8 tools I use as a creative that I can’t live without

The exact 8 tools I use as a creative and confidently recommend to my photographer and creative entrepreneur clients.

You may be starting your photography or creative business or you are ready to step up your game and feel more professional.

I’ll let you in here..these are the actual 8 tools I use as a creative that will help you build a professional web presence, streamline your workflow, and book dream clients. I’ve personally used each one as a creative, so this is the real deal – no gatekeeping. These can really work for anyone in the creative industry – designers, photographers, beauty industry or the art industry.

---

Without further ado…the 8 tools I use as a creative that I can’t live without.

💻 Website & Hosting

🔹 ShowIt
Hands down my favorite website builder for photographers and creatives who have a portfolio the world needs to see. It’s drag-and-drop, no-code, and actually fun to use — perfect for your portfolio and drawing inthe right clients.

• Beautiful, fully customizable templates
• Seamless WordPress blogging integration
• No tech headaches

👉 Try ShowIt here

🔹 Bluehost
Even though I build beautiful sites on ShowIt and their hosting is amazing, you still have to have what they call a “registrar” to host your email. I’ve used Bluehost for over 16 years. It has never let me down!

👉 Start with Bluehost

---

✉️ Email Marketing

🔹 Flodesk
I can’t say enough good things about Flodesk. It’s like a breath of fresh air to build beautiful user-friendly emails to grow your email list. Don’t sleep on an email list! When all the social media platforms fail or the algorithm is not your friend, email is a safe home for your ride-or-die audience. It’s the only following you can truly own!

• Flat pricing (no up-charges for growing your list)
• Drag-and-drop email builder- seriously pretty layouts.
• Gorgeous, branded signup forms

👉 Snag 50% Off Flodesk on me!

---

🧾 Business Systems

🔹 Dubsado
My go-to CRM (aka: client management system) for onboarding, contracts, invoicing, and client management. If you want to look pro and give them the best booking experience from the first inquiry, start here. You don’t even have to be at your desk to book clients.

• Branded client portals
• Workflows that save hours
• Contracts + payments all in one place

👉 Try Dubsado here

🔹 MarkUp.io
If you have a creative service that requires feedback, getting edit requests from clients has been a breeze with MarkUp.io. MarkUp.io lets clients leave feedback directly on your work — no emails or screenshots required.

• Real-time comments
• Keep feedback organized
• Huge time-saver for revisions

👉 Start with MarkUp.io

🔹 Loom
You can record quick walkthroughs, explain design choices, or send a visual reply to client questions.

• Share instantly with a link
• Screen + camera recording
• Ideal for client handoffs

👉 Try Loom

🔹 PayPal
PayPal and I have been friends since 2008. Simple, familiar, and great for quick payments or deposits.

• Widely trusted by clients
• Easy to integrate into workflows
• And no, they don’t need a PayPal account to pay you with their credit/debit card.

---

🎨 Creative & Design Tools

🔹 Adobe Creative Cloud
From Lightroom to Photoshop to Illustrator — Adobe is the gold standard for creatives. I use it daily in design projects and photo editing.

• All-in-one suite for branding and visual content
• Essential for creating marketing materials
• Industry standard for a reason

👉 Get Adobe Suite

---

BONUS TIP: Use What You Actually Love

Every tool on this list is something I’ve personally used in my branding and web design business. My goal? Help you build a brand and workflow that supports your creativity — not slows it down.