What I use & recommend
Resources For Photographers
These are a few of my favorite things that have helped me in my photography and/or in my business! If you’re curious about other tools I use, please feel free to reach out and ask! I’m always happy to help.
*Psst! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own, and I won’t include anything I don’t truly recommend. Thank you for supporting my work!
My favorite books, courses, and tools for photographers
Books & Courses
BIG MAGIC – This is the book I reread when I need a boost of inspiration or creativity.
PROFIT FIRST – Oh how I wish I had read this book when I first started my photography business! Don’t be like me: read this ASAP. (But! Content warning for wayyy too many references to diet culture. Still worth the read, though.)
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS COURSES – I have learned more from Olivia Bossert than anyone when it comes to finding clients and getting into the fashion photography business! Her “Pitching With Confidence” is the one I go back to most.
Photography Tools
BEST $6 CAMERA ACCESSORY – I didn’t know how much I needed a lens cloth clipped onto my camera strap until I finally had one! I use the Nikon one linked above, but if you’re looking for something less branded, this lens cloth is the same idea and has great reviews on Amazon.
WACOM INTUOS SMALL – Once you start using a tablet for retouching, masking, cropping, etc., it’ll be SO hard to go back! This is the current version of the Intuos Small I used for years and years: it’s pretty affordable and SO good. Personally I’d spend the extra $20 for Bluetooth, but the cord version is still excellent and such good value if you’re on a budget.
(Upgrade pick: These days, I use and adore this Wacom Intuos Pro Small. Do you need to spend the extra money? Honestly, almost definitely not. I thought I did, and I mostly didn’t. But I do really love it.)
POWER KEYS – This is also in the editing category, and in the “you don’t know what you’re missing if you haven’t tried it, and once you get started you can’t live without it” category, too. Power Keys is an add-on for Adobe Lightroom, and it lets you touch-type your editing. No more dragging sliders around or scrolling up and down through all the different panels (IYKYK). If you don’t edit photos often, you probably don’t need it. But if you do, try it now and thank me later! It’ll make you faster, and also it’s way better for your wrists.
Use Promo code PAIGE at checkout to get $10 off your annual subscription to Power Keys!
Software for professional photographers
Dubsado
CRM (BUSINESS MANAGEMENT)
This is what I use to manage the nuts and bolts of my business: booking forms, automated emails, sending online contracts & invoices, basically everything! I love it.
Flodesk
EMAIL MARKETING
I use Flodesk for my once-in-a-blue-moon newsletter, and let me tell you, it’s SO much prettier and easier to use than my previous provider!
YNAB
Accounting
I use YNAB for my business budget and accounting, and my personal budget too! I love how easy it is to use—it’s a lot simpler (and cheaper) than something like Quickbooks.
