When it comes to choosing tools for your photography business, there are a lot of options out there. That’s why we took the time to do a bit of research and find the top digital tools for photographers for editing, management and marketing!
Photo Editing Tools
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is the #1 photo editing software for professional photographers. Designed specifically for photo editing alone, Lightroom provides a number of essential editing tools, such as:
- Gradient, brush, blur and sharpening adjustment tools
- Non-destructive editing for RAW and JPEG files
- Camera and lens-specific support
- Time-Saving presets and filters
Additionally, Lightroom is cloud-based so you can edit, organize, store, and share your photos from anywhere.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is Lightroom’s more experienced – and more robust – older brother. You can do much more than just edit photos with Photoshop, including graphic design, illustrations and 3D artwork. In fact, it is Photoshops many features that can make it less ideal for photographers who want a simpler interface. However, if you have the experience and know-how, Photoshop can be your greatest asset.
Topaz Labs AI Bundle
The Topaz AI Bundle includes a variety of plug-ins for your existing photo editing software, which can be bought individually or as a bundle. Topaz’s AI plug-ins bring your photo editing to the next level, including:
- High-quality image enlarging
- Sharpening and shake reduction
- Image noise extraction and more
The Topaz AI bundle integrates with a number of photo editing software, including Lightroom and Photoshop. Their new Topaz Studio tool can also be used as a standalone editing software.
X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo
The X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo differs from the above tools because it is not completely digital. The ColorChecker Passport features three photographic targets in one travel-sized case. When combined with the ColorChecker Passport software, these targets give you the ability to capture accurate color, enhance your image, and maintain color consistency.
Management Tools
Quickbooks
Quickbooks is the accounting software of choice for business big and small. Whether you’re just starting out or have an established studio, Quickbooks has the level of accounting tools you need. Quickbooks starts at $10/month.
Wave
Wave is a free alternative to Quickbooks, providing accounting, invoicing and receipts for no charge. Wave is a great choice for freelance photographers or photographers looking for a cheaper accounting or invoicing option.
Dropbox
You’d be hard-pressed to talk about cloud-storage and not include Dropbox. Dropbox is an industry leader in cloud-storage and file sharing, with both individual plans and business plans available.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a great alternative for cloud-storage and file sharing. Google Drive is available for free for anyone with a Google account, up to 15 GB. Google Drive also has individual and business plans available.
Trello
As far as free project management tools go, Trello is a great option. Whether you want to streamline your editing process, organize appointments, or coordinate with your team, you can do it all with Trello. Need a more robust option? Trello has business plans as well.
Asana
Asana is another leading project management tool with a free or paid options. Many times the project management tool that works best for another photographer might not work best for you. The best thing to do is explore your options to see what features and setups appeal best to you. We’ve provided two project management systems that are great for project management beginners and can serve as a base to get you started!
Marketing Tools
Social Media
This might seem like an obvious one, but there are many ways to use social media to boost your brand, spread awareness, and get more clients! Here are a few ways you can use social media to your best advantage:
Facebook – Build a fanbase, share albums, interact with followers and use messenger to book appointments
Instagram – Share beautiful images, utilize hashtags to reach users all over the world, create a recognizable style or aesthetic
LinkedIn – Connect with other photographers, become an industry thought-leader, build brand recognition
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a fantastic automation tool for organizing, scheduling and posting across a number of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest and more. Hootesuite has a free plan that includes 3 social platforms and 30 scheduled posts a month – or you can do more with a paid plan!
Squarespace
If there’s anything you need to be found today, it’s a website or portfolio site. Squarespace is a great option for photographers because of its easy-to-use interface and portfolio-specific templates. Squarespace starts at $12 a month.
WordPress
If you’re looking for a free option for building your website, WordPress is a great place to start. WordPress began as a blogging platform, but has transformed into a multi-functional content management system and portfolio tool. You can opt for the free version or pay for a more customizable, robust website.
These are just a few of the many tools available for photographers to help you grow and build your business. These tools enable you to focus on what you love most: capturing beautiful imagery and sharing it with the world!
