Invest in a CRM for 2024 – The Photographer Resource to Excel

We are diving into exactly why you need a CRM and in this case, Honeybook. As a photographer, I know you’re crazy about the creative side of things – you just want to be out there photographing clients and creating beautiful memories. We’re all guilty of sometimes neglecting the organization and business side of our businesses, but I’m here to help with a life-changing tip for photographers: you need a CRM!

What is a CRM? It stands for Customer Relationship Management and it’s basically a software program that you use to manage your business. OK, you may be thinking, but what is a CRM in photography? I hear you there. It is simply a tool you’ll use to manage every aspect of your business, like deposits, inquiries, scheduling, and new projects (aka new clients you get to work with- yay!)

Sounds pretty cool, right? I use one called HoneyBook and it’s honestly helped me scale up my business to levels I never really thought possible. I always saw the name Honeybook but shrugged it off for a long while and now I regret not getting it sooner. 

As photographers, why do we require a CRM? It leads to more inquiries, increased income, and a more professional client experience. Here’s why photographers need a CRM, even if you’re just starting out. Now- if you just picked up your camera yesterday a CRM probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list but if you are starting to build a steady clientele, it’s time. 

Why do I need a CRM?

OK, what’s so great about HoneyBook? I’m often asked which CRM is best for photographers and I always recommend HoneyBook, as it’s designed especially for small business owners. 

The pricing is fair and it can honestly do so much, including:

• Invoicing and secure payments
• Fantastic proposals and contracts that match your branding
• Easy scheduling for you and your clients
• Online contracts and signature management
• Automated workflow
• Simple integration with Gmail, QuickBooks, Zoom, and more

A few common questions on HoneyBook…

How do you set up a HoneyBook for photography?

Using a CRM like this is really intuitive and easy – it’ll walk you through every step of the process. At first, it will seem like a lot because Honeybook does a lot. I do offer mentorships specifically for Honeybook only which are much cheaper than my normal mentor rate. Just reach out! We will go through the whole system step by step.

Does HoneyBook have a CRM? Is HoneyBook a CRM or CMS?

All these acronyms are a bit confusing, I know. CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management while CMS stands for Content Management System. HoneyBook essentially does both, letting you manage both relationships and the content you share with clients, like your contracts. 

Here’s why having a CRM is right for you.

1. A CRM will Seriously Save You So Much Time

One of the main reasons I say photographers need a CRM. The biggest game-changer is all the time I save with Honeybook, especially when it comes to emails. I know you hear about Honeybook all the time. Honeybook this, Honeybook that. It gets old, I hear you. When I first heard about Honeybook I was like, “mhm hello commission” which is not a lie but when people ask about my CRM system, well here we are. 

Honeybook just has it all and without it – I’d die. That’s dramatic, but maybe it’s not. I can create several emails and save them as templates, meaning I don’t need to write the same thing over and over. Once I have them how I want them, I can send them out with just a click of a button – but I can still customize them to each client. Winning!!! 

This alone is worth the money, I swear. Anything you can do to automate your business and save yourself time frees up more hours in the day to do what you love best – take photos and edit your life away. 

2. Streamline your contracts and proposals 

Sick of printing out your contracts? Same – that’s why I ditched the printer and went completely digital. I manage all of my payments, contracts, and proposals directly through HoneyBook, with the help of its digital signature feature. 

The right CRM can manage the client experience so easily, from the first inquiry to the booking process. I put my contracts and invoice directly in each proposal for clients to book easily – PERFECT!

You can accept payments through HoneyBook too, setting an automated schedule for the deposit and their next couple of payments. Yes, this means you don’t need to chase up late payments – I can hear that sigh of relief from here! 

3. Goodbye, scheduling headaches

I find scheduling so stressful. I used to worry about taking on too much work, double-booking myself, or missing a client meeting. 

I now manage all of my scheduling (including engagement and elopement shoots, client calls, etc.) via HoneyBook’s scheduling feature. This makes it so much easier to book calls and shoots, as clients can simply schedule a time automatically, with no back and forth, based on my availability. 

You can schedule anything and everything and block out time when you have personal commitments, ensuring you never miss an important chat with a new client. 

How do photographers get consistent clients? It all comes down to reputation – doing great work, being reliable, and building relationships. I think scheduling and time management is a huge part of this, so THANK YOU, HoneyBook! 

4. A CRM is like a personal assistant who never takes a day off

I love how HoneyBook keeps me so organized. It creates tasks via automated workflows, giving me a daily to-do list that shows up on my homepage and stopping me from forgetting important stuff – goodbye Post-it notes!

A few of the daily tasks might include: 

• Second payment due from client X
• Schedule engagement session with new client
• Send final wedding gallery to client Y by [date]

5. Create workflows to stay organized easily 

A workflow is basically the steps you take from inquiry to the project being completed. Workflows are so important in the photography industry. 

For weddings, for example, there are so many touchpoints throughout the client journey, such as their initial inquiry, Zoom calls to answer any questions, contract signing… all the way to the final delivery of their image gallery. 

HoneyBook creates a workflow for each client for you, which makes it so much easier to remember and visualize where you are with each one. 

6. CRMs are both desktop and app-based – win! 

I’m often traveling for shoots, so I love that HoneyBook has an app too. Like, could it get any better? Even if you’re killing time at the airport before your next flight, you can still send a quick proposal, since I know you hate the idea of keeping clients waiting. 

You can download it for free onto your phone and access all of HoneyBook’s features from anywhere.

7. Level UP your business with a CRM

Every photographer needs a CRM, as it is truly the only way to take your business to the next level with professionalism and efficiency. 

Wedding photographers know that clients are investing serious money into their shoots/wedding day, so they deserve to have a high-quality, professional, seamless experience from day one. You can manage and schedule your business so much more easily, and also manage your own time so you’re on the ball and ready to go at every shoot. 

I totally get that it’s scary to try a new platform, but Honeybook holds so much value! If you’re ready to try it out, I’m thrilled to offer a 50% off link for one year. Use code stephmarie. Let me know how it goes – I can’t wait to hear about your experiences! Any questions? Message me or email me at steph@stephaniemariephoto.com.