5 Things That Will Save You Time as a Photographer (Hint: It's not what you think)
&layout=none&ref=https://www.shannashootme.com/blog/2026/2/5-things-that-will-save-you-time-as-a-photographer-hint-its-not-what-you-think)
5 Things That Will Save You Time as a Photographer
(Hint: None of Them Are Cameras or Lenses)
Let me be honest with you for a second.
After years of shooting, I've invested thousands in glass, upgraded my camera bodies, and researched every piece of photography gear under the sun. And yet — some of the biggest time-savers in my life as a photographer have had absolutely nothing to do with photography.
I'm talking about the stuff that keeps your life running smoothly so you can actually focus on what you love: shooting, editing, and building your business. Because here's the truth — the less time you spend on cooking, cleaning, and staying healthy, the more time you have behind the lens.
Here are the 5 products that have genuinely changed my day-to-day life as a photographer. I use every single one of them.
1. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
Raise your hand if you've ever completely forgotten to eat because you were too deep in an editing session. Same. The Instant Pot changed that for me.
On Sunday evenings, I spend 20 minutes throwing together a big batch of chicken, rice, or soup — and that's my meals handled for the entire week. No standing over the stove after a 10-hour editing day. No ordering takeout because I was too exhausted to cook. Just real food, ready when I need it.
As a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and more all in one, the Instant Pot is the kitchen equivalent of a Swiss Army knife. I Like making big batches and freezing leftovers so I'd go for the 8 Quart if you're like me!
2. Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer
On the days when batch cooking just didn't happen — or I need something fast between back-to-back client sessions — my Air Fryer is my secret weapon.
Costco Chicken Strips? 22 minutes. Roasted veggies? 10 minutes. Reheated leftovers that actually taste crispy and fresh instead of soggy? Done. This thing does it all without heating up the entire kitchen, and cleanup takes about 90 seconds.
3. Ninja Professional Plus DUO Blender
Early morning shoots. Long editing marathons. Exhausted evenings after full wedding days. These are not the moments you want to spend cooking a full meal — but they're also the moments when your body needs fuel the most.
My Ninja Blender solves this in under three minutes. Throw in some spinach, frozen fruit, protein powder, and almond milk and maybe an avocado— and you have a complete, nutritious meal ready before your computer even finishes booting up. The 1400-watt motor crushes ice and frozen ingredients effortlessly, and the to-go cups mean I can take it straight to my shoot without washing a single dish.
4. Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum
You know what's really hard to do when you're on a deadline? Clean your house. Now add three dogs to that equation. I have three dogs at home, and I will just say it — the fur is relentless. We're talking tumbleweeds of dog hair rolling across the floor while I'm trying to edit a wedding gallery. It was slowly driving me crazy.
Enter the Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum — and honestly, my sanity has never been better. This thing runs every single day while I'm working. I don't think about it. I just come out of an editing session to a clean floor, despite three dogs doing their absolute best to destroy it. It has a self-emptying base (huge deal when you have pets), works with voice commands, and handles both carpet and hard floors without missing a beat. Hands down my favorite tool and one I cannot live without anymore.
This one might surprise you — but hear me out. I keep my Echelon Smart Bike right next to my computer in my photography editing room. And it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.
On busy editing days when I can't leave the house for a proper workout, I take 15-minute cycling breaks throughout the day — between culling sessions, while exports run, or when I need to clear my head between edits. By the end of the day, those 15-minute breaks have quietly added up to a full hour of cardio without ever leaving my office.
As photographers, we spend hours hunched over our computers. Our bodies weren't made for that — and the mental clarity I get from those short riding breaks has made me a noticeably better editor. I come back to my screen fresh, more decisive, and way less fatigued.
The Echelon connects to a fitness app with live and on-demand classes, but honestly I mostly use it for those quiet breaks with music playing. At $500, it's an investment — but your health is worth it.
The Bottom Line
Being a better photographer isn't just about gear. It's about protecting your time, your energy, and your health — so you can show up fully for the work you love.
These five products have become genuinely essential parts of my photography life. They handle the stuff that used to drain me, so I can pour more of myself into the creative work. And honestly? The ROI on all of them combined is nothing compared to what I've gained back in time and mental bandwidth.
Save this post, bookmark these links, and treat yourself. You've earned it. 📸
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and love.