Creative project management software for small studios

Short answer: Alori is the all-in-one app for photo, video and design studios that want projects, bookings and billing in one place. As creative project management software, it gives each client job a project with tasks, lets clients book shoots from your booking link, sends quotes they sign online, and bills with invoices they pay by card. You describe your studio, then change the app by asking in plain words.

A week in a small creative studio

A brand asks for a quote on a product shoot. You write it in a doc, export a PDF, email it, and wait. When they say yes, you look for a date by email. The shoot happens, then the edit, then the client's changes, then the invoice, then the reminder about the invoice. Each step lives in a different tool.

The usual stack:

• A project tool or a whiteboard for the work
• A scheduling app for shoots and calls
• A document tool for quotes, and accounting software for invoices
• Email and texts for everything else, in personal inboxes

The creative work is the fun part. The rest takes Friday afternoons.

What Alori gives a creative studio

Projects with suggested tasks. Start a project per client job, like "Spring lookbook, Maison Lune". Alori suggests the first tasks when you name it, and you keep the ones you want. Add a lead and a target date, and follow progress as tasks get done. Link the quote and invoices to see the money next to the work. See Tasks.

Templates by asking. For the steps you repeat on every job, like prep, shoot, cull, edit, deliver, ask Ask Alori to add them to a new project. You can also import a task list from Excel or CSV.

Booking links for shoots and calls. Create an appointment type for each service, like "Headshot session, 60 minutes, in person" or "Creative call, 30 minutes, video". Clients pick an open time, both sides get an email, and reminders go out before. Connect Google or Outlook Calendar so personal events block the time. See Schedule.

Quotes signed online. Build quotes from your price list, with a line per deliverable. The client opens the link, signs with a finger or a mouse, and the quote turns Accepted. Quote follow-up sends one reminder when a quote sits unanswered. See Quotes.

Deposits and final invoices by card. Send a deposit invoice when the client signs, then the final invoice on delivery. Each emailed invoice has a pay by card link and turns Paid by itself. Unpaid invoice reminders go out by email or text.

Client meetings recorded. Hold the creative brief in Alori video with Record on, and get a transcript and a summary with next steps you turn into tasks in one click.

Your studio website. Your app comes with a website for your studio, and a booking page you can put on it.

What is coming soon

Proofing and approvals, where a client opens a link, comments on a draft and approves it, are not built yet. Today, send drafts the way you do now and track each round as a task in the project.

How to start

1. Describe your studio. For example: "photo and video studio, 3 people, product shoots and headshots for small brands".
2. Import your clients. Paste a client list into Ask Alori, even a messy one from an email.
3. Invite your team. Each person gets an invitation email and their own login. Every plan has unlimited users. See pricing.

See also marketing agencies and the agencies industry page.

FAQ

Can clients pay a deposit by card? Yes, as an invoice. Make an invoice for the deposit and email it. The client pays by card from the link, and the invoice turns Paid. Card payments are in Canadian dollars for now.

Can clients approve drafts in Alori? Not yet. Proofing and approvals are coming soon.

Can I take bookings on my website? Yes. Copy your booking page link, or put booking on your Alori website, and clients pick an open time.

Do I need a separate calendar app? No. Booking and the schedule are built in, and you can connect Google or Outlook Calendar to keep both in sync.