PicSpotr

This budget-friendly, cloud-based business app has recently added calendly.com integration so clients can book appointments and shoots that sync with PicSpotr. The service is also now integrated with ShootProof galleries and has a new dedicated customer portal where clients can access their galleries, invoices, payment histories, contracts and more. Finally, a new goal-tracking feature lets you set an annual revenue target with regular performance updates to ensure you’re staying on track.

Price: $10/month
picspotr.com

Dubsado

The cloud-based Dubsado can track and capture leads and send out automated responses with the proper forms to get your relationship off on the right virtual foot. It supports client invoicing (and tipping), recurring invoicing and even subscriptions with PayPal, Stripe and Square integrations for payment processing. You can use pre-existing forms (emails, contracts, questionnaires, etc.) or use the software’s templates to build your own. Dubsado incorporates e-signatures for legally binding contracts, plus a client file uploader (up to 5MB). On the accounting front, the software lets you set annual or monthly business goals, track invoices and generate profit/loss statements. Calendar integration, personalized branding, task boards and more round out Dubsado’s extensive feature set.

Price: $35/month or $350/year
dubsado.com

Iris Works

Iris Works uses a series of automated workflows to ensure mundane business tasks are done for you. A Lead Page can collect and follow-up with client inquiries based on the types of services they’re interested in while an online booking tool connects with your calendar to slot in meetings and shoots for free days. Iris Works can automatically send and receive invoices and is integrated with Square, PayPal and Stripe payment services. It’s recently been updated with a publishable booking link so you can share with clients who can then book a time slot that’s synced back to your calendar. Additional features include branded emails, contracts and questionnaires, plus integration with ShootProof for client galleries and QuickBooks to make sure Uncle Sam is getting his cut.

Prices: starting at $25/month
iris-works.com

Schedulista

This online scheduling tool supports a custom-branded client booking page and calendar integration so you can keep tabs on your appointments from a mobile device. You can embed the Schedulista booking tool onto your website or as a “book now” button on your Facebook business page. The app supports credit card payments, automated appointment reminders via email and text message and MailChimp integration so you can funnel your client bookings into email marketing campaigns.

Prices: starting at $19/month
schedulista.com

ShootZilla

ShootZilla packs a number of workflow-based tools that let you capture leads, generate reminders, create contacts, manage your calendar and more. The web-based software presents you with an easy-to-read color-coded task list to manage your to-dos. In addition to its business management tools, the company has also been adding new educational material for its subscribers. There are courses focusing on business transformation and blogging, with more courses planned for this year. These are free with a ShootZilla subscription but are also sold separately for $130.

Price: $24/month
shootzilla.com

Táve

Táve is built around workflows that help you take a client from a lead through to a completed job. It supports online booking, prospect questionnaires and a series of automated tools to do the work of sending invoice reminders, session and meeting reminders. You can program your own custom automations, too. The cloud-based service has been updated to allow clients to generate PDF invoices, plus the ability to filter your calendar feeds by job type, attendees or sub-brands for your business. The software has also achieved full GDPR compliance so you won’t run afoul of EU regulators when booking that destination wedding.

Prices: starting at $22/month (solo)
tave.com

Light Blue

Now on version 8, the newly updated desktop software has new automation features alongside enhancements to its email and text messaging features. Among the new capabilities is the ability to automatically generate emails and text messages for things like appointment reminders or follow-ups. Emails can now be composed in a separate window so you can return to the software’s main window if you get writer’s block. Light Blue also now supports the ability for clients to send files to you, to aid in in-person sales and other client communications. You can export and import workflows to share with other Light Blue users. Light Blue runs on MacOS and Windows and supports client invoicing, lead tracking and more. It’s sold as a standalone app or paired with online services that include a monthly fee of $15 and access to free software upgrades.

Price: $350
lightbluesoftware.com

17 Hats

With the cloud-based 17 Hats you can track leads, send quotes, contracts and invoices and get an overview of the health of your business’s finances. It’s integrated with Stripe, Quickbooks, PayPal, Square, Authorize.net, ShootProof and several more services. Thanks to its customizable client portable, your customers can view their quotes, contracts and questionnaires all in one place.

Price: $45/month
17hats.com

ShootQ

ShootQ offers a slew of business management tools including contracts, online booking and invoicing, lead tracking, reporting and workflows. The service has been updated to add customized branding across all client-facing pages and the ability to automatically send text message reminders to clients so they don’t snooze through an appointment.

Prices: starting at $24/month
shootq.com

Booksteam

With Booksteam you can create a client scheduling page with your own branding and custom SMS/email reminders. It features a client database manager that lets you track and organize customers and calendar synchronization with Apple, Google and Microsoft Outlook. Stripe and PayPal integration enable you to accept credit card payments. The service also includes invoicing, the ability to offer gift certificates and promotions, solicit and gather customer reviews and build personalized client appointment pages with password protection.

Prices: starting at $20/month
booksteam.com

HoneyBook

A complete business management tool, HoneyBook has a number of automated workflows to streamline client communications, meeting scheduling and more. The web-based service supports contract signing, online invoicing and payment, customizable templates for forms like contracts and more.

Price: $34/month
honeybook.com

Studio Ninja

This business management software commits to a new feature a month that arrives free of charge for subscribers. It follows a workflow-based regime that reminds you of task deadlines and automates the sending of emails, invoices, reminders and more. It supports online invoicing, credit card payments, calendar syncing, electronic signatures, customized branding and more. It’s integrated with a number of third-party tools including Fundy Designer, ShootProof, QuickBooks, Zero, Stripe, PayPal and more.

Price: $22/month
studioninja.co

Sprout Studios

The multifunctional Sprout Studios has recently added integration with Zapier, a tool that lets you connect different apps together for task automation (think of it as an “If This, Then That” for business management tools). A new Sprout Assistant tool lets you automate client emails, including the ability to set email triggers so that emails go out based on client activity (or inactivity, as the case may be). In addition to the program’s business management tools, you can create online sales galleries and deliver album design proofs to clients. It also supports selling prints and other output products and Sprout won’t take a cut of your sales.

Prices: starting at $17/month
getsproutstudio.com

StudioPlus

StudioPlus offers a pair of solutions for photographers and studio owners. Spectra is a desktop software product for managing your business while myStratus lives in the cloud and offers most of the same features you’ll find in the company’s Spectra offering. myStratus offers an automatic client referral program that lets you create a rewards program when a client refers a new customer. Client referrals can be collected from a Facebook link, text message or email. StudioPlus is very scalable and can accommodate single proprietors up to large studios spread across multiple locations.

Prices: starting at $33/month (spectra), $30/month (mystratus)
studioplussoftware.com

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