Hello my friend,
As you evolve as a content creator, you’ll constantly require new tools to serve your needs. However, finding the right tools can often be very tiring and time-consuming.
To save your time, I’ve put together this guide to help you navigate through all of the options that are out there. 🤝
Let’s jump straight into it!
Photo & Video Tools
Zoner Photo Studio X → Photo editing
If you want a well-functioning editing software for your computer that will serve all of your photo editing needs, it’s definitely worth paying some money to get a really good one.
I personally use Zoner Photo Studio X. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s pretty much like Photoshop + Lightroom in one software - but at a better price. It’s definitely a software worth trying out if you haven’t already.
Topaz DeNoise AI → Noise removal
When photographing in low-light conditions, you will most likely end up with noise and grain in your photos. Topaz DeNoise AI works really well for getting rid of these.
CapCut → Video editing
Unless you’re a professional video editor, CapCut will definitely serve your needs. CapCut also has a free desktop version, which is equivalent to their mobile app, that lets you edit your projects seamlessly on the computer too.
VN Video Editor is another good option for video editing. VN also has a free desktop version. I have previously had issues with the VN app crashing at times, which is why I transitioned into using CapCut. VN is still worth giving a go though, as this might have gotten better with recent updates.
Canva → Design & creative work
Although Canva isn’t really underrated at this point, it still amazes me how great of a software this is even with the free version.
Canva is fantastic for design-related work overall. I use it for designing Instagram posts and stories, media kits, digital products, presentations, just to name a few.
While the premium version obviously lets you access more features, the free version is really great. So far, I’ve only used the free version of Canva.
Inpreview → Instagram feed planner
For Instagram feed planning, there are many apps available. Inpreview is one of them and works great.
Snapseed → Mobile photo editing
For basic photo editing on the go, Snapseed gets the job done.
Location Scouting & Planning
Google Maps & Google Earth → Location scouting
Google Maps and Google Earth is everything you really need when location scouting. I often use a mix of the satellite view and topographical map to get a better understanding of the environment.
PhotoPills → Specific photo planning
If you have very specific photo ideas in mind and need to take factors such as the sun or night sky into account, PhotoPills is super useful. It costs about $11 but is absolutely worth the money if you need a more in depth photo planner.
Arcticans Aurora Forecast
If you ever find yourself photographing the northern lights, you need this app. The app offers real time monitoring of the solar wind among many other things, and makes it so much easier to plan your shoots. It cost just over $6, but is so worth it in the long run.
Setting Up Your Business
Beehiiv → Newsletter
Setting up your own newsletter is a fantastic way of building a stronger connection to those who engage with your work. If you’ve been thinking of creating one, I highly encourage you to do so!
There are many newsletter platforms out there; Beehiiv, Kit, Mailchimp, Beacons.ai just to name a few.
The main reason why I chose to go with Beehiiv was their very friendly pricing plan. Up until you have 2500 subscribers, their service is completely free to use. Most other platforms have their free plan set to 1000 subscribers or even lower.
Another thing worth asking yourself is if you want an all-in-one software or not. For example, Beacons.ai lets you create newsletters, media kits, a link in bio and even online offers in a single place. This might be the right offer for some.
Last but not least, your personal preference plays a big role in these decisions too. I personally really liked Beehiiv’s interference, which was an important aspect for me.
Liinks → Link in bio
If you have something worth directing your viewers to, having a proper link in bio on your social channels is a must!
Once again, there are so many options when it comes to link in bio platforms. Liinks, Linktree, Canva, Beacons.ai, Solo.to and so on..
One thing that I’ve noticed after trying a couple of free versions from different companies is that there usually is some form of catch. In most cases, there are limitations or annoying features to make you want to upgrade to a premium plan.
Because of this, I chose to go with Liinks. Their service costs $4 per month with their premium plan, but it’s actually a good deal compared to other companies’ equivalent. The layouts are in my opinion quite clean and slick too.
Wix → Website
Having a website is great if you want to gather all of your work in one place. As always, there are many different platforms that offer website creation.
I personally chose to go for Wix as it’s overall a decent platform. Through Wix, there’s also a possibility to set up an online store, which is a big bonus.
Most website-hosting platforms have quite similar offers in terms of pricing, so it mostly comes down to your own preferences.
NameCheap → Domain
While platforms such as Wix offer website creation and web hosting, you need to buy the domain itself from somewhere else. I bought mine from NameCheap.
Manychat → Automated DM replies
Manychat is a service used for automating messages and replies on social media. Depending on how far you want to take it, it can be a really powerful software.
The free version lets you have a total of four active automations at the same time.
Selling Products
Wix → Print sales (worldwide)
In my case, Wix happened to become the place where I set up my print store. If you don’t print and ship your products by yourself, having someone else do it for you is very convenient.
Saal Digital → Print sales (EU)
Saal Digital are pros when it comes to printing photos and other photo products. If you’re based in Europe, they are a great option as they ship within the EU.
Gumroad → Selling digital products
If you’re planning on selling digital products online, Gumroad is a very good option.
Organizing
Google Drive & Google Document → Notes, documents etc
You don’t need the most fancy software for your notes and documents, as long as you are comfortable with what you are using. I have personally used Google throughout my years in school, which is why I’m most used to using their services.
ColorNote → Notes on the go
ColorNote is a mobile app that works great for writing and organizing notes on the go.
I hope this newsletter helps you find the right solutions for your needs! Reply to this email and let me know - I’d love to hear your thoughts and maybe feature some of your recommendations in the coming newsletters.
Stay creative, my friends 🤝
All the best,
Kevin
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