Setting Up Prepayments in Your Photography Business: Why It Matters

One of the best photography business tips you can follow is to require prepayments. A prepayment system is a simple way to organize your photography business, keep your client workflow smooth, and improve your photography income. It may sound scary to ask clients to pay ahead of time, but trust me, it works, and it works well.

Why You Should Use Prepayments

At first, I was afraid to ask clients to pay before their session. I worried they might cancel or disappear. But when I added prepayments to my photography business tools, everything changed. Clients became more committed, no-shows dropped, and I didn’t have to talk money during the session. That made photo shoot organization easier for me and more relaxing for the client.

Here are three reasons prepayments work:

1. Clients show they’re serious by paying early.

2. There are fewer cancellations or reschedules.

3. It makes your day-of workflow smoother and more professional.

This system also helps with income tracking. You’ll always know how much you’ve been paid and when. No more chasing payments or feeling unsure about your photography income.

How to Set Up a Prepayment System

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to use prepayments in your business. A good photography CRM can handle most of it for you. I personally use Funneland, but other tools like Dubsado or even a basic photography spreadsheet can work.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to adding prepayments into your client workflow:

Step 1: Use a Prepayment Form

Inside my CRM, I use a prepayment form that clients fill out after booking. It explains everything they need to know. I even link a video that walks them through it. This helps clients feel confident and reduces confusion.

Step 2: Offer Clear Package Options

Clients can choose from different packages like Silver, Gold, or Diamond. Higher-level packages include bonuses like more images, body jewelry, or themed sets. These extras are exciting for clients and can lead to bigger sales.

Step 3: Automate Invoices and Payment Plans

Once a client chooses a package, they get an invoice automatically. They can pay it all at once or choose a plan using Klarna, Afterpay, or Affirm. This flexibility makes it easier for clients to commit without stress.

I personally have created my prepayment workflow to fire when they fill out the form saying which package they would like and which bonuses to add to their session. Then the workflow takes that answer and sends them a page that I have attached the product for that package so

everything is setup and really pretty for them to checkout for the package they selected.

Automation = Less Work for You

Prepayments aren’t just great for getting paid early, they also save time. Your CRM sends reminders, updates, and invoices for you. That means less time doing admin work and more time doing what you love: taking photos.

Automation also helps with bookkeeping for photographers. When everything is tracked and organized, it’s easier to see where your money is going and how much you’re making.

Customizing Your System

Not everyone has the same setup. That’s totally okay. You can build a prepayment system that works for you:

• Use Funneland for a fully built CRM with templates and automations

• Try Dubsado to create your own workflows and send custom invoices

• Use your website and email to create manual forms and payment links

Even if you’re doing it manually, having a system in place helps you stay organized and get paid before the session.

Why It’s Worth It

Requiring prepayments might seem bold, but it’s one of the best ways to grow your photography business. It makes you look professional, builds trust with clients, and keeps your business running smoothly. Plus, it makes client tracking easier and improves your overall photo shoot organization.

Want to learn exactly how to do this for your Photography Business?

Inside Photography Business Academy, we walk you through the tools, systems, and scripts you need to add prepayments and more into your business. We teach photographers how to grow their photography business using real systems that save time and increase income.

You’ll get access to done-for-you templates, tutorials on photography posing courses, photography spreadsheets, and photography business tools that I’ve tested in my own business.

If you're ready to make your business run smoother, look more professional, and make more money without burning out, Photography Business Academy is the place to start.

Join today and let’s get you paid before the shoot even starts!