After working as a Jackson Hole photographer for over a decade, and as you can imagine I have tried countless different tools, platforms, apps, etc. in order to find what works for me and my business! It took a lot of different experiences to lead me to where I am now. So, I want to share that with you! This way you don’t have to learn lessons the hard way. Instead, you can just fill your tool kit from my recommendations. So in no particular order, here are my current tried and true platforms and tools that are the backbone of my business, and I’d like to share as photography mentorship tools.
HoneyBook
This is by far the best CRM for photographers. It has helped me to manage my customer relationships so seamlessly. I have contracts, proposals, invoices, and even my business finances all in one place. And if that isn’t good enough, then consider their customer service. I have had to reach out a few times, and every single time they get back to me in a timely manner and help so much!!
Pic-Time
For gallery delivery, I love Pic-Time. It is super user-friendly and intuitive to use. In addition, Pic-time has a built-in print store that you can use for your clients who want custom prints. As well, they have slideshows for galleries, which can be helpful in your presentation to clients. Of all the photography mentorship tools, this should be one of the firsts you invest in!
Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop
A huge part of my job as a Jackson Hole photographer is editing images in Lightroom and occasionally over in Photoshop, too. I have loved this program as I have gotten to know it better. Like anything new, it takes some time to get to know the program and to find what you are looking for. However, Adobe has tons of helpful articles, and there are even classes you can take!
Zoom
Not all elopement photographers use Zoom. But for me, it is a necessity!HAving client planning sessions on Zoom ensures a few things. First, it portrays a sense of professionalism and feels more personal. This helps build rapport with clients. Secondly, it is a sure-fire way to guarantee you have your couple’s full attention. Zoom also allows recordings so you can look back on your meeting if you missed anything in your notes.
Sun Seeker App
I wish I had this photography mentorship tool earlier in my career! The Sun Seeker app is a sunset predictor. I travel around the Grand Tetons a lot with my couples for adventure elopements. So, knowing when the sun is going to set and being able to plan our session accordingly makes all the difference in capturing the proper lighting. This app is especially helpful when the seasons change and it’s harder to predict when the sun will set.
Planable
If you have been hanging around the blog for a while, then you know I am not a huge fan of getting on social media. However, it is wonderful for connecting and community building. It can also be a place of comparison and doubt. I personally love having a social media planning and scheduling app on my desktop so that I can take social media breaks when I need to, while content is still going out!
If you are a beginner photographer, save this blog! I promise you will be so grateful for these tools as your business progresses. And if you are interested in a photographer mentorship, let’s talk!
