I hear it from photographers every day, “I’m a photographer, not a business person.” Trust me, I. GET. IT. Most of us didn’t pick up a camera to run a business, we did it because we have a heart to serve families and preserve their most cherished memories. But, the truth is, none of that will be possible without having a solid business foundation and becoming a business person. 

Whether you are a brand new photographer or running a six-figure business, there are 3 tools and systems I use every day to run my business. 

17hats

Hands down one of the most important parts of my client workflow is my CRM- 17hats. There are so many CRMs out there to help you manage your business, but I found 17hats to be super user-friendly compared to others that I tried. 

When I first started my business I was writing email copy from scratch every time I received an inquiry. You guys, it is mind-boggling how much time I wasted doing that. Having 17hats to house ALL OF THE THINGS is a total game-changer. All of my emails, workflows, contracts, and contact information for my clients are in one place. This is necessary in order to keep me as efficient as possible while running a high-volume photography studio.

You can use this link to save $50 when you sign up for an annual subscription.

Planoly

There are a ton of social media planning apps out there but Planoly is my go-to. I’m not always able to post as often as I like but adding images to albums within Planoly where I can easily pull an image from makes it way more likely I’ll post on any given day. 

I’m such a visual person so seeing my grid, and planning out what I can in advance makes it one of my most used tools. I know I don’t even use it to its fullest capacity yet, but the ability to see your analytics, save hashtag sets, and auto post is so helpful.

Calendly

Running a full-service portrait studio with more than 180 sessions each year, all while coaching, leading a Facebook community, and being a wife and momma, requires me to be very organized. I’m talking down to the very minute. Calendly allows me to do that.

I’ve said it before, but Calendly’s online scheduling software has revolutionized my business. I wrote an entire blog post on how it helps me eliminate mistakes, provides a more streamlined booking process for my clients, and allows me to set boundaries with my time. 

I know that implementing new tools and systems into your business can feel overwhelming. But take it from me, as someone that waited too long to implement them, that it is 100% worth it. Yes, there will be a learning curve and will require a lot of your attention in the beginning. BUT, once it’s all set up, you’ll have a lot more confidence in your business!