IT SHOULDN’T BE SO COMPLICATED IN SIMPLIFYING YOUR LIFE: THESE TOOLS AND SERVICES WILL HELP
ZOLAMy preferred vendor site if you’re looking for a wedding venue, gifts, videographer, florist, make-up artist, etc. for your special day! Zola also provides custom templates to create your own free wedding website. To help streamline the process, they offer a free guest list manager as well as a free wedding checklist. They also offer 20% off post wedding which is the best completion discount of any registry. It’s your one-stop shop for everything wedding-related. For wedding photographers like me, Zola is also a great place to market your business to thousands of potential new clients.
Adobe SuiteThe most essential part of my workflow. I select, process, and edit all of my images using the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. I mainly use Adobe Lightroom to color-correct my photos and I use Adobe Photoshop to do any complex editing such as retouching and removing objects from the frame. Without this editing software, I wouldn’t be able to make the photos as best as they can be.
FIVERROutsource any task for your personal or business needs at a great price. Whether you’re looking for someone to design a logo for your small business or need help with coding, design a website, etc., Fiver has got you covered. There are a ton of freelancers on this platform that offer their services to businesses and customers.
GUSTOMy preferred payroll site to pay your contractors. As a small business owner, it’s important to have your workflow streamlined and Gusto helps with that when it comes to payment.
The image salonWhen I have too many deadlines for client shoots, I outsource my editing to The Image Salon where they color correct my selections. Their team of editors are amazing and always does a fantastic job of getting the right edit for my brand. This is perfect for photographers that want to achieve a certain look with their edits when they don’t have time or looking for an expert to retouch their client photos.
PHLEARNOne of the ways in which I learned photography is by watching Phlearn tutorials specifically when it comes to post-processing. Whenever I want to alter a photo but don’t know how to go about it, Phlearn has step-by-step tutorials on how to achieve the look that you’re going for. They also provide PSD files, actions, and sample image files so you can follow along with them as they edit the photo. The Pro account has 200+ in depth courses and 500+ presets to improve your photography.
BORROWLENSESOne of my favorite online shops to rent photography gear from is BorrowLenses. They have over 210 camera models to rent and over 5000+ pickup locations. They also offer free 2-day shipping and ship straight to your door so you don’t have to worry about picking it up. They also clean, inspect, and test every gear so that it is working properly so you get the best shot possible. I’ve rented from them countless of times in the past and I have nothing but great things to say about their service!
AdoramaFrom laptops to TVs to cameras, Adorama has over 250,000+ consumer electronics products to fit anyone’s needs. I personally have bought my current camera and lenses from them. They also have a trade program for your used photo and video equipment as well as a rental division. Whenever I’m looking to purchase a new product for my business, I always head to Adorama to find the best deal possible. I highly recommend shopping at Adorama for any consumer electronics.
FLODESKIf you’re a small business owner and are looking for an email marketing platform that can create beautiful, on-brand emails that attract potential new clients, look no further than Flodesk. Compared to other platforms, Flodesk is so easy to use and 100% customizable. One of the things I love about Flodesk is their automated systems which save me so much time from typing up emails. With their platform, you’re able to create high-converting landing pages and opt-in forms for any aspect of your business.
SKILLSHAREYou’ve probably heard of Skillshare before through ads all over YouTube. They are the number one online learning community with over 40,000+ online courses from photography, design, digital marketing, videography, and more! I’ve learned a lot from taking online courses about photo editing, content creation, and graphic design through this platform. Skillshare classes range from beginner to expert, so anyone can start learning no matter their skill level. Their classes are perfect for anyone who wants to hone their craft or discover a new passion.
PIC-TIMEPic-time is how I deliver my client galleries in a beautiful, professional format. I also use this platform to sell prints & products to my clients. I’ve used other client photo gallery platforms such as Pixieset, but nothing comes close to the number of features you get with Pic-time. One of my favorite features is the marketing automation tool that is built into your client galleries. You’re able to create customized emails, promotion banners, and reminders to clients that might be interested in purchasing prints of their past photo sessions. I personally have created holiday sales promotions and it has completely elevated my photography business when it comes to sales to clients.
They offer a 30 day free trial and you can get another month free when you upgrade to any paid plan using my code: Z9A5VN
Adobe SuiteThe most essential part of my workflow. I select, process, and edit all of my images using the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. I mainly use Adobe Lightroom to color-correct my photos and I use Adobe Photoshop to do any complex editing such as retouching and removing objects from the frame. Without this editing software, I wouldn’t be able to make the photos as best as they can be.
PRODUCTS & BRANDS THAT I RECOMMEND
CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERREDMy favorite travel card. This credit card is perfect for those who travel a few times per year. As part of the Chase family, you’re able to utilize Ultimate Rewards Points and transfer them to Chase’s airline partners and hotels to get the most out of your travel purchases. Their travel partners are some of the most well known brands in their respective industries (United, Hyatt, etc.) which makes this credit card among the best compared to other travel credit cards.
chase freedom unlimitedMy favorite catch all 1.5X card that I use for all other purchases that doesn’t fall into any other category. If you’re just starting out your credit journey, this is an awesome entry-level credit card that has no annual fee with benefits such as 3x dining and 3x drug store purchases.
PEAK DESIGNPeak Design makes high quality camera backpacks and accessories that are built to last a lifetime. Their approach is to create the best products for their customers while offsetting their environmental impact. They have spent years perfecting their craft, considering every material and detail to help solve problems and to inspire positive change. I really admire brands like this and it really shows through the material and craftsmanship of their products. As a proud owner of their everyday backpack and tech pouch, I can attest to their mission.
LANGLYLangly makes stylish and rugged camera bags for freelance photographers and adventurers. My first camera backpack was a Langly and it held up pretty well over the years. I put it through a lot of wear and tear, and it still looks new due to its weather protection and durable material. What I love about Langly is that they listen to customers’ feedback and are always improving their products. I can only imagine how much their camera bags have improved since I first bought mine.
AUTONOMOUSAutonomous creates beautifully designed premium products for your home and work office. Their mission is to create a healthy work environment and to help their users bring ideas to life through their innovative products. I have their ErgoChair Pro and I always get compliments on how great it looks with its minimal design. It’s also really comfortable and durable with all the features you would expect from an office chair. If you’re in the market looking for a standing desk or ergonomic office chair, Autonomous is the way to go!
GOVEEGovee is one of the best smart home brands when it comes to lighting. When I think of Govee, the word “best value” comes to mind. Compared to other smart home brands such as Philips Hue, Govee offers more features and their products are more affordable as well. I have their RGBIC lighting strips in my home office, and they have completely transformed the aesthetic of my room. If you’re looking for great smart home lighting, I highly recommend Govee.
ULX StoreULX Store is one of my favorite brands that I discovered recently. One of the things that attracted me to this brand is how much attention to detail they put into their products. Their products range from leather backpacks to watches to wallets and to phone cases. A few months ago I bought their black desk mat which is made from vegan leather. I can definitely tell the difference in quality when compared to other desk mats. If you're going for a clean, minimal aesthetic for your everyday carry, consider buying from ULX Store.
COIROCoiro sells high quality camera accessories for photographers and videographers. They mostly sell leather goods and their materials are sourced from the best suppliers in the United States and Europe. I bought their dual camera harness and I can tell that the quality of the leather is top-notch. Not only do their products function well, but they also look very stylish and professional.
teslaI currently drive a Tesla Model 3 Long Range to all of my client sessions and I LOVE THIS CAR! Tesla needs no introduction as they are the leader in electrification and are at the forefront of transitioning the world to sustainable energy. As of January 2023, all new Model 3 & Y vehicles are eligible for the $7,500 tax credit. Use my referral link below to get $500 off the vehicle price and 3 months of Full Self-Driving when you order a new Tesla Model 3 or Y.
blvck parisBLVCK is one of my favorite clothing brands that I discovered this past year. As you can tell from their name, they sell high-quality black clothing, accessories, and leather goods made from the finest materials. You might have seen this brand on social media as they have a huge presence in the space. They also have a sister brand called WHTE Paris, and you guessed it…. that sells white clothing. If you’re looking to put together a modern, clean, and minimal look for your next wardrobe, I highly recommend checking out BLVCK Paris.
PREFERRED VENDORS
Here are my top recommendations for wedding vendors!
Makeup/Hair
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR THAT I USE
