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Home ✦ The First 25 Things
Brand New GHL Account

Your first 25 things, in order.

Check each box as you go. Your progress is saved automatically. By the time you finish this list, your account is ACTUALLY ready to run a boudoir studio.

✦ Phase One ✦

Account Foundation

The boring but essential stuff. Do these first or nothing else works.

Step 01

Log in and bookmark your dashboard

Open the welcome email GHL or your provider sent you, set your password, and bookmark the dashboard URL so you never have to dig through your inbox to find it again.

Where: app.gohighlevel.com or your custom URL
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Open the welcome email from GHL (or whoever sold you GHL). Click the "Set Password" or "Activate Account" button.
  2. Create a password. Use 12+ characters. Save it in your phone's password manager (iCloud Keychain, 1Password, or Google) so you never lose it.
  3. Once logged in, you will land on a dashboard. Look at the URL in your browser (it might be app.gohighlevel.com or something like app.yourcoach.com).
  4. Press Cmd+D (Mac) or Ctrl+D (PC) to bookmark it. Save it in your bookmarks bar so it is one click away.
  5. If you have multiple sub-accounts, you may see an "Agency view" first. Click on YOUR studio's sub-account to enter the actual workspace.
Step 02

Fill out your business profile completely

This is the info that auto-pulls into your emails, invoices, and booking pages so you stop looking like a generic template. Fill it out ONCE, then forget about it forever.

Where: Settings → Business Profile
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. From your dashboard, find the Settings link in the very bottom-left corner of the menu (it has a little gear icon next to it).
  2. Click Business Profile at the top of the Settings menu.
  3. Fill in Business Name... use your EXACT legal business name as it appears on your EIN paperwork. Do NOT abbreviate. This matters later for A2P.
  4. Add your Business Email (the email you want clients to reply to).
  5. Add your Business Phone (your studio's main number).
  6. Fill in your full Address including city, state, and zip. Match the address on your EIN paperwork exactly.
  7. Add your Website URL (like https://yourstudio.com).
  8. Set your Industry to "Photography" or "Professional Services."
  9. Scroll down and click Save at the bottom right.
Step 03

Upload your studio logo

Your logo will pull into the top of every booking page, every email, and every invoice automatically. Upload once, branded everywhere.

Where: Settings → Business Profile → Business Logo
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Stay in Settings → Business Profile (where you were in Step 02).
  2. Scroll down until you see a section called Business Logo.
  3. Click the Upload button or the dotted-line area.
  4. Pick a high-resolution PNG of your logo. Transparent background works best so it looks good on any color.
  5. For best quality... use a logo file that is at least 500px wide.
  6. After upload, the logo preview should appear. If it looks blurry, your file is too small. Re-upload a bigger version.
  7. Scroll to the bottom and click Save.
Step 04

Set your time zone

If your time zone is wrong, every booking confirmation, reminder, and workflow timer will be off. Fix this NOW so a client never gets a "your session is in 3 hours!" text at 4 AM.

Where: Settings → Company → Time Zone
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Settings (gear icon, bottom left).
  2. Click Company in the Settings menu (sometimes labeled "Company Settings").
  3. Find the field labeled Time Zone.
  4. Click the dropdown and pick your zone. For Pennsylvania/East Coast, pick "America/New_York." For Central, "America/Chicago." For Mountain, "America/Denver." For Pacific, "America/Los_Angeles."
  5. Click Save at the bottom.
  6. IMPORTANT... go to Settings → My Profile and check the time zone there too. Set them to match. They live in two separate places.
Step 05

Update your personal profile

When clients get a text or email from "you," it should actually feel like you. Add your name, headshot, and email signature so every message feels personal.

Where: Settings → My Profile
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Settings → My Profile.
  2. Fill in First Name and Last Name with YOUR real name (not your business name).
  3. Click Upload Profile Picture and pick a clean headshot. This shows up next to your texts and emails.
  4. Confirm your Email is your real working email (not a placeholder).
  5. Set your Time Zone to match your business time zone from Step 04.
  6. Scroll down to Email Signature and write a short, branded signature. Example... "Deanna ✦ Owner, Moonlight and Lace Boudoir ✦ 717-788-8811"
  7. Click Save at the bottom.
✦ Phase Two ✦

Get Your Communication Working

Phone, email, and texting. This is what lets you actually reach clients.

Step 06

Buy a local phone number

Pick a LOCAL number with your studio's area code (NOT toll-free). Local numbers feel personal, get higher reply rates, and cost less per month.

Where: Settings → Phone Numbers → + Add Number → Local
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Settings → Phone Numbers.
  2. Click the + Add Number button at the top right.
  3. A popup appears asking what type. Pick Local.
  4. In the search field, type your 3-digit area code (like 717 for Waynesboro, PA).
  5. GHL will show you a list of available numbers. Pick one that looks easy to remember (avoid numbers with too many similar digits in a row).
  6. Click Buy next to your chosen number.
  7. Confirm the purchase. Around $1.50/month gets added to your card on file.
  8. The number is yours immediately. You can make CALLS right away, but you cannot send TEXTS until A2P is approved (next step).

For the deep dive on local vs toll-free with side-by-side comparison... see the full Phone & A2P walkthrough.

Step 07

Start your A2P registration TODAY

This takes 1-3 weeks to get approved. Start it now so it is ready by the time you finish setting everything else up. Without A2P, your texts get blocked.

Where: Settings → Phone Numbers → Trust Center
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Have these ready BEFORE you start... your EIN (or SSN if sole proprietor), your legal business name, your business address, your website URL, and a clean URL to submit (NOT your boudoir gallery page).
  2. Pick a CLEAN page on your site to submit... your /terms, /privacy, or /contact page. NEVER submit a page with client images, lingerie, or anything semi-nude. They will reject you instantly.
  3. On that clean page, add a section that says... "By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive text messages about your inquiry, booking, and session updates. Reply STOP at any time to opt out. Message and data rates may apply."
  4. Now go to Settings → Phone Numbers → Trust Center in GHL.
  5. Click Start Registration.
  6. Fill out the Brand Registration first. Use your EXACT legal name from your EIN paperwork (mismatches = rejection #1).
  7. For Industry, pick "Professional Services" or "Photography Services." NEVER pick anything with "adult" or "entertainment" in the name.
  8. Submit Brand registration and wait for it to approve (usually 1-3 days) before you can do Campaign registration.
  9. Once Brand is approved, go back and do Campaign Registration. Pick Mixed or Customer Care as the type.
  10. Submit 2-3 sample messages with opt-out language included. Avoid the words "boudoir," "lingerie," or anything suggestive in samples.
  11. Submit and wait. Approval takes 1 day to 3 weeks. Do NOT keep resubmitting... it slows things down.
✦ Don't Get Rejected ✦ A2P rejections are SO frustrating. Let me look at your submission BEFORE you submit so we get it approved on the first try.
Book A Zoom Call
Step 08

Connect your email sending (Mailgun)

By default, your emails come from "noreply@msgsndr.com" which goes straight to spam. Mailgun lets emails come from you@yourstudio.com instead. This is THE step that decides whether your beautiful workflows actually land in inboxes.

Where: Settings → Email Services
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to mailgun.com in a new tab and sign up for a free account using your business email.
  2. Verify your email when Mailgun sends you the confirmation.
  3. In Mailgun, go to Sending → Domains in the left menu. Click Add New Domain.
  4. Type your domain (NOT a subdomain... use your real domain like yourstudio.com) and pick the region (US for most photographers). Click Add Domain.
  5. Mailgun gives you a list of DNS records (TXT, MX, and CNAME). KEEP THIS TAB OPEN.
  6. Open another tab and log into your domain provider (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, wherever you bought your domain). Find the DNS settings for your domain.
  7. Copy each record from Mailgun and add it to your DNS settings. Add all the TXT, MX, and CNAME records EXACTLY as Mailgun shows them. Save each one.
  8. Wait 15-30 minutes for DNS to spread. Pour something. Walk away.
  9. Go back to Mailgun and click Verify DNS Settings. You should see green checkmarks. If not, wait another hour and try again.
  10. Once verified, in Mailgun go to Sending → Domain Settings → API Keys and copy your Private API Key.
  11. Now go BACK to GHL → Settings → Email Services. Click Add Mailgun Integration (or "Connect Mailgun").
  12. Paste the Private API Key into the API key field.
  13. Type your verified domain (the one you just set up in Mailgun, like yourstudio.com).
  14. Click Save.
  15. Send a test email from inside GHL → Conversations to your personal email to confirm it lands in inbox (not spam) and shows up from your-email@yourstudio.com.
✦ This Is Where Most Get Stuck ✦ Mailgun + DNS is the #1 reason photographers give up on GHL. Hop on a Zoom and we will get it set up together in 20 minutes.
Book A Zoom Call
Step 09

Connect your Google or Outlook calendar

This is two-way sync between your personal calendar and GHL. Once connected, GHL knows when you have personal appointments and will not let clients book during those times. No more double-bookings.

Where: Settings → My Profile → Calendar Configuration
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Settings → My Profile.
  2. Scroll down to the section called Calendar Configuration.
  3. Click + Add Calendar Integration or Connect Calendar.
  4. Pick Google or Outlook/Microsoft depending on what you use.
  5. A popup window opens asking you to log into your Google or Microsoft account. Log in with the email account that holds your real personal/business calendar.
  6. Click Allow when it asks for permission to read AND write events.
  7. You will be sent back to GHL. You should now see your email listed under "Connected Calendars."
  8. Pick which calendar to read FROM (so GHL knows when you are busy) and which to write TO (so GHL adds new bookings to that calendar).
  9. Click Save.
  10. Test it... add a fake event to your Google/Outlook calendar for tomorrow, then go to your booking calendar in GHL and confirm that time slot is no longer available.
Step 10

Connect Facebook + Instagram

Once connected, FB messages and IG DMs land in your Conversations inbox alongside texts and emails. No more "wait, did she message me on Instagram or text me?"

Where: Settings → Integrations → Facebook
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. BEFORE you start... make sure your Instagram account is set as a Business or Creator account (not Personal) and that it is connected to your Facebook business page. This must be done in the Facebook/Instagram apps themselves.
  2. In GHL, go to Settings → Integrations.
  3. Find the Facebook tile and click Connect.
  4. A popup opens asking you to log into Facebook. Use the personal Facebook account that ADMINS your business page.
  5. Facebook asks which pages to connect. Pick your business page and your linked Instagram account.
  6. Approve ALL the permissions Facebook asks for (messages, page management, etc). Skipping any will break the integration.
  7. You will be sent back to GHL. Confirm your page shows up under "Connected Pages."
  8. Test it... go to your business page on Facebook, send a test message from a different account, and watch it land in Conversations in GHL within seconds.
Step 11

Turn on notifications

You need to KNOW the moment something happens. Switch on email AND mobile push notifications for new contacts, bookings, payments, and form submissions.

Where: Settings → My Profile → Notifications
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Settings → My Profile.
  2. Scroll to the section called Notifications.
  3. Toggle ON the following at MINIMUM... New Contact, Appointment Booked, Form Submitted, Payment Received, New Conversation Message.
  4. For each, choose your delivery method... Email AND Mobile Push is the safest combo.
  5. Click Save.
  6. If you only want to be alerted during business hours, check if your version of GHL has a "Quiet Hours" setting underneath... and configure it (like only push between 8 AM and 8 PM).
Step 12

Download the LeadConnector mobile app

This is the official GHL mobile app. Texts, calls, bookings, payments, and notifications all live here so you can run your studio from your phone (and respond to inquiries while you are out grabbing coffee).

Where: App Store / Google Play → search "LeadConnector"
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) on your phone.
  2. Search for "LeadConnector" (one word).
  3. Install the app (the icon is usually a black circle with a white "L" or a chat bubble).
  4. Open the app and log in with the SAME email and password you use for GHL on desktop.
  5. Allow notifications when it asks. This is what makes your phone buzz when a new inquiry comes in.
  6. Allow microphone access if you plan to take calls through the app.
  7. Test it... open the app, find your test contact (you), and send yourself a test text or email.
✦ Phase Three ✦

Your Brand & Domain

Make GHL feel like YOUR studio, not a generic dashboard.

Step 13

Save your brand colors and fonts

Add your hex codes (warm black, gold, ivory) and fonts ONE time. Every page, email, and form you build pulls from this so your whole studio looks cohesive without you thinking about it.

Where: Sites → Client Portal → Branding (or in any page builder)
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Have your brand colors as hex codes ready (like #080605 for warm black, #C9A96E for gold, #F4ECE2 for ivory). If you do not know your hex codes, screenshot your logo and use a free hex picker tool like imagecolorpicker.com.
  2. Know your two fonts... one display/heading font and one body font.
  3. For the Client Portal branding... go to Memberships → Client Portal → Branding.
  4. Add your Primary Color (gold), Secondary Color (warm black), and Background Color (ivory).
  5. Upload your logo and pick the placement.
  6. Save.
  7. For each page builder (Funnels, Websites, Forms)... whenever you build a new page, look in the right sidebar for Page Settings → Global Styles and apply the same colors and fonts.
  8. For email templates... go to Marketing → Emails → Templates, build a master template using your colors and fonts, and use it as the starting point for every future email.
Step 14

Connect your custom domain

Stop sending people to ugly links like "abc123.gohighlevel.com." Connect a subdomain like "vip.yourstudio.com" so your booking pages and portal feel like part of YOUR brand.

Where: Sites → Domains
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Decide on your subdomain prefix. vip.yourstudio.com is the most flexible (works for portal AND booking pages).
  2. In GHL, go to Sites → Domains → + Add Domain.
  3. Type your full subdomain (like vip.yourstudio.com) and hit save.
  4. GHL gives you a CNAME record to add at your domain provider. Keep this tab open.
  5. Open your domain provider in another tab (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.). Find the DNS settings.
  6. Click + Add Record. Pick type CNAME. Name = your prefix only (like vip). Value = what GHL gave you (usually app.msgsndr.com). TTL = Auto.
  7. Save. Wait 30 minutes.
  8. Go back to GHL and click Verify. Green checkmark means you are good.
  9. Now go into each funnel/page → Settings → set the domain to your new subdomain → save.

For the deep dive on subdomain reasoning and all 4 common rejection issues... see the full Domain & Subdomain walkthrough.

Step 15

Connect Stripe for payments

Without Stripe connected, you cannot create payment links, send invoices, or take retainers. Connect Stripe one time and every payment feature in GHL works.

Where: Settings → Payments → Integrations
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. If you do not have a Stripe account yet, go to stripe.com and create one. You will need your business info, EIN, and a bank account for payouts.
  2. Once Stripe is set up and verified, go back to GHL → Settings → Payments.
  3. Click the Integrations tab.
  4. Find Stripe in the list and click Connect.
  5. A popup opens to log into your Stripe account. Log in.
  6. Stripe asks which account to connect. Pick your business account.
  7. Click Authorize. You get sent back to GHL.
  8. You should see Stripe show as Connected with a green status.
  9. Test it... go to Payments → Products → + Add Product and create a $1 test product. Then create a payment link for it. Open the link, pay $1 with a real card, and confirm the payment shows up in BOTH GHL and Stripe within 60 seconds. Refund the $1 in Stripe afterward.
✦ Phase Four ✦

Build Your Core Pieces

The actual stuff that turns inquiries into booked clients.

Step 16

Build your inquiry form (5 fields max)

This is the front door of your business. Five fields max. Long forms = fewer inquiries.

Where: Sites → Forms → + Build New Form
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Sites → Forms.
  2. Click the + Build New Form button at the top right.
  3. Pick a blank form (or a template you can customize).
  4. From the right sidebar, drag these fields onto the form in order... First Name, Email, Phone, "What is calling you to a session?" (long text), "What is your timeline?" (dropdown).
  5. Click each field to edit its label and toggle Required ON for all five.
  6. For the "Timeline" dropdown, add options like... ASAP, In the next 1-2 months, In 3-6 months, Just exploring.
  7. At the top, name the form "Inquiry Form" so you can find it later.
  8. Click Style in the top toolbar and apply your brand colors and fonts.
  9. Click Save at the top right.
  10. Click Integrate Form to grab the embed code (for your website) or a direct link (to use in social bios).
Step 17

Create your custom fields BEFORE building anything else

Custom fields are extra pieces of info you collect about a contact beyond name/email/phone... like "Session Date," "Outfit Preference," "Birthday," "Healthcare Worker." Set them up FIRST so you can use them on forms, in workflows, and in your portal.

Where: Settings → Custom Fields
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Settings → Custom Fields.
  2. Click + Add Field.
  3. For each field, fill in... Name (what YOU call it), Field Type (text, date, dropdown, etc.), and Description (optional).
  4. Build these basic ones for a boudoir studio... Session Date (date), Session Type (dropdown: Solo, Couples, Bridal), Birthday (date), Anniversary (date), Bra Size (text), Outfit Preferences (long text), Celebrating What (text), Referred By (text), Hair & Makeup Notes (long text), Address for Gallery Delivery (text).
  5. Click Save after each one.
  6. Once created, you can add these fields to ANY form, view them in any contact, and use them inside workflows. Example... a workflow can text her "Your session is in 3 days!" automatically using her Session Date custom field.

Custom fields are POWERFUL. They let your workflows feel personal because GHL can drop her name, her session date, or her outfit notes into messages automatically using shortcodes like {{contact.session_date}}.

Step 18

Build your phone consultation calendar

This is the link clients click to book their consult call. 30-minute slots, your hours, with confirmation and reminders built in.

Where: Calendars → + Create Calendar
✦ Picking The Right Calendar Type ✦
  1. Personal Booking Calendar = ONE person (you) takes the appointments. Pick this for your phone consult, your reveal calendar, and your in-person consult calendar. This is what you want 95% of the time.
  2. Round Robin Calendar = Multiple team members rotate appointments. Skip this unless you have a team of photographers taking consults.
  3. Class Booking Calendar = Multiple women book the SAME slot (like a workshop or group session). Use this for your bridal showers or empowerment events.
  4. Service Calendar = Different services with different durations on one calendar (like 30-min consult vs 90-min in-person consult). Use this if you offer multiple consult types from one booking page.
  5. Collective Calendar = Multiple team members must ALL be available to book a slot. Skip this... not relevant for boudoir studios.
✦ How To Build Your Phone Consult Calendar ✦
  1. Go to Calendars → + Create Calendar.
  2. Pick Personal Booking Calendar.
  3. Name it "Phone Consultation".
  4. Set the Duration to 30 minutes.
  5. Set Buffer Time to 15 minutes after each appointment (so you have time to breathe between calls).
  6. Set your Available Days (like Tue-Fri) and Available Hours (like 1 PM - 4 PM).
  7. Set Slot Interval to 30 minutes.
  8. Set Maximum Per Day (like 4) so you do not get burned out.
  9. Set Minimum Notice to 24 hours (so no one books for 30 minutes from now).
  10. Set Date Range to "Allow bookings up to 30 days in the future."
  11. In the Confirmation tab, customize the email/SMS clients get the moment they book. Use shortcodes like {{contact.first_name}} and {{appointment.start_time}}.
  12. In the Reminders tab, set up TWO reminders... 24 hours before AND 1 hour before.
  13. Click Save.
  14. Copy the Booking Link from the share icon. This is what you send to clients.
Step 19

Set up your pipeline with stages

Your pipeline is a visual board showing where every lead is in your process. Each woman is a card, each column is a stage.

Where: Opportunities → Pipelines (gear icon)
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Opportunities in the left menu.
  2. Click the gear icon at the top right of the pipeline view.
  3. Click + New Pipeline. Name it "Boudoir Clients".
  4. Click + Add Stage and create these stages in this exact order... New Inquiry → Consult Booked → Consult Completed → Pre-Pay Sent → Paid → Session Scheduled → Session Done → Reveal Booked → Closed/Won.
  5. Drag stages to reorder them so the flow goes left-to-right matching your real client journey.
  6. For each stage, you can add a default monetary value (like $1,400 for "Pre-Pay Sent") so your pipeline also shows projected revenue.
  7. Click Save.
  8. Test it... go to a contact and click + Add Opportunity to drop her into your new pipeline at the "New Inquiry" stage. You should see her card appear on the board.
Step 20

Add your products and pricing

Add your retainer, your collections (Essential, Lush, Mesmerize, Unstoppable), and any add-ons. Once added, you can spin up payment links in seconds inside any workflow.

Where: Payments → Products → + Add Product
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Payments → Products.
  2. Click + Add Product.
  3. Fill in Product Name (like "Session Retainer"), Description, and upload a Product Image (a beautiful product photo of your album, art, etc).
  4. Pick Type... "One-Time" for retainers and one-payment collections, "Recurring" or "Installment" for payment plans.
  5. Set the Price ($149 for retainer, $1,400 for Essential, etc).
  6. For payment plans, set the recurring frequency (Monthly) and number of payments (4).
  7. Click Save.
  8. Repeat for each product... your retainer, all your collections, any add-ons (extra outfits, hair touch-ups, prints).
  9. Once products are added, you can quickly create payment links by going to Payments → Payment Links → + New Link and picking the product.

Products you should set up for a boudoir studio... Session Retainer ($149), Crave ($2,800), Chic ($3,400), Lush ($4,200), Mesmerize ($5,400), Unstoppable ($7,200), plus add-ons like extra wall art, additional digital images, and album upgrades.

✦ Phase Five ✦

Build Your 4 Workflows

The only four automations you actually need to run a calm, profitable studio.

Step 21

Build Workflow #1 → Inquiry Form Welcome

The most important workflow in your studio. When a stranger fills out your inquiry form, this welcomes her in 60 seconds, sends her your booking link, and adds her to your pipeline.

Where: Automation → Workflows → + Create Workflow
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Go to Automation → Workflows.
  2. Click + Create Workflow → Start From Scratch.
  3. Name it "Inquiry Form Welcome".
  4. Click + Add New Workflow Trigger. Pick Form Submitted. In the dropdown, pick your Inquiry Form. Save.
  5. Click the + below the trigger. Pick Add Contact Tag. Tag = "new-inquiry." Save.
  6. Click + again. Pick Create/Update Opportunity. Pipeline = your Boudoir Clients pipeline. Stage = "New Inquiry." Save.
  7. Click + again. Pick Send SMS. Type your warm welcome message... "Hi {{contact.first_name}}! So glad you reached out. I'd love to chat... grab a 30-min consult here: [paste your booking link]. Reply STOP to opt out." Save.
  8. Click +. Pick Send Email. Build a longer, beautiful welcome email with your branding and the same booking link. Save.
  9. Click +. Pick Wait. Set wait time to 2 days. Save.
  10. Click +. Pick If/Else. Condition = "Has Tag: consult-booked." If YES → Stop workflow. If NO → continue.
  11. Under the NO branch, add another Send SMS action with a soft follow-up text.
  12. Click +. Pick Send Internal Notification. Notify YOU by SMS that a new inquiry came in.
  13. At the top right, toggle Published to ON.
  14. Test it... fill out your own inquiry form with your real email/phone and watch each step fire on your devices.
Step 22

Build Workflow #2 → Email Subscriber Nurture

For women who give you their email through a freebie or "join my list" but are not ready to inquire yet. This workflow gently warms them up over weeks until they raise their hand.

Where: Automation → Workflows → + Create Workflow
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Build a separate Email Opt-In Form first... just first name and email, used on a lead magnet or "stay in touch" page.
  2. Go to Automation → Workflows → + Create Workflow → Start From Scratch. Name it "Email Subscriber Nurture."
  3. Trigger = Form Submitted (your Email Opt-In Form).
  4. Action 1 = Add Contact Tag "email-subscriber."
  5. Action 2 = Send Email #1 (deliver the freebie + intro yourself).
  6. Action 3 = Wait 3 days.
  7. Action 4 = Send Email #2 (a story about a recent client transformation).
  8. Action 5 = Wait 4 days.
  9. Action 6 = Send Email #3 (bust the top fears about boudoir sessions).
  10. Action 7 = Wait 5 days.
  11. Action 8 = Send Email #4 (invite her to inquire... soft, no pressure).
  12. Action 9 = Add Contact Tag "newsletter-list" so she rolls into your monthly newsletter.
  13. Publish, test with your own email.
Step 23

Build Workflow #3 → Contract & Retainer

She said yes on the consult. This workflow sends her the contract, the retainer payment link, and waits for her to actually sign and pay before locking her into your calendar.

Where: Automation → Workflows → + Create Workflow
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. BEFORE you build this... make sure you have created your contract document in Payments → Documents & Contracts, with a signature field added.
  2. Also make sure you have created your $149 Retainer payment link in Payments → Payment Links.
  3. Go to Automation → Workflows → + Create Workflow → Start From Scratch. Name it "Contract & Retainer."
  4. Trigger = Contact Tag Added... Tag = "consult-completed-yes" (you will manually add this tag after a successful consult).
  5. Action 1 = Send SMS + Email... "So excited to make this official! Here is your contract and retainer link."
  6. Action 2 = Send Document (your contract).
  7. Action 3 = Send Email with the payment link.
  8. Action 4 = Wait 48 hours.
  9. Action 5 = If/Else... Has she paid AND signed? If NO → send gentle reminder. If YES → continue.
  10. Action 6 = Wait 3 days, check again, send a final reminder.
  11. When payment + signature both happen... Add Contact Tag "paid-retainer" → Move Opportunity Stage to "Paid" → Send celebration email "You are officially booked!" with portal login info.
  12. Publish and test.
Step 24

Build Workflow #4 → Session Prep Drip

She paid. Her session is on the calendar. This workflow drips out the right prep info at the right time so she shows up confident, prepared, and excited.

Where: Automation → Workflows → + Create Workflow
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. BEFORE you build this... make sure you have a Session Date custom field on each contact (from Step 17). This workflow uses it to time everything.
  2. Also have your Session Calendar built (a separate calendar for actual session dates, NOT the consult calendar).
  3. Go to Automation → Workflows → + Create Workflow → Start From Scratch. Name it "Session Prep Drip."
  4. Trigger = Appointment Booked on your Session Calendar (OR Tag Added "paid-retainer" if you book sessions manually).
  5. Action 1 = Send Email "Welcome to the experience" with portal login info.
  6. Action 2 = Wait Until 14 days before session date (use the Session Date custom field).
  7. Action 3 = Send Email "Start thinking about outfits" with closet access link.
  8. Action 4 = Wait Until 7 days before session date.
  9. Action 5 = Send Email with full prep guide (skin, nails, hair, what to bring).
  10. Action 6 = Wait Until 2 days before session date.
  11. Action 7 = Send SMS "Two days! Here is what to expect when you arrive..."
  12. Action 8 = Wait Until morning of session.
  13. Action 9 = Send SMS "TODAY is your day. You've got this. See you soon."
  14. Action 10 (after) = Add Tag "session-completed" → triggers your reveal booking workflow next.
  15. Publish. Test by booking yourself a fake session 14+ days out.
Step 25

TEST every workflow before going live

This is the #1 thing photographers skip... and the #1 reason their clients have a clunky experience. TEST EVERYTHING before a real client touches it.

Where: Inside any workflow → Execution Logs
✦ How To Actually Do It ✦
  1. Add yourself as a contact in GHL with your real email AND real phone number.
  2. Open the workflow you want to test. Confirm Published is ON at the top right.
  3. Trigger the workflow EXACTLY the way a real client would. For inquiry workflows... go fill out your own inquiry form. For session prep... book yourself on the session calendar.
  4. Watch your phone and email for the texts and emails. Time how long they take to arrive.
  5. Open the workflow → click Execution Logs at the top. You see a row for every contact who entered the workflow and which actions fired (or failed).
  6. Check for these problems... typos in messages, broken booking/payment links, wrong wait times, shortcodes that did not populate (like {{contact.first_name}} showing literally instead of your name), if/else branches firing the wrong way.
  7. Fix any problems, save, then test again from scratch.
  8. Once all 4 workflows pass testing... DELETE your test contact from GHL so you do not pollute your data.

If even one workflow has a typo or broken link, every client who flows through it gets a clunky experience. Testing once saves your reputation forever.

When You Get Stuck

Hit a wall? I've been there.

If any of these steps make you want to throw your laptop into the ocean, that is normal and that is exactly what Boudoir Automations is for. Get in there with me and we will figure it out together... in plain English, no tech jargon, no judgment.

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