RESOURCES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
All the goods to up your photography game
HI THERE, FRIEND!
Running a business is hard.
(BUT IT CAN BE A LITTLE EASIER WITH SOME HELP)
Sure, you can DIY your photography business. Making mistakes, learning from them, and trying again.
There’s nothing wrong with DIY, except it’s slow. Taking the scenic route to success wastes time.
Time—days, months, years—that you could be running a wildly profitable photography business. A business with:
- Clients who rave about you to all their friends.
- A full calendar of exactly the sessions and clients you want.
- Price increases you’re confident in, because you know you’re worth it.
I can help you hop on the fast track to all of those things, so let’s get started.
👋 Hi, I'm Lydia!
I’m an educator because I love helping photographers grow their businesses. I built my photography business on top of 22+ years of marketing experience, a business degree, and an MBA, and now I’m putting my marketing savvy and tech expertise to work helping photographers like you run a profitable photo business you love. Let’s get to it!
Good stuff, no bull$h!t
COACHING AND FREEBIES AND WHATNOT, OH MY!
Templates
Done-for-you templates to make running your business smoother, more professional, and stress-free. Emails, contracts, inquiry responses, and more that you can start using ASAP. Check it out.
Honeybook Report Card
Is Honeybook driving you up the wall? Let’s fix that! I’ll review your HB and report back on what to tweak so your Honeybook finally starts pulling its weight—making you look like the pro you were born to be. Get yours.
Google Business Report Card
Stellar search engine optimization (SEO) starts with a great Google Business Profile. I’ll review yours and give you a step-by-step of how to uplevel it, so you can get found and book more clients without paying for ads. Up your GBP game.
Website Report Card
Your website’s job? Turning visitors into fans who can’t hit ‘Book Now’ fast enough. If it’s not, let’s find out why! I’ll send you a no-BS punch list to turn it into the booking machine you need.
One-on-One Mentoring
Consider this your personal business therapy session! You set the agenda, and we can cover topics ranging from pricing and packages to workflow and automations, and tons more—the sky’s the limit. See more.
Free Resources
From client experience to booking more clients (and more), these templates and tips for photographers are 100% free and ready for you to put ’em to work. See free resources.
The Template Shop
BECAUSE REINVENTING THE WHEEL IS FOR THE BIRDS
Contract & Policies Template
FOR FAMILY, SENIOR, OR NEWBORN SESSIONS
Rest easy knowing your legal ducks are in a row with this comprehensive contract and policies. Lawyer-approved and ready to use for your business. Available in two formats: a PDF/DOC or as a Honeybook Smart File template.
$150
Email Template Bundle for Family Inquiries
NEW LEAD WORKFLOW
Your response to an inquiry is the first impression of your business, so use this 5-email bundle to make it count. Plus, follow-up emails help you stay top-of-mind when an inquiry goes quiet. Adios, writer’s block!
$47
One-on-One Mentoring
PERSONAL COACHING FOR YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS
This solopreneur gig is kinda lonely, isn’t it?
Just you and your computer, never really sure if you’re doing it right.
You can build a business that’s wildly successful and fills your bank account, and I can help.
I’ll help you sort through the fluff, find out what’s going well and what’s getting in your way. I’ll give you clear direction to knock down those walls, so let’s get started building the business you’ve been dreaming of.
Must-have tools for photographers (and what's in my camera bag)
THE TECH AND THE GEAR THAT MAKE MY BUSINESS HAPPY
Disclosure: I only share products that I use and believe will help you run a better photography business. If you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission—in some cases, you’ll get a discount, too!
CRM / CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
CRM: Honeybook
★★★★★
If you’re tired of hunting for that one email from a client, or if your booking process is a six-email ordeal, then you should be using a CRM. You’re a professional, dammit. That’s what pros do.
You don’t need to be Your Company’s I.T. Guy to know how to use it, either. Once you know your way around, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!
Use this link to get 25% off your first year of Honeybook.
Fave features
- One-step booking workflow—contract, deposit, and questionnaire in one email!
- Automated emails—send emails automagically to prep clients or give wardrobe guidance
- Client experience—Making it smooth and easy for your clients is what professional photographers do. And that’s you, right?
MAKE THE OUTSIDE MATCH THE INSIDE
A.I.-Powered Editing: EVOTO.ai
★★★★★
You don’t have to learn Photoshop to be an amazing editor. Evoto is here to save the daaaaaaay!
I use Evoto’s one-click fixes for acne, flyaway hairs (!!!), and skin retouching, but the options for double chins, eye bags, teeth whitening, and GLASSES GLARE (omg) are game changers.
Use promo code EvotoLydia to get 15% off your first subscription.
Pros
- Free to try, so you can see your edits before paying anything
- Affordable pricing—6 to 8 cents per photo exported
- Accepts RAW, Lightroom catalogs, TIFFs or JPEGs
SHOW 'EM THE GOODS
Gallery Delivery Software: Shootproof
★★★★★
Let me say first that no one in this space is absolutely killing it. The online gallery software world is ready for some new entrant to come in and really F shit up.
Given that reality, the best option for me is Shootproof.
The runner up was Pic Time, but it can’t match Shootproof’s handling of volume photography (since I photograph a couple of large daycare centers, volume is important).
Get started with Shootproof.
Pros
- Customize your gallery to match your brand fonts and colors.
- Create any discount you can imagine.
- Automations are super handy for Black Friday sales.
- No commissions—keep 100% of your sales.
PROTECT THE IMPORTANT STUFF
Cloud Backup: Backblaze
★★★★★
Being entrusted with someone’s photos is a huge honor. You’re responsible for protecting the images as they go from camera to client. It’s too important a job to take chances with.
That’s where Backblaze comes in. Sleep well knowing your images are backed up to the cloud.
Get started with Backblaze with one month free.
Pros
- Cloud backup that runs in the background.
- Backs up external hard drives, too!
- Restoring files is super easy.
In my gear bag...
CLICKITY-CLICK GOES THE CAMERA
THE WORKHORSE
Canon R6 Mark II
A solid upgrade from the Canon R6, which I used from 2021 to 2024, the autofocus is even better than its predecessor (I didn’t know that was possible, but it is). The R6Mkii is one smooth operator and a must-have in my pro camera bag.
THE GLASS
RF 28-70mm F2 Zoom
A zoom lens that can hold an aperture of 2.0 ALL THE WAY OUT to the end of its focal length is like a unicorn: rare AF. I’ve tried to go back to other lenses, but I can’t quit The Monster. A word of warning: this puppy’s heavy, but worth the weight.
THE STRAP
BlackRapid Sport Crossbody Camera Strap
I love that I can keep my neck happy and my hands free at the same time with the BlackRapid Sport Breathe camera strap. Choose the version for your dominant hand (Right for right-handed, etc.).
THE TUNES
JBL Clip 3 Speaker
I clip this puppy to my belt loop at sessions, and use music to set the mood. I make playlists for my senior clients to set them at ease, and they love this small touch! The newer versions (Clip 4 and 5) are slightly heavier, but any of them will do a fine job.
Free Resources
because we all love free stuff!
GUIDE: How I use Google Reviews to get more clients
Wouldn’t it feel amazing to have a calendar full of clients without being at the mercy of the algorithm or dancing on Instagram?
Your Google Business Profile is Step One to get you there.
Find out how I use Google Reviews to get more clients—and how you can, too.
GUIDE: The client-pleasing emails you aren't sending (yet)
Better communication is the key to happy clients that come back year after year.
Get the three most important email messages you should be sending your photography clients, with ready-to-use templates you can add to your workflow ASAP.
Latest Blog Posts
Being a part-time photographer (and primary breadwinner, too)
It seems like all the stories I hear about part-time photographers are folks who are trying to quit their 9-to-5. So what about the rest of us?
Extended family photo color schemes and wardrobe tips
Keep your extended family looking cohesive and put-together (without being matchy-matchy) for family photos. Bonus: the do’s and don’ts for wardrobe.
How to prep your house for an in-home photo session
In-home family sessions are the best for their relaxed vibe. I’ll cover step by step how to prep your home for an upcoming in-home photo session.
How to print photos from a pro photographer on your own
You had photos taken by a pro and you’ve got the jpegs from the shoot. But how do you go about turning them into art for your walls? Check out my top 5 tips for printing your own photos.