Essential Business Tools for Photographers

Photography is a rapidly growing industry with many talented professionals offering their services to clients. To stay ahead of the competition and provide the best possible service, photographers need to have the right tools. Here are the essential business tools for photographers looking to start or elevate their business.

A Professional Website

For any photographer, having a website is essential to business success. The website is the online storefront that is available 24/7 where potential customers and clients can check out the business’s services, portfolio and contact information. Having a website also tells customers that the business is legitimate and established. Furthermore, having a website allows photographers to market themselves and build an audience by attracting their target audiences.

Here are a few features to look for when choosing a website platform, such as Squarespace, WordPress, or Wix, otherwise known as a content management system (CMS):

Portfolio – A place to display your best images in a beautiful format.
Contact forms – A way to contact you to inquire about your services.
Booking Plugin – A way for a client to book you directly on the site. WordPress uses can use a plugin like Amelia.
Blog – A place to display you most recent shoots.

Service Business Management Software

A customer relationship management (CRM) system or business management software is an essential business tool for photographers looking for success. These tools can keep track of interactions with customers, assign tasks, respond promptly to inquiries and complaints, stay organized and manage events more effectively. Some even manage contracts, invoices, scheduling shoots and more.

All in all, implementing a CRM system or business management software, such as Trafft in your photography business will not only help you stay up-to-date on day-to-day operations but will also enable you to stand out from other businesses offering similar services.

Gear and Software

Camera Gear

We won’t get too far into this since there are plenty of other resources covering this topic. In addition, every niche and genre has its own gear requirements, and even within each niche, the gear requirements vary significantly with each photographer’s style.

Photo Editing Software

Photo editing software is an essential business tool for any photography business. This specialized software allows photographers to “finish” their vision with a stylized look. It also gives photographers the tools to correct mistakes, remove blemishes, and more. The tools in photo editing software, such as Lightroom, Photoshop, Skylum, or Capture One, allow photographers to produce professional-looking images with efficient speed and accuracy. Investing in quality photo editing software is an essential part of operating any successful photography business.

Album Design Software

Album design software is an essential business tool for wedding and portrait photographers, as it can dramatically streamline the process of designing complex, story-driven albums. It makes it easier to select photos, arrange them into beautiful layouts, add text effects and backgrounds, and even keep track of client orders. With this type of software, such as Fundy Designer, photographers are able to save time and money while creating amazing end products for their customers.

Slideshow Maker (Optional)

Slideshows provide customers with the opportunity to view an entire set of photos in a creative and impactful way set to music that can help amplify the story or the emotion. Slideshows are advantageous for businesses when it comes to marketing and showcasing their artwork.

Other Software

Any photography business could also benefit from the following services and software.

Email Marketing Services

Email marketing is an invaluable business tool for photographers, as it provides a powerful way to reach and stay connected with clients and potential customers. By staying in contact with both current customers and ones that have shown an interest, photography businesses can build relationships of loyalty and trust. Through email newsletters, photographers can easily keep their audience informed about their latest work or any upcoming specials or discounts. When done correctly, email marketing with email service providers like Mailchimp, Aweber, and others can be an incredibly powerful asset for any photography business looking to make the most of their advertising budget.

Accounting Software

Accounting software streamlines time consuming processes, helps track expenses and associate them to relevant clients, simplifies the generation and submission of taxes, and assists in budget planning. Whether you are just becoming established or have been in business for a while, accounting software can help save time and money while improving your overall record keeping processes. Not only can it help photographers maximize their profits from session fees, but also make managing job costs easier by tracking every cent spent throughout a project. For these reasons, accounting software is an essential business tool for photographers.

Social Media Accounts

Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok are powerful tools for promoting a photographer’s work and connecting with potential clients. Photographers should have a strong social media presence and engage with their followers regularly.

Business Cards

Business cards are a great business tool for any photography business. A business card is more tangible than a website or social media profile, as it serves as a physical token of your presence. Lastly, handing out custom designed business cards conveys professionalism, trustworthiness, and implies success. This can solidify opportunities that may otherwise be lost by just relying on digital forms of advertisement alone.

Cloud Storage and Backup Systems

Backup systems, such as hard drives and redundant backup systems like Drobo are critical for preserving a photographer’s work. Photographers should have a backup system in place, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage, to ensure that their photos are safe and secure. A cloud storage solution such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive is a must for any photographer. To go a step further, client galleries, such as Pixieset, Shootproof and other companies provide a beautiful presentation for delivering photos to clients.

In conclusion, these are some of the essential business tools that every photographer should have to be successful in the competitive world of photography. Whether you’re a professional or just starting out, these tools will help you stay organized, promote your work, and grow your business.