As a small business owner, I wear so many hats.  I am the photographer, marketer, social media manager, secretary, accountant, and now a photographer educator…  Over the last years as my business has grown, I’ve searched for a combination of Photographer’s tools and software that would allow me to be all of these things without stressing and breaking the bank. I think I have finally come up with that winning combination (for my business) and I want to share it with you. So here is a list of 7 programs I use and reason why I love them.

17Hats – CRM

My first photographer’s tools and software and probably the most important in my business17hats is my everything hub. I am able to run almost every section of my business right for one place. It holds all my contacts, contract, invoices, it integrates with square for a seamless payment processing for my clients, I can track notes and files for each session/wedding, I can even use it to schedule meetings or sessions around my available openings on my google calendar. There is just so much in one place which makes my life so easy.

Now in total honesty to be upfront with you there is a segment for bookkeeping, but honestly it is the barest bookkeeping a business could need. I personally don’t use it, I use QuickBooks online for my business bookkeeping. But it can work for just starting businesses. You enter your transactions, assign them to projects and get a simplified profit and loss per booking. It also helps for preparing your own taxes each year by categorizing your transactions when you enter them.
Get Save 50% on One Year of 17hats with this code: gtffxhdhzz

Pic-Time – Gallery Delivery

The second most important photographer’s tools and software!

This is what I use as a gallery delivery service for my clients! I switched over from another gallery service and I. AM. NEVER. TURNING. BACK. Pic-Time helps me organizes the galleries, send them my clients, to other vendors, and my blogger with ease! It also handles most to all my print sales (love that passive income!), gallery backups, and automated emails regarding galleries. In my opinion, Pic-Time is a must for photography businesses!
Get 1 month of Pic-Time free with this code: B4US5E

Tailwind – Pinterest Marketing

I was turned onto Tailwind by my lovely Business Coach. When I first signed up I would schedule months of Pinterest content in less than an day. Tailwind does all the heavy lifting for me when it comes to Pinterest. I typically block off a whole day once a month to add photos and keywords then schedule my posts for the next weeks and then leave it! Tailwind takes it from there for me. You can also use Tailwind to plan traditional Facebook and Instagram posts. Downside is tailwind will not auto post on those platforms for you.

BUT ALSO in June of 2022 Tailwind just released a new update and services that I have been giving a try. You now can use there service for (free) email marketing, and to plan your business’ individual marketing plan for months at a time. I have just started to dive into this one but so far I’m really excited about it.
Get 1 month of paid Tailwind free with this link.

Session – Mini Session Bookings

The best photographer’s tools and software for any family photographer!

I run two or three sets of mini sessions each year, I love them it’s one easy way for all my families to get yearly portraits while keeping the kiddos attention. Last year I started working with Session to manage and book these mini sessions. I love this because it’s clear that the creators of Session had mini-session photographers in mind! You’re able to see all of your mini-session dates right on the dashboard. You can see in real-time how many bookings you have, how much revenue you’ve made, who has booked, and see what time slots are still open.

You know how much I love automation I have my session dashboard set up to automatically create an invoice, collect payment, collect questionnaire details, and send reminder/thank you emails. It’s so great!
Try Session for 14 days free with this link.

Align – Album Design

I learned early on in my business that album designs were such a time drain for me. I use to spend hours laying out a design, then second guessing my layout, walking away and then returning a few hours later to change things all over again. It was torcher as an enneagram 1!

I stumbled across Align this year while looking for better options on time saving and creative spark nurturing. I can’t say enough good things about their service. With incredible fast designs, helpful designers ready to help, and their reviewing process where I can keep the integrity of my client relationship in house or pass it along for direct contact between client and designer. (I elect for the in house communicating right now)

They’re such a great team, that when you sign up they even offer you half off your first design! I’m sold, I can’t see me ever designing another album in the future. They also have a large library of photographer education posts to help those that want to learn to sell.
Give Align a try right now with this link.

Square – Payment Processing

A very important photographer’s tools and software for every level of photography business.

I switch from allowing PayPal to process all my transactions a few years ago. I hated the customer service I would receive time after time, so I did a bit of research and found Square, first it integrates with my other platforms that I take payments through (17Hats, & Session). But it also has the dash dashboard! PLUS a ton of options to help me grow as a small business that just makes my life easier.
Try Square for your business.

Flodesk – Email Marketing

FloDesk was another software I switched to last year for managing email list content, and it is another software I will never give up. The streamlined workflows and templates make it easy to create automated emails. I’m talking within minutes when before it would take hours of design time to create emails like this.
Get 50% off your Flodesk subscription now!