under identical conditions using a single shutter release button on the rig. Because smartphones typically vary in how much time they use to process user input, custom native applications (“apps”) are installed on each smartphone to enable the cameras to operate in a synchronized manner. When the button is actuated, a signal is received at a microcontroller which hosts a server. The shutter release signal is passed to the server which, in turn, sends individual control signals to the custom native apps according to a timing model. When the custom native apps receive their respective control signals, they trigger their respective smartphone cameras to operate so that all the photos are captured in parallel across the rig at the same time.