Description

How We’ve Run Our Photography Businesses Smoothly for 10 Years with Studio Ninja

Running a photography business is exciting, but let’s be real – it’s not all golden-hour portraits and perfect flat lays. Behind every beautiful gallery lies an avalanche of admin: contracts, invoices, booking forms, emails, client questionnaires, workflows, and endless follow-ups. It’s no wonder so many photographers end up working late into the night, trying to stay on top of everything.

At Shutter Circle, we’ve been there. All four of us run our own photography businesses, and between us we’ve experienced every version of messy admin you can imagine. That’s why, 10 years ago, we started using Studio Ninja – and honestly, we haven’t looked back.

A full decade later, Studio Ninja is still the system that keeps us organised, consistent, and professional – without sacrificing all our time and headspace. And because we believe in it so strongly, Shutter Cicle is a StudioNinja Ambassador!.

That also means we’ve got something special to share with you: a Studio Ninja discount code that will save you a massive 50% off your first year. The code is SHUTTERCIRCLE – and if you’ve been thinking about trying a CRM for your photography business, this is your sign.

How Studio Ninja Integrates with Other Systems

Another huge advantage of using Studio Ninja is how well it integrates with the other platforms photographers already rely on. Instead of juggling different apps and trying to connect the dots manually, Studio Ninja keeps everything in sync.

For example, it connects directly with Xero and QuickBooks, so every invoice and payment is automatically recorded in your accounting software. That means no more copy-pasting figures, no more lost transactions, and no last-minute panic when it’s time to file taxes. Your financial records stay accurate and up to date, without you lifting a finger.

Studio Ninja also integrates with:

• Google Calendar – keep all your bookings and client meetings in one place, automatically synced.
• ShootProof – link your client galleries with your CRM, making delivery seamless.
• Zoom – send meeting links and details automatically when clients book calls.
• PayPal & Stripe – give your clients secure, professional ways to pay online.
• Mailchimp – connect your CRM with your email marketing, so client data feeds straight into your campaigns.

These integrations mean Studio Ninja isn’t just a standalone CRM – it becomes the central hub of your business. Everything from client communication, to finances, to scheduling, to gallery delivery is tied together in one professional system. The result? Less admin, fewer errors, and a smooth client journey that makes you look and feel on top of your game.

And remember – if you’re ready to give it a try, you can save 50% off your first year with our Studio Ninja discount code SHUTTERCIRCLE.

Why Photographers Need a CRM

Let’s clear something up first: if you’re a working photographer, you need a CRM.

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) is a tool that takes all the boring-but-essential admin off your plate. Think contracts, invoices, model releases, emails, and questionnaires – all automated, all in one place.

When you don’t have a CRM, you end up:

• Chasing clients for signatures and payments.
• Forgetting to send important details.
• Drowning in messy email threads.
• Spending more time on admin than on photography.

When you do have a CRM – and specifically when you use Studio Ninja – your workflow looks more like this:

• Client books.
• An automated workflow kicks in, sending contract, invoice, and questionnaire in one seamless email.
• You get notified when each step is complete.
• Your client feels looked after from start to finish.

It’s like having a studio manager who works 24/7, never takes a sick day, and remembers every single detail without you lifting a finger.

How We Use Studio Ninja Every Day

Here’s how Studio Ninja has shaped the way we run our businesses over the last decade:

1. Contracts & Model Releases

Studio Ninja makes contracts and model releases effortless. One click, and clients receive everything electronically. They can sign instantly, and the system automatically triggers the next step in the workflow. No paper. No chasing. No delays.

2. Invoicing Made Easy

Invoicing used to be one of the most frustrating parts of the job – manually typing details, sending reminders, logging payments. Studio Ninja changed that completely. Now, we can create professional invoices in seconds, send them directly from the system, and let automatic reminders chase overdue payments. Payments even sync with accounting software, which makes tax time far less painful. If you have ever booked onto one of our Training Days or Photoshoots, you will have been looked after by our StudioNinja system.

3. Client Questionnaires & Databases

Getting to know our clients properly is one of the best parts of photography, but keeping track of all those details can be tricky. With Studio Ninja, we send automated questionnaires before every session, and their responses are stored securely in the system. Birthdays, kids’ names, anniversaries – it’s all there to refer back to, even years later. That’s what makes building long-term client relationships so much easier.

4. Welcome Guides & Workflows

We all know the client experience starts long before the session itself. That’s why we send every new client a personalised Welcome Guide. Studio Ninja makes it automatic – once the booking is confirmed, clients get the guide without us having to remember a thing. It means we deliver a professional, consistent experience every single time.

5. Automation That Saves Hours

The real magic? We can book a client and send all the essentials – contract, invoice, model release, questionnaire – in a single automated email. It takes less than two minutes to set up, and after that, Studio Ninja does the heavy lifting.

Our Studio Ninja Experience After 10 Years

Over a decade of using Studio Ninja, across four different photography businesses, we can confidently say this: it’s one of the smartest tools you can invest in.

We don’t use every single feature (there are plenty we’ve barely scratched the surface of), but even so, it’s saved us countless hours and reduced our stress levels massively. Most importantly, it allows us to focus on what we love most – working with clients, creating images, and running our businesses with confidence.

Get 50% Off with Our Studio Ninja Discount Code

If you’re tired of being buried in admin and want to reclaim your evenings, now’s the perfect time to give Studio Ninja a try. And the good news is, you don’t have to pay full price.

As Studio Ninja Ambassadors, we’re able to share our exclusive Studio Ninja discount code: SHUTTERCIRCLE.

Here’s what you get:

• 50% off your first year using Studio Ninja.
• Full access to every feature (contracts, invoices, workflows, automations, questionnaires, client database).
• The exact same system we’ve been relying on for 10 years.

To redeem, just head to Studio Ninja and enter the code SHUTTERCIRCLE at checkout.

We’ll say it again (because we know some of you skim!): use the Studio Ninja discount code SHUTTERCIRCLE for 50% off your first year.