Calls come in when you're behind the camera, editing images, or meeting with clients about their vision. We capture leads, book consultations, collect deposits, and log project details instantly in your systems. With our AI-first answering service with human support as an extension of capabilities, potential clients never hit voicemail.
The AI Receptionist from Smith.ai greets every caller professionally and captures essential project information through structured intake questions. By collecting key details upfront — such as event type and date, photography style needed, location requirements, budget range, and package preferences — the system helps identify and prioritize qualified leads based on your specialty and availability.
The AI Receptionist from Smith.ai combines cutting-edge AI technology with optional human support to deliver unmatched call handling capabilities. Unlike competitors who offer basic subscription services, we provide white-glove implementation and ongoing support to ensure your success.
What sets Smith.ai apart:
Make better business decisions with real-time call data powered by AI, visualized in your Smith.ai dashboard. Every call summary is enriched with AI-generated metadata including actions completed, caller disposition, priority, relevance, call recording and transcription, and more. Track booking patterns, popular packages, and seasonal trends through historical tables and charts to predict business growth, peak seasons, and ROI with superior accuracy through our AI-powered analytics.
While our AI Receptionist with human support delivers exceptional results for most businesses, we understand that some situations require dedicated human coverage. That’s why Smith.ai also offers comprehensive virtual receptionist plans with 100% live, North America-based agents answering your calls 24/7.
Our virtual receptionist plans provide dedicated human agents trained specifically on your business and industry.
Improve customer experiences with 24/7 AI-powered engagement built specifically for your business. Unlike basic AI competitors that offer one-size-fits-all solutions, Smith.ai delivers infinite customization with white-glove implementation tailored to your exact needs and goals.
While other AI services leave you to figure it out alone, our expert team works closely with you to craft custom AI behavior that sounds like your business, follows your procedures, and delivers results that match your goals.
The call answering service tackles the unique challenges photographers face daily. You're often on location, in the middle of a shoot, or deep in post-production when potential clients call. Missing those calls means missing bookings.
Our service ensures every call gets answered professionally, appointments get scheduled efficiently, and leads get qualified effectively — all without pulling you away from your creative work. The system handles the seasonal nature of photography too. During wedding season when inquiries spike, the call answering service manages multiple calls simultaneously. During slower periods, you're not paying for idle staff.
The real game-changer? Everything integrates with your existing systems. Client information flows directly into your CRM, appointments sync with your calendar, and you get detailed summaries of every interaction. You stay organized and responsive without the administrative burden.
Think of it as having the perfect team. The AI Receptionist handles the routine stuff, such as answering calls, booking standard sessions, collecting client information, and qualifying leads. It works around the clock, never misses a detail, and follows your exact instructions every time.
But here's where it gets interesting. When someone wants to discuss a complex wedding package or has specific questions about your artistic style, the system recognizes these moments and seamlessly connects them with a human agent. Callers can also request to speak with a person at any point.
These aren't just any agents; they're North America-based professional receptionists who understand customer service. They collect detailed information, handle sensitive situations with empathy, and route calls exactly according to your preferences. They don't give photography advice or make creative decisions, as that's your expertise. They're there to ensure every caller gets the attention they deserve while following your specific protocols.
Let's talk numbers first. An in-house receptionist costs you salary, benefits, training, and coverage for sick days and vacations. The AI Receptionist from Smith.ai starts at just $95.00 per month for 50 calls, with transparent per-call pricing if you go over. No setup fees, no cancellation fees, no surprises.
But it's about more than cost. You get 24/7 coverage, something a single employee can't provide. During peak wedding season, the system handles multiple calls simultaneously. During slow periods, you're not paying someone to sit idle.
The integration capabilities transform how you manage your business. Every call, appointment, and payment automatically logs into your systems. You get detailed analytics showing which marketing efforts drive calls, what services people ask about most, and how to optimize your business. Try getting that level of insight from a traditional receptionist.
Every photography business is different, and Smith.ai gets that. Wedding photographers need different call handling than commercial photographers. Portrait studios have different booking processes than event photographers.
That's why we start with custom AI prompts tailored specifically to your specialization. During onboarding, our specialists work with you to understand your services, pricing structure, booking process, and client preferences. The AI learns your specific terminology, understands your packages, and knows exactly how to qualify leads for your business.
The flexibility goes deeper. You can adjust instructions for seasonal changes, prioritizing wedding inquiries in spring and summer and focusing on holiday portraits in fall.The system adapts to project complexity too, recognizing when to gather basic information versus when to schedule a detailed consultation. Every aspect can be customized to match exactly how you want your business represented.
The AI Receptionist from Smith.ai connects with virtually everything photographers use. We're talking native integration with over 7,000 business tools, including photography-specific platforms like Studio Ninja, Pixifi, and ShootQ.
But we go beyond basic integrations. Our solutions team can build custom workflows using Zapier, Make, or N8N to connect systems exactly how you need them. Want calls to trigger specific actions in your project management system? Need appointments to create tasks in your workflow? We make it happen.
Popular integrations for photographers include calendar systems for booking, payment processors for deposits, email marketing platforms for follow-ups, and project management tools for shoot coordination. Everything syncs in real-time, so your systems always reflect the latest client interactions. This isn't just about answering phones; it's about streamlining your entire client communication workflow.