Here’s your cheat sheet to the most popular CRMs for photographers: pricing, features, pros, cons, and my honest take on who they’re best for. No fluff, no overwhelm, just straight-up facts so you can make the best choice for your business.

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TL;DR: All CRMs help you organize and automate, but the right one depends on your workflow, personality, and what you’re willing to learn. (Scroll down further for the chance to grab my free CRM comparison chart.)

Use this little checklist when making your choice

• Are you new to the game, and just need an easy to set up basic system? Go Iris Works or Unscripted.
• Are you all about the ability to create custom templates, lots of features, and kick ass automations? Dubsado wins.
• Need galleries + email + scheduling all in one? Try Sprout Studio.
• Want to look polished without getting too overwhelmed? Go HoneyBook.
• Want reliable basics with good support? Studio Ninja is strong.

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1. Dubsado (My Personal Favorite and The Only One I Trust For My Own Business)

Price:

• Starter: $20/month (billed annually $200/year) or $20 monthly
• Premier: $40/month (or $400/year) this includes features like scheduling

Includes:

• Unlimited clients/projects
• Invoicing, payment plans
• Forms & email templates
• Client portal
• Quickbook integrations
• Premier adds scheduling, public proposals, workflows, Zoom & Zapier
  

Pros:

• Deep customization, templates, and automation
• Total branding and design control
• Excellent email integrations
• Zapier & Zoom integrations

Cons:

• Interface can feel overwhelming to newer users
• Takes time to set up deeply custom workflows

Why you’ll love it:
You love control, love streamlining, and really want to be able to create a wickedly automated client process from start to finish, all without paying a ton.

Why you might not:
Because of all the amazing things Dubs can do it can be a bit overwhelming to initially set up. You will definitely need to take some time to watch the tutorials and learn all the ins and outs before you even attempt to set it all up. Better yet, you may want to consider hiring someone (like me) who is an expert in Dubs to help you set it up.

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2. Sprout Studio

Price:

Lite $17/mo; Basic $34; Pro $49; Studio $69 (all with free 30-day trial)

Includes:
CRM, photo galleries, email marketing, scheduling, lab fulfillment, pricing calculators (used to plan print/pricing)

Pros:

• Replaces several tools at once
• Email newsletter + gallery + booking capabilities
• Helpful pricing calculators

Cons:

• Higher price point
• Has a bit of a steeper learning curve

Why you’ll love it:
You want an all-in-one toolkit, where almost everything you need to run your business is in one spot, no jumping between systems.

Why you might not:
If you just want CRM and don’t need email, gallery, or pricing tools, the extras can feel like overkill.

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3. Iris Works

Price:

• Basic $25/mo or $299/yr
• Pro $35/mo or $399/yr (includes scheduling or email marketing)
• Pro Plus $50/mo or $499/yr

Includes:
Workflows, contracts, invoicing, lead pages, location management; higher tiers add scheduling, email marketing, and free setup.

Pros:

• Photographer-focused
• Clean, mobile-friendly interface
• Fast account setup

Cons:

• Some workflows or invoicing features could improve
• Email tools not as sophisticated as competitors

Why you’ll love it:
You want quick setup and tools that feel built for shooting sessions.

Why you might not:
If you want top-tier email marketing or advanced automation, you might feel limited.

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4. HoneyBook

Price:

• Starter $29/mo ($348/yr)
• Essentials $49/mo ($588/yr)
• Premium $79/mo (for growing teams)

Includes:
Forms, proposals, contracts, scheduling, client portal, invoicing, basic reporting; higher tiers add automation, team seats, QuickBooks sync

Pros:

• Very user-friendly
• Built-in client portal
• Great for solo pros or small teams

Cons:

• Starter tier limited to 2 lead forms and $10k client payment cap

Why you’ll love it:
If you want to feel polished but don’t want to spend hours setting things up, HoneyBook is smooth.

Why you might not:
If you’re booking >$10k clients or using lots of forms, you’ll need to upgrade fast.

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5. Unscripted

Price:

• Pro plan around $14–$15/mo with full features

Includes:
CRM, galleries, posing prompts & education, contracts, payments, scheduling, basic business tools

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• Easy to set up within hours
• Includes educational and posing resources
• Created by photographers for photographers

Cons:

• Features still growing less depth than bigger CRMs
• Really limited automation abilities when it comes to a luxury client experience
• Basic branding integration

Why you’ll love it:
You just launched and need something affordable that gets the essentials done, and has a few other fun photographer features.

Why you might not:
If you want heavy customization or automations, you’ll outgrow it quickly.

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6. Studio Ninja

Price:

• Pro $24.90/mo; Master $36.50/mo

Includes:
Unlimited everything—jobs, templates, workflows, invoicing, scheduling, email automation, revenue tracking

Pros:

• Clean interface with fast setup
• Great support, responsive dev team
• Flat pricing = predictable billing

Cons:

• Lacks some advanced email integrations
• Some users report bugs

Why you’ll love it:
You want a reliable CRM with straightforward tools and friendly support.

Why you might not:
If you’re team-heavy, handling multiple brands, or just want a more in-depth CRM, Studio Ninja might feel limited.

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Is it perfect for you…or not?

Dubsado

• Perfect if you love process and want deep systems
• Not for you if you just want simple and done-in-30-minutes

Sprout Studio

• Perfect if you want a single tool for everything
• Not for you if you prefer a la carte features

Iris Works

• Perfect if quick setup and photographer-fit matter
• Not for you if you need major customization

HoneyBook

• Perfect if you want a sleek, user-friendly biz tool
• Not for you if your bookings or forms outpace the starter tier

Unscripted

• Perfect if you’re starting out and budget matters
• Not for you if you know you want advanced systems

Studio Ninja

• Perfect if you want reliable tools and responsive support
• Not for you if you’re building a multi-brand studio or need very custom workflows

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Trust me, I get it. Sorting out workflows, forms, and automations can feel like learning a second language, but that’s literally what I do for creative business owners like you. Whether you’re starting fresh or tired of duct-taping your DIY systems together, I can help you choose the right CRM and set it up (from start to finish) to actually make your life easier, not more complicated. Just call me the “Time Machine” just over here helping you organize your shit so you will have more time for the things that you really love to do.

Let’s chat about what you really need. Book a free consult and we’ll figure out your next best step (no pressure, just clarity).

Already have a CRM and need to know how to embed your lead contact form into your website?

How to connect your CRM contact form to your website (Showit + Squarespace)