The Multi-Tool Problem
Most photographers are running 3-5 separate tools before they find creavio. The typical stack looks something like:
- Pixieset or ShootProof for galleries ($10-40/month)
- HoneyBook or Dubsado for CRM and contracts ($20-40/month)
- Flodesk or Mailchimp for email marketing ($19-35/month)
- Squarespace or Showit for website ($16-40/month)
- Later or Planoly for social media ($18-25/month)
That is $83-180 per month in software. Five different logins. Five different places where client data lives. And none of them talk to each other.
What creavio Replaces
| Tool | creavio Feature |
|---|---|
| Pixieset / ShootProof | Collections — galleries, proofing, downloads |
| HoneyBook / Dubsado | CRM, contracts, invoicing, booking, automation |
| Flodesk / Mailchimp | Email sequences, client communication, automation |
| Squarespace / Showit | Website builder with portfolio, blog, SEO, custom domain |
| Later / Planoly | Social media manager with scheduling, analytics, grid preview |
| QuickBooks (basic) | Expense tracking, tax estimates, revenue reports |
The Migration Order
Do not try to switch everything at once. Migrate in this order, one tool per week:
Week 1: CRM and Contacts
Export client lists from every tool and consolidate into creavio. This is your foundation. Use the import wizard and deduplicate as you go. Tag clients by source so you know where each record came from.
Week 2: Contracts and Invoicing
Rebuild your contract templates and set up your packages in creavio. Connect Stripe. Send your next invoice through creavio to test the flow. Keep HoneyBook/Dubsado active for existing projects.
Week 3: Booking and Calendar
Set up your session types, availability, and booking page. Connect Google Calendar. Replace your HoneyBook/Dubsado booking link everywhere: social media, website, email signature.
Week 4: Galleries
Migrate active galleries from Pixieset/ShootProof to creavio Collections. Send updated links to current clients. Your next gallery delivery goes through creavio.
Week 5: Website
Build your creavio website. Transfer portfolio images, about page, service descriptions, and blog posts. Point your custom domain to creavio. Cancel Squarespace/Showit.
Week 6: Email and Social Media
Set up your email templates and automation workflows. Configure your social media accounts in creavio's social media manager. Schedule your first week of posts. Cancel Flodesk/Mailchimp and Later/Planoly.
The Cost Math
Typical multi-tool stack: $100-180/month ($1,200-2,160/year).
creavio Pro: $29/month ($348/year). creavio Studio: $79/month ($948/year).
Even on the Studio plan, you are saving $252-1,212 per year. On the Pro plan, the savings are $852-1,812 per year.
But the real savings are not financial. They are operational. One login. One place for client data. One platform where your gallery delivery connects to your CRM connects to your invoicing connects to your marketing. That connection is worth more than the dollar savings.
What to Keep
There are a few tools creavio does not replace:
- Editing software: Lightroom, Capture One, Photoshop. creavio is not an editor.
- Accounting software: If you need full double-entry bookkeeping, keep QuickBooks or FreshBooks. creavio's financial tools are for tracking, not full accounting.
- Cloud storage: Google Drive, Dropbox. creavio stores gallery images but is not a file backup solution.
Consolidation is not about having one tool that does everything. It is about having one tool that does everything your photography business needs. creavio is that tool.