Let’s be real, running a wedding photography business isn’t just about taking great photos. There’s a whole behind-the-scenes system that has to work seamlessly for everything else to fall into place, and my day as “the guy with the camera” doesn’t even start with a camera in hand.

It starts with emails. With timelines. With booking links, contracts, prep guides, and everything else that happens long before I even take the first shot. There’s no one-size-fits-all way to handle it, but over the years, I’ve found what works best for me – for over a decade now, that’s been HoneyBook.

So if you’re a photographer trying to juggle leads, timelines, emails, and contracts without losing your mind, or if you're just curious about how I keep things flowing from first message to wedding day and beyond – let’s get into it.

The Early Days: Why I Chose HoneyBook

Back when I was building up my wedding photography business, I knew I needed something more than spreadsheets and email threads. The inquiries were growing, timelines were stacking up, and the admin side was pulling more time than I had to give.

What sold me on HoneyBook? Honestly, two things: automations and client experience.

Coming from my time working at Apple, I’ve always been big on clean design and good user experience. If an app doesn’t look or feel right, I’m out. But HoneyBook? It was the best of both worlds: a beautiful UI and powerful features that actually supported my workflow. From the very beginning, it felt like something built with creatives in mind.

Honeybook page showing projects list grouped together within a pipeline — Honeybook’s UI/UX is top notch! Beauty and brains rolled into one.

What to Look for in a CRM (and Why HoneyBook Stuck)

There are a lot of CRMs out there for photographers, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by features, promises, and a million dropdowns you’ll never touch. But after using HoneyBook for most of my career, I’ve learned what actually matters.

Here’s what I think makes or breaks a CRM:

A clean, easy-to-use interface. If you don’t enjoy using it, you won’t use it. Period.
Workflow automation that fits your business. Not just auto-emails – full control over how your client journey unfolds.
Easy booking and payment tools. Make it ridiculously simple for your clients to say yes and check out.
Custom branding. Your clients should feel like they’re hearing from you, not a cold, generic platform.
Scalability. Whether you’re booking 5 weddings a year or 50, your system should grow with you – not hold you back.

HoneyBook checked all those boxes for me, right from the start. And the best part? It’s continued to evolve with me as my business has grown. That’s rare, and it’s exactly why I’ve never needed to switch.

Why Automations Save Me (and My Couples) So Much Stress

The truth is, the more couples you work with, the harder it is to keep up with everyone manually. You start second guessing – “Did I send that questionnaire? Did I remind them about the timeline meeting?”

With HoneyBook, I don’t have to wonder. I’ve set up my touchpoints and let the system run it for me. And not in a cold, generic way. It’s still me checking in, just with a little help in the background.

For my couples, that consistency builds trust. They’re never left guessing about what’s next. For me, it means I’m not glued to my inbox 24/7 trying to play catch-up.

Instead, I’m out there fully focused on capturing the best moments possible.

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Features that Make Honeybook Worth It

HoneyBook is just one CRM in a sea of options, but not all of them are built with creative businesses in mind. If you’re trying to figure out which one’s actually worth committing to, here are a few features that make a real difference in the day-to-day:

Smart Automations with Conditional Logic
Most CRMs offer basic automated emails, but platforms like HoneyBook take it a step further with conditional logic. That means your automations can adapt based on how clients respond, whether they book, request a meeting, or need a reminder. It helps you build a more personalized, responsive workflow without manually chasing every detail.
Everything in One Place
A good CRM shouldn’t need a second app to manage the first one. Look for a platform that keeps contracts, emails, payments, timelines, forms – everything – under one roof. It’s not just convenient, it’s a huge relief when you’re balancing multiple projects at once and need answers fast.

A view of a project inside Honeybook CRM — Inside a project are your contracts, emails, payments, timelines, forms, and more – all in one place.

A Visual Pipeline That Keeps You Grounded
When you're handling a full calendar, it helps to see exactly where every client stands. A visual pipeline lets you track each project at a glance, from inquiry to booked to gallery delivered. No more spreadsheets or guesswork.
A Reliable Mobile App
If you're often on the move (or just living real life between shoots), having access to your client info from your phone is a must. A solid mobile app gives you flexibility, whether you’re checking a contract from your car or sending an invoice at the airport.
Continual Updates and Support That Grows With You
One of the things I’ve appreciated most is seeing how the platform has evolved. New tools, smarter systems, better usability – it’s clear the team behind it is paying attention. Years later, it still feels like the right choice, and that kind of longevity says a lot.

Thinking About HoneyBook? Here’s My Take

If you’re still manually managing your business with endless back-and-forth emails and to-do lists taped to your monitor, it might be time for a change.

A tool like HoneyBook isn’t just about saving time (though it does that in spades) – it’s about creating a smoother, more reliable experience for your couples and freeing up your brain space to focus on what you actually love: photography.

And if you’re anything like me, you probably didn’t get into this business for the admin work.

So if you're ready to build something more sustainable behind the scenes – I genuinely recommend checking HoneyBook out. I’ve been using it for over a decade, and I’m still glad I chose it all those years ago.

If you want to take it for a spin, use my link below to sign up for Honeybook and get 30% off of your account.

Claim Your 30% Discount