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If you’re a photographer, creative, or wedding vendor drowning in emails, spreadsheets, sticky notes, or forgetting to follow up with enquiries… you’ve probably started researching CRMs.

And honestly? Choosing one can feel overwhelming.

There are so many options now:
Studio Ninja, Dubsado, HoneyBook, 17hats, Bloom, Sprout Studio, and more.

After years of using Táve (now rebranded as VSCO Workspace), I thought I’d share a genuine long-term review from the perspective of a busy wedding photographer running multiple moving parts, workflows, timelines, invoices, questionnaires, and client communication.

Because while no CRM is perfect… having one completely changed the way I run my business.

Thinking About Getting a CRM?

Back in 2015/2016, I started Googling what these systems were even called.

“Client management software?”
“Photography workflow software?”
“Email automation?”
Eventually I discovered the magical term:
CRM — Customer Relationship Management software.

At the time, I researched what felt like every option available.

And honestly, I don’t think there’s one universally “best” CRM.

We all work differently.
Our brains work differently.
Our businesses need different things.

Some photographers want:

• simplicity
• pretty client portals
• easy invoices

Others want:

• hardcore automation
• detailed workflows
• financial reporting
• multi-brand systems
• lead tracking

The right CRM is the one that fits your business best.

Why I Chose Táve (Now VSCO Workspace)

I originally signed up to Táve back in March 2016 after recommendations from photographer friends.

At first?
It felt VERY overwhelming.

I genuinely think it took me about 6 months to fully understand how powerful it was.

But once it clicked… it changed everything.

Luckily, some photographer friends spent a couple of hours walking me through the backend setup which helped massively.

These days, lots of CRM companies offer:

• free migrations
• onboarding support
• templates
• tutorials
• setup assistance

Which is amazing — but there’s still always a learning curve with any system.

My biggest advice:

Don’t switch CRMs too quickly.

Every platform has pros and cons, and the grass always looks greener somewhere else after watching Instagram reels or YouTube tutorials.

Usually:

• you’ve already invested huge time setting things up
• workflows improve over time
• new features get added regularly

Instead:
write down your 3 non-negotiables and choose the CRM that supports those best.

The VSCO Workspace Rebrand (Formerly Táve)

In August 2025, Táve officially became VSCO Workspace.

The transition has honestly been a mixed bag from what I’ve seen online.

Some people had seamless migrations.

Others (myself included) had a few headaches:

• embedded forms breaking
• website integrations needing updates
• workflows needing tweaking
• old links changing

It definitely took me a couple of weeks to work through everything.

BUT…
once updated, the core system itself still works really well for the way I run my business.

So if you’re seeing mixed reviews online — that’s probably why.

What I Love About VSCO Workspace

I’m a huge believer in:

working smarter, not harder.

Automation is everything when you’re juggling:

• weddings
• enquiries
• timelines
• invoices
• questionnaires
• family life
• editing
• marketing
• admin

Once my workflows were fully set up, my process became SO much smoother.

– A client enquires through my website
– their details automatically create a lead
– emails send
– workflows begin
– questionnaires trigger
– contracts + invoices are ready

– payment reminders are sent automatically
– everything stays organised.

No more manually copying and pasting details into spreadsheets for hours.

That alone was worth it for me.

Features I Personally Use Most

Lead Management

Keeps all enquiries organised in one place.

Workflow Automation

One of the biggest time savers.

Automatic:

• reminders
• questionnaires
• payment emails
• timeline prompts
• follow-up emails

Website Contact Form Integration

Enquiries from my WordPress site feed directly into the CRM.

Contracts + Online Signatures

Huge time saver.

Questionnaires

Perfect for wedding timelines, family photo lists, venue details etc.

Scheduling + Timeline Planning

One of my favourite features as a wedding photographer.

You can schedule:

• ceremony timing
• travel time
• speeches
• sunset photos
• reception events

and keep everything in one place.

Reporting + Financial Tracking

Helpful for:

• revenue tracking
• lead source tracking
• booking trends
• expense overview

I still use Xero as my primary accounting software, but VSCO Workspace works well as a backup overview system.

Features I Wish It Improved

No CRM is perfect.

A few things I’d still love to see improved:

• Stronger Xero integration
• More aesthetic client portals
• Faster Australian timezone support
• Easier multi-brand management
• Simpler setup for beginners

The client portal especially could feel more modern visually.

That said, functionality-wise, it’s still incredibly powerful.

Online Support Matters More Than You Think

One feature I massively underestimated when choosing a CRM:

support.

Even if you’re tech-savvy, eventually something breaks or confuses you.

VSCO Workspace support has generally been helpful, though being in Australia means replies can sometimes take overnight because of timezone differences.

They do have:

• tutorials
• help articles
• walkthroughs
• support documentation

which helps while waiting for replies.

My Advice Before Choosing Any CRM

Before signing up to anything:

Write down:

• your biggest pain points
• repetitive tasks you hate
• what takes up most admin time

Then ask:

“Can this CRM automate or simplify those things?”

Don’t choose based purely on:

• aesthetics
• hype
• TikTok recommendations

Choose based on:

• functionality
• workflows
• support
• scalability

Once you’ve gone through all the effort of setting it up and getting used to it it’s going to be hard to leave.

Would I Still Recommend VSCO Workspace?

Yes — particularly for photographers who:

• shoot high volumes
• love automation
• want deep workflow control
• need advanced organisation
• run multiple moving parts

If you want something ultra-simple and pretty straight out of the box, you may prefer something like Studio Ninja or Dubsado.

But if you like customisation and powerful workflows, VSCO Workspace is still a strong option.

Pricing

VSCO Workspace pricing changes fairly regularly depending on plans and promotions, but currently starts around:

USD $20–$30/month depending on plan level.

There are usually trial offers available too.

Final Thoughts

No CRM will magically fix your business overnight.

There’s still setup.
There’s still learning.
There’s still trial and error.

But once you build systems that support you properly?
It genuinely changes your workload and mental load.

For me, moving to a CRM was one of the best business decisions I made.

A Few Extra CRM Tips for Wedding Photographers

A few things I wish I set up earlier:

• canned email templates
• automatic payment reminders
• family photo questionnaires
• lead source tracking
• timeline templates
• auto follow-ups for ghosted enquiries

Tiny automations save HOURS over a wedding season.

Good Luck!

If you’re currently researching CRMs:
don’t stress too much about finding the “perfect” one.

Most photographers evolve their systems over time anyway.

The important thing is simply starting somewhere and building workflows that support your life — not just your inbox.

And if you already use a CRM you absolutely love, I’d love to hear what’s working well for you too.

Needing a CRM Stat?

Use MY LINK HERE and receive a 60-day free trial to get you started!