Sharing My Knowledge and Tools
I started my small business journey exactly six years ago with the concept for my logo and a friend who brought it to fruition. There was so much I didn't know then. I officially opened my business one year later and was running things with google spreadsheets and venmo. Since then, I have learned a ton and would love to share the super helpful and important tools that I rely on in my business. I hope these help if you are just starting out!
Pixieset
Pixieset was the very first tool I began to use when starting out as a new photographer. I first had the basic gallery hosting subscription and then a few years later published a website with their brand new website option. I have just now moved to an all in one annual PRO subscription option.
I love how easy the galleries are and have been thrilled with the ease and versatility of their website design. It is super user friendly for both me and my clients.
Definitely check them out. Here is my code where you can get $20 off your first bill!
Honeybook
About a year or so into business, I asked a professional photographer friend what the best thing they did for their business was and she said Honeybook. I cannot agree with her more! Having a client management system is an absolute game changer! I can send proposals, welcome guides, invoices, questionnaires, and more all with the most organized of systems. They just keep getting better and better too! I love their new automations options and how it can save e-mail templates.
You can receive 25% off as a new client here!
Mailchimp
I finally started leaning into more consistent e-mail marketing and it definitely works. I have felt a huge decline in social media marketing since the days of the pandemic, which can feel super disheartening. The flip side of this has been writing a consistent newsletter through mailchimp. It's been easy to use and very helpful for my business.
If you haven't tried them, I'd say give it a go! I'm currently still using their free version, but I'm at about 70% capacity on the limits of contacts in the free version and will have to upgrade soon. If you use this code, you'll receive $30 in bill credits.
QR Code Generator
I've began to use QR code generator for my print marketing materials. Every year I add fliers around local businesses to promo my motherhood mini sessions and I know that one of my frequent return clients discovered me through a flier in a local bakery's bathroom this way! I've got codes on my thank you cards and other postcards I've snail mailed to clients and potential clients. The return hasn't been huge, yet even just the one return client has made it worth it for me.
Style and Select
This one is pretty specific for photographers, yet it is an online tool that my clients and I love! Styling can be so overwhelming for photo sessions and to be perfectly honest, styling is not my personal strength. I'm such a minimalist and environmentalist that I don't keep up with fashion very well. Hence the outsourcing of styling is a must for me. I have used the tool at Style and Select for my own family photos each year (including for an extended family session) and it is so easy to use! I love it for getting ideas and for actual shopping for items. It's so great to be able to see a mood board for each specific person all together.
Canva
I use Canva for everything! Print promotions, social media graphics, and more. Canva makes things easy with their brand tools. I use it for my business and for personal use like event invitations, holiday cards, thank you cards and birthday shout outs. I make reels with canva too! I have their pro plan with an annual subscription. They do have free plans available for education purposes and registered nonprofits!
Artifact Uprising
This is one of my very top places to print photo products! The quality of their prints are phenomenal! I especially love their wood blocks, their calendars, and square prints. You can shop Artifact Uprising and use the code SOUNDROOTS15 for 15% off!
White House Custom Color
Another one specific to photographers. WHCC is embedded in my gallery options within Pixieset for ordering images and photo products directly from client galleries. They are meticulous with attention to detail and personal touch on every order. WHCC is a great company to work with.
Quickbooks
This one is my newest purchase although it probably should have been one of my first. I'm not completely versed in it yet either, but I'm learning. So far, I love the visual display of my money in and money out. It is definitely keeping me on track more than I was when I documented everything only on a spreadsheet. I still need to figure out how to best let it serve me, especially when dealing with dreaded taxes. I have their Simple Start Online version.
Lockton Insurance
Every photographer needs insurance and the Professional Photographer's Association's version through Lockton Insurance works for me! It's general liability currently, yet you can always get more if you need.
Adobe
I lied before! Adobe was truly my very first purchase, even before I became a business owner! Lightroom and Photoshop are must haves and the adobe creative cloud subscription works for me! I am on the Photography plan with 20 GB and it's great!
Go Daddy
This one renews each year, but thankfully I don't need to interact with it a lot. Once I set up my website domain with them and worked with a representative to keep my privacy as much as possible, I haven't had the need to do much more. They are great and were easy to work with and I love that it was sort of a set it and forget it piece of my business.
Chamber of Commerce
I'm going to be perfectly honest that I really need to get more engaged and involved with this one. I joined my West Seattle Chamber of Commerce last year and have yet to attend an in person event. I did make a connection right away with their onboarding committee where we immediately traded services, which was fun. I definitely already feel a bit more connected in my community and am looking forward to more involvement in the near future. I highly recommend it for networking and getting your name and services out there.
Hope These Help!
Hope these help you on your entrepreneurial journey! Please feel free to ask me any questions here! *Please note that some of these links contain affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and later make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Money earned with each affiliate link will help keep this site and my business up and running. Thank you for shopping through these links to show your support for the brands I love to do business with!
