Studio Ninja Reviews

“missing key email features

Pros

I find it has a few decent tools for client management and setting up workflows. Also another plus side is that their team is quick to respond whenever I send a message.

Cons

At $360 a year this software still misses very basic features it really should have. You can't choose specific dates for automated workflow emails, send bulk emails to grouped lead or client categories or even set up a monthly email newsletter. Whenever I raise these issues I'm told it's not possible and sometimes they mention passing the feedback along. I've been using it for 5 years now and those features still haven't been added.

“basic core features are absent

Pros

Settings interface is clean, clear and easy to work with.

Cons

That said it is still missing a lot of basic core features that many other CRMs already include.

“gdpr issues hurt trust

Pros

There isn't much to appreciate once you get past the advertising.

Cons

A serious problem is that it isn't GDPR compliant. When you close your account your clients can still access personal data and continue receiving invoice reminders.

“security flaws and invoice limits

Pros

It was built specifically with photographers in mind which is something I appreciated.

Cons

Password and security side doesn't feel reliable. After changing the password the system says it has been updated but once logged out the old password still works to gain access. It also won't let me create an invoice unless a shoot date is entered. That causes problems when someone purchases a photoshoot voucher because I need to send the invoice before any shoot date has been scheduled.

“workflow automation done right

Pros

Standout part for me is being able to build workflows once for each type of photography session or wedding I offer and then not have to think about them again. My clients stay in regular contact with me because it handles those communications automatically and I'm not stuck trying to remember every task since it takes care of that too. Other than that their customer support has been excellent. Whenever I have a question they respond right away.

Cons

I don't have any complaints about it. After 20 years in the business that says a lot.

“multilingual crm that delivers

Pros

Dashboard gives a really clear overview and the Gmail calendar sync keeps everything organized and visual. It's also the only photographer CRM I've come across that truly supports multiple languages including a multilingual client portal. Since a big part of my clients speak different languages that has been a huge advantage and honestly it's the best software I've found on the market for that. Quotes, invoices and questionnaires are all built in as well. Another big plus is that the lead capture form can be made GDPR/DSGVO compliant which is great for photographers in Europe.

Cons

One thing I'd like to see is more text fields in the lead capture form that can map to different note types on the backend. I'm also missing push notifications in the app for new leads and there's no instant booking system yet although both features are supposed to be coming soon.

“handy tools for photographers

Pros

Running a photography business feels a lot more organized with this software because it includes plenty of tools that working photographers actually need. It handles payments well, keeps invoices on track and lets you add your logo or customize invoices so they look more professional. Contracts and agreements can be signed electronically, credit card payments are accepted and transfers can be made directly. It's also useful for sending payment reminders and automated emails without having to stay on top of everything manually. The CRM is easy and manageable and it helps with building a personalized schedule and workflow. Another big plus is being able to use it from anywhere instead of being tied to the studio.

Cons

Some people may want something more advanced rather than such a simplified system which I think is one of its drawbacks. I'm more comfortable with software that gives a bit more detail. There's also frequent lag and at times the platform becomes unresponsive which means having to close it and start over. Because of that I was never able to make use of the questionnaires. Overall it just doesn't move as quickly as I need it to.

“polished portal

Pros

Keeping track of whether client emails have been received and opened is really simple. The one to one tutorials have been incredibly helpful too and they're modified to the way my business works. The app comes in handy all the time and puts everything I need right at my fingertips. The customer portal looks professional and the contact form has been especially useful, much simpler to work with than the one I was using before through my web host.

Cons

Because my business has been running since 2009 it took quite a bit of time to move all the information I wanted into this platform. Like any CRM it really depends on the quality and amount of information you put into it. On the positive side the process has pushed me to go back through my admin procedures and make sure everything is being done properly.

“Great templates

Pros

Having the ready made email templates built in has been a huge help. The platform is very simple to use and I've been using it for both of my companies. It has made sending emails, contracts, questionnaires and packages much more manageable. It's generally a very user friendly and easy to handle software.

Cons

Something that doesn't work well for me is the payment gateway setup for India so I'm not able to collect payments directly through the software. It would also be much better if there were an option to create a customized payment schedule inside the platform.

“Good workflows

Pros

Getting started with it was quick and setting up custom workflows was very easy. It automatically sends emails to clients and keeps everything moving without much effort. It also does a really good job of tracking incoming leads and the dashboard lays out all the features clearly with a graph that's simple to understand and use.

Cons

At this point it feels spot on to me and there isn't really anything I'd want to change yet.

“time-saving all-in-one workflow

Pros

Such a handy piece of software, it saves a lot of time and having all the information integrated in one place is really helpful!

Cons

Getting started was pretty challenging for me since my husband usually handles all the technical computer setup.

“amazing support

Pros

The team behind it has been amazing to deal with: really friendly, supportive and always willing to help along the way. After spending a bit of time with it everything starts to click and makes a lot of sense.

Cons

Starting out can feel pretty overwhelming as a newcomer which is a bit intimidating at first but the team has been amazing in helping me work through that.

“my personal assistant for business

Pros

Running my business feels so much lighter with this. It's incredibly simple to use, the customer support is outstanding and it handles exactly what I need it to. Honestly it feels like having my own personal assistant and I absolutely love it.

Cons

Only thing I'm missing right now is a built in gallery or website feature but hopefully that's something that gets added soon.

“workflow magic for my business

Pros

It takes care of all the parts of running my business that I really don't enjoy. The built-in templates for emails, invoices, workflows, questionnaires and contracts along with the tracking for all of it have been an absolute lifesaver.

Cons

Don't have anything negative to say about it. It's thoughtfully designed, easy to use and they're constantly improving and refining the software.

“flexible customization done right

Pros

There's a lot of room to modify the finer details but it never feels overly complicated or confusing to use.

Cons

I haven't come across anything I dislike yet and any concerns I had were quickly put at ease by the customer support team.

“Great onboarding

Pros

After joining this platform about a month ago we've been really excited to use it. The onboarding process was outstanding and the customer support has been amazing throughout.

Cons

The only thing we're hoping for is Square to be added as a payment option which would make things more convenient for customers in the USA.

“automation that saves hours

Pros

Automation in the software has cut out hours of manual admin for me which means I can spend more time supporting clients and putting energy into growing the business strategically.

Cons

This is really more of a nice-to-have but I'd love a bit more flexibility in how clients can communicate. Aside from that it feels like the perfect business management tool for photographers.

“my all-in-one studio assistant

Pros

It's hard to narrow it down to just one thing I love about it. I basically treat it like a personal assistant for my clients because it handles everything a PA would normally do and then quite a bit more. It costs me far less than hiring someone and it saves me both time and money at the same time.

Cons

I really wish it included its own built-in client gallery so I wouldn't need to rely on another company for that integration. I currently use Pic-Time but I'd love to keep everything in one place and use my "PA" for absolutely everything.

“stellar support

Pros

Getting started with it felt very natural. The platform is highly user friendly without being difficult to learn and it includes all the tools you need without overwhelming users with a cluttered or impractical interface.

Cons

For now I don't have any issues to point out. It was quite simple to pick up and whenever something wasn't immediately clear their customer service was incredibly helpful, thorough and fast to respond.

“best crm layout and features

Pros

Right away it felt easy to work with and there are plenty of customization options to modify the experience for clients. Out of all the CRMs I've used this one stands out the most in both layout and the range of features it offers.

Cons

It sounds hard to believe but I haven't run into any downsides yet. Everything I was hoping to get from switching to a new CRM is already included here.

“brilliant workflow from day one

Pros

Compared with my old system called Zoho, this has been a huge upgrade. It's far more use friendly and gives me everything I actually need without loading things up with unnecessary features and complicated extras. The support team is consistently great too. They're just as happy to help with simple questions as they are with the more complex issues and that makes a big difference. Working in the system is genuinely enjoyable because it streamlines everything and makes daily tasks feel much more manageable. On the client side it makes you look incredibly proactive when really the system is already set up in a way that feels personal right out of the box. Honestly it's been excellent since day one.

Cons

Nothing worth complaining about really, it's been easy and simple from the very first use.

“workflow peace of mind

Pros

Running my business with this software feels really easy and once the workflows are set up everything keeps moving as it should. I don't have to worry about forgetting to send things out to clients because the system helps keep it all on track.

Cons

If I had to point out anything I'd say the reporting could be a bit stronger and having the option to contact multiple clients at the same time would be really helpful. Still those are pretty minor compared to how many positives there are in both the software and their team.

“client care made better

Pros

It does such a good job helping me take care of my clients and it also makes the whole process really simple for them.

Cons

There's honestly not a lot to complain about. If I had to mention anything the Xero integration can duplicate a few things and Square isn't included in the payment options. Other than that not much comes to mind.

“Easy and user friendly

Pros

Getting started with it feels very easy and everything is simple to understand. It's also reallyuser friendly,

Cons

I'd love to see a date picker or booking calendar feature added in the future.