STUDIO GUIDES
Guides for portrait photographers
Practical guides for family, newborn, pet, kids and boudoir photographers: starting the business, running a newborn studio, contracts, pricing and deposits, in-person sales, mini sessions, getting clients and reviews, replying to enquiries, message templates, reducing no-shows, the phone numbers worth tracking, software costs, switching CRM, texting setup, an AI receptionist script, using AI safely and training an AI on your studio. Each one is written to be useful whether or not you use Allio.
By the Allio team. Updated 22 October 2026.
Running the studio
- How to start a portrait photography businessNine steps from choosing your niche to your first reviews.
- Photography contract templateThe clauses to include, a starting template, and what to have checked locally.
- Photography mini sessionsPlan, price, market and fill a mini session day.
- Get more Google reviewsWhen to ask, what to send, the rules, and how to reply.
- Texting verification for studiosUS carrier verification for business texting, in plain words.
- Speed to lead for photographersReply first, with an answer and a time, even mid session.
- Photography pricing guidePrice sessions and products from your own costs, with worked examples.
- How to get photography clientsWhere family, newborn, pet, kids and boudoir clients come from.
- Train the AI on your studioBuild the knowledge base behind an AI that answers enquiries.
- Photography inquiry repliesHow to reply to an enquiry, with templates for each session type.
- Photography client questionnaireWhat to ask before each session, by session type.
- What missed calls costPut a number on missed calls, then answer more of them.
- Studio phone KPIsSeven numbers to track each week, and what to do when one slips.
- Deposits and retainersHow to set a fair deposit, with a sample policy.
- In-person salesRun a kind, no-pressure viewing, from consultation to order.
- Reduce no-showsReminder timing, confirmations, deposits and easy rescheduling.
- Email and text templatesA message for every stage, from booking to rebooking.
- What studio software really costsTotal your tools, usage fees and lost time, with a worked example.
- Newborn photography businessSafety, booking around due dates, pricing and client care.
- Switch photography CRMExport, import, rebuild and move your number, step by step.
- AI receptionist scriptSample greeting, disclosure, questions and handover wording.
- Is AI safe for client conversations?The real risks, the controls that matter and a go-live checklist.
Choosing software
Comparing studio software? Start with the best CRM for photographers, see all comparisons, or see how AI in Allio answers enquiries and calls.
Run your studio from one place.
The trial is seven days, card required, and you can be in within minutes.
Want the story first? Read who built Allio and why, or see what a call about Allio covers.
$297 per month. Card required. AI and phone usage is billed at cost, on top of the $297.