Studio Management Software - again

[dab94]

Hey gang!
I spent several hours last night searching (and searching and searching) for some type of "Studio Management Software" that would suit my needs, and I thought perhaps my research could benefit someone else (read = save you some time!!!).

The world is my studio (for now, I do everything on location), but I had some specific things in mind that whatever software I choose must do for me.

1) Contact management was #1 priority - I don't want to have to change applications to get a client's contact info
2) *Must* be able to attach at least one client photo to the client's record - to jog my memory when I pull up the record
3) Correspondence - Whether it's email or mail merging or notes from a phone call
4) Invoicing - This would be nice but not an absolute must have, since I already have invoices made up that I've been using.
5) Contract customization - I may be living a pipe dream here, but I would LOVE to have my wedding contract in the software, and then click a contact and hit print; resulting in a customized contract with the client's details.
6) Scheduling calendar - This is a no brainer (I think) and again, I don't want to have to open another application
7) Accounting - Again, would be GREAT to have, but not a necessity
There's more, but the above are the major points

In my searching, I found tons of links. My problem with *most* of them is that they are so expensive. I know, I know.....spend money to make money. But since I'm still in the early stages of my business, these just aren't feasible price wise.

Over the last couple of months, I've tried out a couple of these, and they just weren't quite what I needed.

Photobyte - Robust and FREE - but geared more for commercial shooters, and is slower than a slug on my system :(

Blinkbid - Great interface, price is decent ($90) - but I didn't see a way to add in a photo to client details :(

So, if anyone has any other suggestions, I would be totally happy to hear them. If you've test driven any of the ones I've listed below, I'd love to hear a review.
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PhotoOne's Granite Bear - http://www.granitebear.com/
Basic - $1197 Professional - $1977

Successware - http://www.successware.net/
(Single User) Lease - $49/mo Purchase - $1495

(The above two links are the ones I always hear about, but they are pricey!)

BlinkBid - http://www.blinkbid.com
$89

Digital Studio Manager - http://www.4digitaledge.com/
Plug 'n Play (server) - $4995 Software only - $3495

Full Spectrum - http://www.robinroadsoftware.com/
New Single User License - $995

Photobyte - www.zimberoff.com/photobyte.htm
Geared more towards commercial users, but FREE (just doesn't run well on my system)

FotoBiz - http://www.fotobiz.net/
$299.95 (Currently have a$70 rebate and you get fotoQuote Pro 5 for free - limited time, of course)

g10 software (I couldn't get to any information on this website - but could get to the support forum and a directory structure where it looked like I could download YRMV I've emailed for more info) - http://www.g10software.com/

Grip Software (you can read about v5, they say v6 is coming soon?) - http://www.gripsoftware.com/
$549 is the listed price for v5

Hindsight - http://www.hindsightltd.com/
$545 - looks like there may be add on modules as well

Pro Invoice/Estimate (PI/E for short - seems to be more for commercial shooters) - http://www.piesoftware.com/
$1195

StudioPlus - http://www.studioplussoftware.com/
Single User License - ranges from $395 to $2495 depending on the version

ArtSystems (made more for an art gallery owner, but I can see how it could possibly be used for photo studio) - http://www.artsystems.com/software/studio.html
Studio - $795 (Win) TBD for Mac

DP1 - http://www.techsuperpowers.com/pages/dp1.html
Starting at $999 - Seems to be Mac only
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Sorry for the book, but I'm hoping this helps someone else who has struggled with searching for and choosing software.
For now, I'm using PhotoByte, but I'm not terribly happy about it. Performance is the biggest issue.

If you've found that PERFECT software, please post about it here.

-dab

[LoungeLizard]

OK...here goes the "stupid" recommendations:

1) How about "Act"? It's a contact management type of application (never used it myself), but it is VERY well respected. Won't do everything you want, but I believe it is flexible enough that it'll do a large part of it.

2) How about Outlook? You can easily keep contacts, and interface it with other parts of the Office suite. May not be the best, but I bet you have most of it already!

[dab94]

Jesus,
I tried ACT (in fact, I think my trial expires today), and had much the same issues that I'm having with Photobyte regarding performance. So sluggish.
Now, I realize it's probably more my computer system than anything else, but I really wasn't terribly impressed. Again YMMV.

I also tried FileMaker Pro. I just don't have the time (or patience) to learn to create my own stinking solution. LOL I looked at FM Pro again last night, and noticed they now have a module for dowload called 'Creative Pro' which I've downloaded, but haven't played with it yet.

As for using Outlook....it just doesn't do all that I need it to do. I know that using a combination of Office products would probably get me close, but again, it's the time and patience factor involved in developing something myself to do all I need to do.

Maybe I'm lazy (and cheap?). I just want a solution that's already built, does what I want, and doesn't cost me a fortune as a just-getting-up-and-running business.

-dab

[LoungeLizard]

Originally Posted by dab94

Maybe I'm lazy (and cheap?). I just want a solution that's already built, does what I want, and doesn't cost me a fortune as a just-getting-up-and-running business.

-dab

Hmmm...I thought I was the only one! :lol:

[dab94]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Bruce M. Morris]

Crystal,
From your own criteria, you are wanting a Contact Manager, calendar, word processor, Database and possibly accounting(spreadsheet) that all work together. One of the Office Suites would handle that but needs some experience to set it up. Unfortunately, business software doesnt come cheap, especially if it is all in one to fit a specific business. Do you maybe know someone that is in college computer classes and needs to set up something like what you want for school? They get credit and you get the business set up you want.

[LadyShutterBug]

look at ShootQ.

[FireHeart Photography]

I was just cleaning out all of the stuff I got at imaging... yes - 8 months later just getting to my bag of goodies... and I found something called STUDIO CLOUD - don't know anything about it - I am in the same place you are looking for a great solution - I want mine to add in birthday list and anniversary list too so that I can sort and send emails and specials for those times to each of my clients.

[Bob_S]

Another recommendation to look at Studio Cloud.

[FireHeart Photography]

Bob - do you use Studio Cloud? Can you tell us about how it is working for you?

[Bob_S]

I like it so far. It's been almost a year on it. i still dump everything to text files just in case because the idea of them having my data and just shutting down some day bothers me. But it is pretty easy to communicate, schedule and invoice clients.

[J Eddington]

Also check out Light Blue Photo

Watch for those that are in the cloud. They back up daily but don't retain for very long. So if you make/find a mistake today but it was made a week ago they may not be able to take you back to before the problem.