Your First Hour on creavio
When you sign up for creavio, the onboarding checklist appears on your dashboard. It walks you through setting up the essentials so your account is ready to accept clients. Most photographers complete it in under an hour.
Here is what each step does and why it matters.
Step 1: Complete Your Business Profile
What: Add your business name, type (photographer, videographer, creative), location, phone number, and email.
Why: This information appears on your invoices, contracts, booking page, and website. It also determines your timezone for calendar accuracy and your currency for invoicing.
Tip: Use your business name, not your personal name, if you operate as a brand.
Step 2: Upload Your Logo and Set Brand Colors
What: Upload your logo and select your primary brand color under Settings > Branding.
Why: Your logo appears on galleries, invoices, contracts, and your website. Your brand color themes the entire platform and all client-facing touchpoints.
Tip: Use a PNG with a transparent background. Square or horizontal logos work best.
Step 3: Connect Stripe
What: Connect your Stripe account to accept payments. See the full Stripe Connect guide.
Why: Without Stripe connected, you cannot send invoices or collect payments through creavio. This is the backbone of your billing.
Tip: Have your bank account details and tax ID (SSN or EIN) ready. The process takes 5-10 minutes.
Step 4: Create Your First Session Type
What: Define at least one session type with a name, duration, price, and description.
Why: Session types power your booking page. When clients visit your booking link, they select from your session types.
Tip: Start with your most popular offering. You can add more session types later.
Step 5: Set Your Availability
What: Define your working hours and days under Settings > Booking > Availability.
Why: Your availability determines what time slots appear on your booking page. Clients can only book when you are available.
Tip: Block buffer time between sessions for travel and setup. Connect Google Calendar for two-way sync.
Step 6: Create a Contract Template
What: Build or customize a contract template under Money > Contracts.
Why: Sending a contract before every session protects your business and sets clear expectations with clients.
Tip: Start with creavio's photography contract template and customize the cancellation policy, delivery timeline, and usage rights for your business.
Step 7: Set Up Your Website
What: Build your portfolio website under Website > Pages. Add your best work, an about section, and your services.
Why: Your website is your most important marketing tool. It is where potential clients decide whether to contact you.
Tip: Start with 15-20 of your absolute best images. Quality over quantity. You can expand later.
Step 8: Add Your First Client
What: Create a client record manually or import your existing client list.
Why: Your CRM is only useful with data in it. Adding your first client lets you test the full workflow: create client, send invoice, deliver gallery.
Tip: If you have an existing client list in a spreadsheet or another tool, use the CSV import to bring everyone in at once.
Step 9: Share Your Booking Page
What: Copy your booking page URL and add it to your Instagram bio, Facebook page, email signature, and anywhere else you receive inquiries.
Why: Your booking page is your front door. Every potential client should be able to find it with one click.
Tip: Use creavio's Link in Bio if you want a single link that connects to your booking page, portfolio, social profiles, and more.
After the Checklist
Completing all 9 steps means your creavio account is fully operational. You can accept bookings, send contracts and invoices, deliver galleries, and present a professional website. Everything else is optimization.
The checklist disappears from your dashboard once complete. You can always revisit any setting through the sidebar navigation.