8 Tools I use to Run my Photography Business




As a portrait photographer balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, efficiency is key. Over the years, I've discovered some invaluable tools that have streamlined my business and made my life easier and I'm excited to share them with you! 


Here are 8 tools I use to run my Photography business:


17 hats

17hats: The Ultimate Business Hub

17hats has been a game-changer for me. This all-in-one platform handles everything from client inquiries to contract signing, scheduling, and payment processing. It's like having a virtual assistant at your fingertips. I seriously don't know how I could ever operate my business without it! I've been using 17 hats for almost a decade and they are constantly adding new features and improving the platform to make doing business even smoother! I can't say enough great things about this platform! If you have a small business you have got to give 17hats a try!
 Check it out and get 50% off your first year when you use my referral link: https://referrals.17hats.com/card/bnttscfkfk 

https://referrals.17hats.com/card/bnttscfkfk




Canva: Design Made Easy

Canva is my go-to for creating professional-looking graphics, from social media posts to marketing materials. With its user-friendly interface and vast library of templates, it's a must-have for any creative entrepreneur. 




Meta Business Suite: Managing Social Media Simplified

Meta Business Suite (formerly Facebook Business Manager) is essential for managing my social media presence. I can easily schedule posts, track insights, and engage with my audience from one convenient platform.

Grammarly: The Writing Superhero

Grammarly is a lifesaver when it comes to writing clear and error-free content. This AI-powered writing assistant helps me catch typos, improve my grammar, and even suggest better word choices. Grammarly has saved me from sending emails filled with typos and keeps me looking professional. 





Loom: Screen Recording Made Simple

Loom has been incredibly helpful for creating tutorials, product demos, and client communications. The ability to record my screen and add audio commentary has saved me countless hours of back-and-forth emails. There are so many ways to use Loom for business, you can save yourself so much time and skip a meeting by making a quick screen recorded video. It's great for training too! I'm so glad I discovered Loom! 


CapCut and Animoto: Video Editing on the Go

For quick and easy video editing, I rely on CapCut and Animoto. These mobile apps allow me to trim clips, add music, and create engaging videos directly from my phone. Animoto is great for creating beautiful slideshows and marketing videos. 


Google Voice: A Professional Phone Number

Google Voice has been a game-changer for separating my personal and professional phone numbers. It's a great way to maintain a professional image and keep my personal cell number private without having two phones.


Zenfolio: A Beautiful Portfolio Website and Client Galleries



Zenfolio is my go-to platform for creating private client galleries.  Zenfolio's client gallery feature allows me to securely share high-resolution images with my clients, making it a seamless experience for both of us. Additionally, Their intuitive interface and customizable templates make it easy to create a stunning website. Zenfolio is perfect for photographers wanting to do online sales and even has features for volume photography.  You can get 10% off your subscription when you use my referral link: https://www.zenfolio.com/?refcode=tarathackeray


These tools have been instrumental in helping me run a successful photography business while still making time for my family. By automating and streamlining my workflow, I can focus on what I love most: capturing beautiful moments and building lasting relationships with my clients.


Thanks so much for being here! 

Cheers! 

-Tara 


Tara Thackeray Photography

Vancouver WA Photographer



Location: Vancouver, WA, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for your comments!

Popular posts from this blog

Tween Witches - Halloween Styled friend photoshoot Vancouver WA

Image
I had surgery at the end of Summer and was itching to get back to work and be creative after almost 8 weeks off!  A Tween Witches-themed photoshoot in the woods sounded like an enchanting idea! The woods provide a perfect backdrop for a dark and magical setting that would bring out the best of my tween witches. I sent my sister a few inspiration images of woods and clothing that fit my vision and she and my niece gathered up all the things and helped bring my idea to life with these images!  The woods provided a natural setting that was used to create a dark and eerie atmosphere. We shot around 5pm at the end of September. Using a higher F stop and some Flash I was able to create a dark look. I also added in some smoke effects using Smoke bombs I purchased from Smoke Effect Online  as well as some Smoke overlays.  Friendship is one of the most precious and beautiful aspects of life. It is the bond that we cherish and the people who stand by us through thick and thin....
Read more

Getting Ready for your Wedding: Tips for Brides

Image
 Let's talk about Wedding Hair and Makeup and how long you will need to get ready on your wedding day. When it comes to planning your wedding day timeline this is a question I get a lot from brides "How long will it take to get ready?"  Generally, the answer is different for every bride and I try my best to give great advice when it comes to planning these details but let's face it, I'm the photographer, not a wedding planner or HMUA. I typically will suggest my brides get ready early and plan at least 1 hour per bridesmaid for hair and makeup. It seems like a lot of brides think they are going to have all day to get ready but time slips away very quickly on the day of. I have seen bridal parties with 10+ bridesmaids get full hair and makeup and still arrive on time ready for photos with no hiccups and I've seen small bridal parties struggle to show up an hour late to the ceremony. It's so important to make sure you have enough time for everyone to get rea...
Read more

Photographer Vancouver WA - Baby Finnen's First Birthday Cake Smash

Image
 Oh, I had the best time photographing this little one. It's kind of wild his mommy was our babysitter just a few years ago and now she's grown up, married, and has a beautiful growing family!! Time goes so fast!  It's pretty special to capture this big milestone; Finnen's first birthday and I love a good cake smash. These images were shot in the studio in Vancouver WA aka my house with an adorable neutral set that I pulled together with a few of my vintage props and some other borrowed home decor items. His cute little birthday outfit can be found on Amazon. I love cake smash sessions and how adorable it is to watch a baby get down on some cake. All the faces!! It's seriously the cutest thing ever!   The milk baths are super fun! I love the oranges in these ones!  Photographing babies on their first birthday is a heartwarming and delightful pursuit, capturing a moment in time that is both fleeting and cherished. This milestone is not just any birthday; it marks...
Read more