Microsoft has released a free Outlook add-in for professional photographers. The add-in, called "Pro Photo Shoot," lets photographers create lists of their equipment and then uses checkboxes next to the items to remember what to bring to the photo shoot. For example, while on the phone with the client, photographers can bring up the dialog box that lists all of their stuff, check off what they want, and the list is then stored in the body of the appointment. If you print out the appointment, the list is right there along with all the other details.
When you begin using the add-in, you'll notice a new button that appears in the ribbon (for Outlook 2007) or the task bar (for Outlook 2003) of the appointment. You can then press the "Equipment Pool" option to start entering the names and types of the equipment you own. You can also add more details, like purchase price, warranty information, etc. This can be a useful way to keep track of the items for insurance purposes, too. The add-in is available for download for either Outlook 2003 or 2007.
Another useful feature for photographers using Vista is the ability to tag, print, and handle "raw" photos, which are the unprocessed data from high-end cameras. Because Microsoft relies on camera manufacturers to supply the necessary codecs to work with these files, they have set up a website with links just for downloading the Vista Raw Image Codes. Currently, manufacturers on this list include Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, and Olympus, as well as Ardry's codec for handle Adobe Systems' Digital Negative (DNF) format. Windows XP users can also use these codecs in the Windows Live Photo Gallery when installed.