As most professional photographers know quite well, owning a successful photography business often requires a lot of time on the road. Unless you focus solely on taking portraits in your studio, chances are good you’ll travel a lot to weddings, family reunions and scenic destinations like beaches and mountains.
In order to make your time away from the home office as productive and easy as possible, it’s a great idea to invest in a nice iPad [1] or other tablet so that you can take advantage of the latest and greatest apps and tools. Here are just a few iPad and Android app suggestions:
photo by Jay Wennington [2]
Camera Accessories
There are a plethora of photography apps that will make your life easier when you are away from home, notes Fathom Focus. Here are just a few camera accessories to try out:
- Wireless Mobile Utility [3]: This is a free app that connects your Nikon camera with your tablet. After you finish taking photos, download the photos directly to your tablet and then upload them to your client’s email or social networking site. In addition, if you want to place your camera in a spot that is hard to maneuver, the app allows you to control your Nikon remotely, all while seeing what your camera does on your tablet screen.
- f/8 DoF Calculator [4]: This app is great for photojournalists and photographers on the move. It uses a depth-of-field and hyperfocal distance calculator to help you get the right focus the first time. All of the calculations occur in real time and are shown on a single screen so you can be as efficient as possible.
- SoftBox Pro [5]: Available for the iPad, this app turns your smartphone into a softbox. If you do not have professional lights out in the field, use this app to light the area and start snapping away.
Portfolios
As your business grows, you will want to develop a portfolio to show prospective customers. Try one of these apps so it is always on you:
- Portfolio for iPad [6]: This app features a self-contained and brandable presentation tool for your photography business. Available for $12.99, the app allows you to show off samples of your work to your clients from remote locations. You can organize your collections of photos with sub-galleries such as wedding, family, landscape and travel. To keep your photos and other information safe, you also can lock the app with a PIN.
- FolioBook Professional iPad Portfolio [7]: If you are looking for a more minimalist approach, you can use this app to share your portfolio between iPads. It works with both portrait and landscape orientations and has a lot of customizable options. this app also can be synchronized with Dropbox, so you can link multiple galleries and update them from anywhere.
Business
Even though you are away from the home studio, you’ll probably want to keep up with the details of your business. These apps can come in handy for organizing the business side of your photography career:
- Square Register [8]: When you are out in the field, it can be difficult to be paid on time. Thanks to this app, you can accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express payments right on your iPad. Although you will get charged 2.75 percent of the sale amount each time, the lack of monthly fees and ability to access your payment in one to two business days makes it well worth the small fee.
- Dropbox [9]: Cloud storage is a must for a professional photographer. This is an easy way to back up your files in case your computer, tablet or smartphone crashes, and you can share your folders with others. Additionally, you can compile a favorites list for faster, offline viewing.
- Hootsuite [10]: This app lets you schedule posts for your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Foursquare Accounts all from the convenience of your iPad. You can load up the app with messages and photos, and then the app will take care of posting them on your chosen schedule. The app is free for up to three social media websites.
I hope you enjoyed this round-up of great apps for managing your photography business. Please feel free to chime in and leave a comment with your own suggestions via Twitter [11] or Facebook [12].