Booking inquiries falling through cracks, invoices chasing you instead of the other way around, and editing time that never gets tracked.
Join photography professionals who ditched their SaaS stack for $279 once.
Inquiries come from Instagram DMs, email, your website, and referrals. Half get lost, and by the time you respond, they've booked someone else.
Some clients get invoiced right away, some wait weeks. Chasing payments is awkward, and your cash flow is a mess.
You charged $500 for that session, then spent 8 hours editing. Your "real" hourly rate? You don't want to know.
Contract in one app, invoice in another, schedule in a third. Nothing is connected and something always falls through the cracks.
Your typical tools are pre-selected. Add or remove to see your real cost.
Every inquiry lands in one place — no matter where it came from. Track it from first contact to signed contract to shoot day. Nothing falls through the cracks.
Send professional invoices with one click. Clients pay online instantly. Automatic reminders for overdue balances — no more awkward follow-up emails.
Track shooting time AND editing time per client. Know your real hourly rate on every job. Stop undercharging for 8-hour editing sessions.
Helix is $279 once — about 0.8% of median income. Pay it once, keep the other 4.7% forever.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Photographers typically need inquiry management, contract/booking workflow, invoicing with payment links, and basic accounting. Most end up using 2-3 separate apps (HoneyBook, QuickBooks, various scheduling tools) at $80-120/month combined. Helix replaces all of these with a single $279 one-time purchase.
Start with your costs: gear depreciation, insurance, editing time, travel, and your target hourly rate. National averages: portrait sessions $150-400, wedding photography $2,000-5,000, commercial shoots $500-2,500. Offer 2-3 packages (good/better/best) — most clients pick the middle one. Track your actual editing time to ensure your hourly rate is sustainable.
Highly recommended. An LLC separates your personal assets from business liability — important when you're carrying $10K+ in gear to client locations. It also looks more professional on contracts and invoices. Formation costs $50-500 depending on your state. You'll also want general liability insurance ($300-600/year) and equipment insurance.
Standard practice: require a 25-50% non-refundable retainer to hold the date, with the balance due before or on the shoot day. For weddings, a signed contract with a clear cancellation clause is essential — typically the retainer is non-refundable, and cancellations within 30 days owe the full balance. Helix automates deposit collection and payment reminders.
Second shooter rates typically range from $25-75/hour or $300-800/day depending on experience and market. Experienced second shooters with their own gear command higher rates. Always have a contract covering image rights, usage, and payment terms. Some photographers offer a flat rate per event instead of hourly.
No monthly fees. No app juggling. Everything connected.
Get Helix Watch the DemoGet a personalized business plan, pricing guidance, and a 90-day action plan — built by AI, tailored to photographers in your market.