Photography Hardware, Software and Accessories:
Phone Camera
Digital SLR
Point and Shoot
(or a combination of all three!)
Tripod: really useful for taking photos in low light
Props box or shelf – loaded with photo-worthy extras to trick up your shots
Photoshop or Photoshop Elements
Analog Accessories:
Notebook
Great stationery
Diary
Scrapbook
Things that will help you keep track of what you are loving, what you are doing and what you are thinking
Add audio posts (podcasts!) to your blog
Record you chatter on your phone using something like Auphonic. Email them to yourself and then upload to your blog using the ‘Add Media’ button (WordPress) You can also upload the Auphonic file to Soundcloud for even wider distribution and sharing.
The podcast below was made with Auphonic, then emailed to myself so that I could grab the MP4 audio file easily, then uploaded to Soundcloud. Soundcloud lets you add an image to your recording and generates an embed code for easy sharing too! Soundcloud are also working on their podcasting/talking to iTunes capabilities.
Higher Quality Audio Content
I like to record with a Snowball Microphone by BLUE*. You just plug it in, let your computer know it’s your preferred microphone and then record away. I record straight into Soundcloud by hitting UPLOAD > RECORD. I like Soundcloud because you can allow people to download the audio and listen to it whenever they like (on whichever device they prefer!)
Screencasts
Screencasts can be made using Quicktime’s Screen Recording option (this is a Mac option). So easy. Again I use the Snowball Microphone for the audio, but you can use the microphone in your computer, if you like. If you have a PC you could try Screencast-O-Matic or Screencast or Tiny Take.
Cute Blog Theme Sources
Kreated By Kelsey
Angie Makes
Etsy
Theme Forest
BluChic
Shiny Magic
Designer Blogs
Studio Press
Elegant Themes
Simple Online DIY Graphic Design
Canva
PicMonkey
Cuter Fonts For WordPress.Org
WordPress fonts plugin
Google fonts
Create A Cute Favicon For Your Blog
Here!
Create A Media Kit
Media kit resource
Run A Giveaway The Right Way
via Laney
Cute Social Media Buttons
CarrieLoves
Apps For Your Phone:
Productivity, Task and Idea Managing Apps:
aNote: Like a virtual notebook and diary all rolled into one. Cute custom folders and calendar syncing make this a super goodie.
Evernote: Sync saved web pages, notes and all kinds of other stuff between your computer and your phone
Dropbox: All your work, photos, files in one syncable app. The very best way to share files online, methinks.
Springpad: save articles, bookmark stuff to read later, manage to-do lists and more!
Photo Apps:
Instagram: Because it’s the best! There’s a huge gang waiting for you there
Afterglow: A really great app with lots of filters and the ability to frame images in circular shapes. Win!
Diptic: Make cute photo grids/collages with your phone
PicStitch: Another cute photo collage app
Instapicframe: Another collage app for your phone images
Jittergram: Make your own moving gifs with this fun app
Phoster: Make mini posters (complete with rad text options) and share or save
Snapguide: Make a photo tutorial and share it with the Snapguide community or your own.
Hipstamatic: I must admit that I use Instagram and deleted Hipstamatic from my phone. But I know lots of people LOVE it. You might too!
Incredibooth: Hipstamatic’s photo-booth brother. Super fun for taking shots of people/kids/pets!
Pano: for taking those fancy panoramic shots when your own camera can’t manage it
Vintique: Really great Instagram like app which will allow you to edit and then upload to Instagram
Labelbox: Add text labels to your images
Paper Camera: Cute effects for your pics (like neon and cartoon!)
A Beautiful Mess: Add text, doodles, borders and more to your pics!
Whitagram: Add white borders to images: perfect for landscape format shots.
Social Media Apps:
Instagram : because it really is a VERY social, accessible form of photo blogging
Pinterest: I love the iPhone Pinterest app MUCH more than the iPad Pinterest app! Super great for pinning in supermarket queues or bank lines…
Instatag : autotag your images for wider reach, good if you are trying to grow followers
Spotify : Use it socially! Share playlists with your circle, send tracks to your friends and colleagues
Pages for Facebook: in case you are admin to several pages, this app will help you manage them easily
Buffer: Add Buffer to your computer and phone and share items to Twitter or Facebook instantly (or to a schedule)
Mr Reader: An RSS Reader which you can link to your Buffer account, sharing items direct from Mr Reader to Twitter or Facebook
Hootsuite: Monitor, respond and add to your Facebook or Twitter streams via Hootsuite.
Feedly: Awesome magazine style RSS reader.
Video and Podcasting Apps:
Super8: Make cute vintage style mini-movies and share or save them
Cinemagram: Kind of like Instagram for the moving image…
iTalk: a great way to record audio (which you can then upload to Soundcloud to make your very own podcast!)
Design:
What The Font: will identify fonts you snap on the go (from a magazine or poster, for instance) so that you can make a note and use it later (on your blog!)
My Pantone: Your own portable colour palette library. So cool. Not cheap, but rad and super useful.
Creative Booklist
The Brain That Changes Itself – Norman Doidge
Everyday Zen: Love And Work – Charlotte Joko Beck
Creative Confidence – David Kelley
Living On The Earth – Alicia Bay Laurel
Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain – Betty Edwards
The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
Art As Therapy – Alain De Botton
The Art of Possibility – Rosamund Stone Sander
Daring Greatly – Brene Brown
The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin
Strengths Finder – Tom Rath
The Desire Map – Danielle La Porte
Brave Intuitive Painting – Flora Bowley
My Morning View – Tammy Strobel
Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures Of A Creative Life: Dani Shapiro
Bird By Bird: Anne Lamott
Writing Down The Bones: Natalie Goldberg
Creative Journal Writing: Stephanie Dowrick
If You Want To Write: Barbara Ueland
On Becoming An Artist: Ellen Langer
The War Of Art: Steven Pressfield
Steal Like An Artist: Austin Kleon
Manage Your Day To Day: Jocelyn K Glei and 99U
The Accidental Creative: Todd Henry
Creative Block: Danielle Krysa
Make Your Creative Dreams Real: SARK
Living Out Loud: Keri Smith
Fire Starter Sessions: Danielle La Porte
The $100 Startup: Chris Guillebeau
Make Map Art: Salli Sue Swindell
The Little Book Of Lettering: Emily Gregory
Creative Workshop: David Sherwin
Make Your Own Luck: Kate Moross
How To Be An Illustrator: Darrel Rees
How To Be An Explorer Of The World: Keri Smith
642 Things To Write Journal: San Fran Writer’s Grotto
Illustration School: Let’s Draw Cute Animals
The Gorgeous Colouring Book For Grown Ups
Vintage Patterns: Creative Colouring Book
My Listography: Lisa Nolan