As I progress in my business, I'm always looking for ways to do things better. I ask myself questions like…

• What can I automate?
• Is there an easier way to do this?
• How can I improve my client's experience?

 

I'm sure most of you know by now, but I use Dubsado to handle all of my bookings. It allows my clients to select their time slot, sends my contracts, invoices, questionnaires, Client Experience Guide, and any other emails I send along the way. (And it does all of that automatically.) I have a whole blog post about why I use Dubsado. I seriously love it!

But like I mentioned, I'm always looking around to see if there's a better way to do something. Lately I've been hearing a lot about a new booking system created specifically for mini-sessions called Session. (Not “Use Session” like I thought, that's just their URL.) After tons of fellow photographers mentioned it, of course I had to check it out!

I played around with their free trial and was pleasantly surprised by what I found! It isn't quite robust enough for me to switch completely from Dubsado just yet, but it sounds like they're constantly adding new features so I'm keeping my eyes on it.

Dubsado is super powerful, but can also be very overwhelming to set up if you aren't great with technology or automated workflows. If setting up automations isn't a strength for you, then I HIGHLY suggest checking out Session for booking your mini-sessions!

Here are a few of my favorite features…

 

1. It was created SPECIFICALLY for Mini-Sessions.

I love this because it's clear that the creators of Session had mini-session photographers in mind! You're able to see all of your mini-sessions dates on the left side of the dashboard, and click into them to see the mini-session details. You can see in real-time how many bookings you have, how much revenue you've made, who has booked, and see what time slots are still open.

You can also book full sessions and see them organized with your minis in the side bar!

 

 

2. The automations are already created!

Dubsado's automations are more customizable, but you do have to set them up yourself. With Session, the automations are actually already built into the system! All you have to do is plug in your session info, select the contract, invoice, and questionnaire templates you'd like to use, and Session does the rest! It automatically sends reminder emails and such, so you don't have to worry about any of that.

Here are the emails Session will send:

 

One thing it can't do just yet is allow you to add new emails to the workflow. For example, if I wanted to send my Final Info Email a week before their session, there isn't a way to add that into the automations. For me that is a feature I'll be waiting on, but for most it probably isn't a big deal!

 

3. The Client View is excellent!

When picking a system to use, it's really important that it is user-friendly for your clients. Session does a great job at being beautiful and functional. Clients can easily select their time slot, sign their contract, pay their retainer, and fill out their questionnaire in a really easy interface.

You're able to customize the photo and description to keep it on-brand. I've tried it out on the client side, and it is one of my favorite schedulers I've ever used. (And I've tried quite a few!)

 

4. The PRICE!

Now if you aren't sold on Session already, the price will get you. It's only $19/month! (And you can cancel anytime. That's great for seasonal minis!) For reference, Dubsado is $35/month. Like I mentioned, Session isn't as powerful as Dubsado so the higher price is justified, but for a beautiful, easy-to-use system for your mini-sessions, Session is your best bet!

 

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I'm not jumping ship from Dubsado just yet, but if Session adds a few more features they may have my heart! If you haven't checked out Session yet, definitely give it a shot! They have a 14-day trial so you can play around with it and see if you like it before deciding to pay monthly. Let me know in the comments if you're planning on checking it out!

More Resources:

• Free Mini-Sessions Class – Learn all about timing, pricing, and marketing your minis in this 1-hour class!
• FREEBIE: 12 Profitable Minis Theme Ideas
• Mini-Sessions Facebook Group

 

You may also like…

“3 Tips For Getting Promo Shots to Advertise Your Mini-Sessions”

“4 Key Emails to Send Mini-Sessions Clients”

“How to Up-Sell Mini-Sessions WITHOUT IPS”