ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, Brevo is probably the best fit if you want to send client updates, mini-session announcements, seasonal offers, and promotions without paying upfront.

My shortlist

• Brevo — best overall for your situation. Its free plan is $0 indefinitely and allows unlimited contacts, with up to 300 email sends per day. It also includes email campaigns, templates, basic analytics, and some automation. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• MailerLite — best if you want a prettier, more photographer-friendly newsletter. Its free plan currently allows 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, plus landing pages, forms, and 3 automations. MailerLite MailerLite
• Kit — excellent for building a creator-style audience. Its free plan allows up to 10,000 subscribers and unlimited broadcasts, which is unusually generous, although automated email sequences require a paid plan. Kit Help Center Kit
• Mailchimp — usable, but less compelling on a very tight budget. Its current free plan caps contacts at 250, and sending pauses when you exceed the plan limits. Mailchimp

What I'd do as a photographer

I'd start with Brevo if your main goal is:

“I have a list of past clients and prospects, and I want to occasionally send them photography offers and updates.”

You could create segments such as:

• Wedding clients
• Portrait clients
• Family clients
• Headshot/business clients
• Past clients
• People who have inquired but haven't booked

Then send things like “Fall Mini Sessions — 5 spots left”, “Spring portrait bookings are open”, or a quarterly “What’s new with my photography business” email.

One important distinction: I wouldn't use a marketing platform for ordinary one-to-one client communication such as “Your gallery is ready” or “Here are your proofs.” For those, your normal client-management/gallery workflow is better. Use the email platform primarily for broadcasts, promotions, and staying in touch with your client list.

If you tell me roughly how many contacts you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you're mostly doing weddings, portraits, events, or commercial work, I can narrow it down to the cheapest setup for your specific photography business.

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d use Brevo.

Why Brevo fits a photographer

• $0 to start — the free plan is permanent, with no credit card required. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• 300 emails/day — plenty for most solo photographers sending occasional client updates, mini-session announcements, holiday offers, and booking reminders. Brevo Help
• You can keep a large contact list—the free plan allows up to 100,000 stored contacts, even though you're limited in how many emails you can send per day. Brevo Help
• It includes drag-and-drop email creation, templates, basic analytics, forms, and automation, so you can make professional-looking campaigns without much technical work. Brevo Help
• When you eventually need more sending capacity, the Starter plan begins at $9/month. Brevo Help

How I'd use it for your photography business

I'd create a simple list of past/current prospects and send things like:

• 📸 "Fall mini sessions are open"
• 🎉 "10% off family sessions this month"
• 🖼️ "Your gallery is ready"
• 📅 "I have 3 dates available in October"
• 💍 "Wedding photography dates now booking for 2027"

I'd avoid sending individual client conversations through the marketing system. Use your normal email for one-to-one communication, and Brevo for your broadcast updates/offers.

Two alternatives

MailerLite is another excellent choice, particularly if you want prettier newsletters and landing pages. Its current free plan allows 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. MailerLite MailerLite

Mailchimp has a free tier, but its current free plan is also capped at 250 contacts, and its free sending is considerably more restrictive, so I wouldn't pick it first for a photographer starting from scratch. Mailchimp

My practical pick: Brevo if keeping costs at $0 is the priority; MailerLite if you care more about the visual newsletter experience.

brevo.com · mailerlite.com

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with Brevo.

My pick: Brevo

brevo.com

Why it fits a photographer:

• Free to start
• Unlimited contacts on the free plan
• Up to 300 emails per day (roughly 9,000/month)
• You can create professional-looking email campaigns without much technical knowledge.
• You can segment clients—for example, past wedding clients, portrait clients, leads, and repeat customers.
• It also has CRM/contact-management features, so you don't necessarily need a separate system yet. G2 Learn First Reviewers
• When you eventually outgrow the free tier, Brevo's paid plans start relatively low compared with many competitors. ToolFit

For a solo photographer, I'd use it for things like:

Monthly client update

"March availability is open — here are my latest sessions..."

Special offer

"20% off spring mini sessions — 5 spots available."

Past-client campaign

"It's been a year since your last family session. Want to update your photos?"

Referral campaign

"Refer a friend and you'll both receive $50 toward your next session."

What I'd avoid

I wouldn't choose Mailchimp just because it's the most recognizable name. Its free allowance has become considerably more restrictive in 2026, making it less attractive for a photographer trying to keep costs at $0. G2 Learn Mr. Review Ai

Kit is another good free option, particularly for creators, but it's more oriented toward newsletters/content creators than a client-focused photography business. MailToolFinder

The simplest setup I'd recommend

Brevo + your existing Gmail + a simple client spreadsheet

Don't overcomplicate it yet. Start collecting:

• Name
• Email
• Type of client
• Date of last shoot
• Location
• Interested in future sessions?
• Birthday/anniversary (if relevant and voluntarily provided)

Then send 1 useful email per month rather than constantly promoting yourself. For photography, a good mix is roughly 80% useful/interesting content + 20% offers.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/emails you have now (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you're mainly doing weddings, portraits, events, or commercial photography, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use specifically for your business.

What I'd avoid

I wouldn't choose Mailchimp just because it's the most recognizable name. Its free allowance has become considerably more restrictive in 2026, making it less attractive for a photographer trying to keep costs at $0.

Kit is another good free option, particularly for creators, but it's more oriented toward newsletters/content creators than a client-focused photography business.

The simplest setup I'd recommend

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with brevo.com.

My pick: Brevo

Its free plan gives you:

• $0/month forever
• Up to 300 emails per day
• Up to 100,000 contacts stored
• Email campaigns and templates
• Basic automation
• Contact management and reporting
• No credit card required Brevo Help Brevo

For a photographer, that's plenty for things like:

• “Spring mini-session spots are open!”
• “Here are my latest wedding packages.”
• “I have 2 openings this month.”
• Seasonal promotions
• Client newsletters
• Follow-ups with past clients

Other good options

MailerLite's free plan is particularly appealing if design matters—you get landing pages, forms, automations, and 2,500 monthly emails. Its free limits were updated in June 2026. MailerLite MailerLite

Mailchimp's free plan is considerably tighter at 250 contacts and 500 monthly sends, so I wouldn't choose it for a photographer unless you already like the platform. Mailchimp Mailchimp

Bottom line: I'd use Brevo for client updates and offers, especially if you're trying to spend $0 initially. If you want your emails to look especially polished and visual—important for photography—I'd consider MailerLite instead.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/contacts you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you want email, SMS, or both, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use for your photography business.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with brevo.com.

My pick: Brevo

Brevo's free plan is unusually good for a solo photographer:

• $0/month indefinitely
• Up to 100,000 contacts
• 300 emails/day
• Email templates and drag-and-drop editor
• Basic analytics
• Automations
• No credit card required Brevo Help Brevo Help

That makes it especially useful if you want to send things like:

• 📸 "Spring mini-session dates are open!"
• 🎁 Special offers to past clients
• 📅 Availability updates
• 🖼️ Gallery/print promotions
• 💌 Occasional newsletters
• 🎉 Holiday or referral offers

The big advantage: you're not charged simply because your client list grows. The main free-plan restriction is 300 emails per day, which is plenty for most freelance photographers. Brevo Help

One alternative worth considering

mailerlite.com has a nicer-looking creator-oriented experience and is excellent for building polished newsletters and landing pages. However, its current free plan is limited to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. MailerLite MailerLite

So I'd choose:

For a photographer, I'd use Brevo as your marketing list and your normal email account for one-to-one client communication. That gives you a professional system without adding another monthly expense.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you want SMS/texts too, I can tell you exactly which platform I'd pick and how I'd set it up for a photography business.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with brevo.com.

My pick: Brevo

For client updates, mini-session announcements, seasonal offers, and referral promotions, Brevo gives you a lot without requiring a monthly subscription:

• $0/month on the free plan.
• Up to 100,000 contacts stored.
• Up to 300 emails per day.
• Drag-and-drop email designer and reusable templates.
• Basic analytics so you can see opens and clicks.
• You can eventually add SMS and other marketing tools. Brevo Help Brevo Help

For a photographer, that 300-email/day limit is more than enough if you're emailing a few hundred past clients and prospects at a time.

One alternative I'd consider

mailerlite.com is arguably nicer if your priority is making beautiful, simple newsletters. Its free plan currently allows 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, plus landing pages, signup forms, and basic automations. MailerLite MailerLite

So I'd choose:

My recommendation for you: Start with Brevo's free plan. Create separate lists for past clients, wedding leads, portrait clients, and commercial prospects, then send occasional offers rather than constant promotions. That keeps your photography brand feeling personal rather than like a mass-marketing business.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/contacts you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you're sending monthly newsletters or individual client updates, I can tell you which platform will be cheapest for your exact situation.

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with an email marketing platform, not a full CRM. You mainly need to:

• send gallery announcements
• share mini-session offers
• remind past clients about booking seasons
• announce discounts or referral programs
• stay in touch without paying much

My top picks:

1. brevo.com — Best budget choice

Best if you have a growing client list but don’t email every day.

• Free plan available
• Lets you keep a large contact list
• Good for newsletters, promotions, and automated follow-ups
• Includes basic CRM features and segmentation Zapier

Great photographer use case:
“Holiday mini sessions are open!” → send to all past families
“Wedding anniversary portraits available” → target wedding clients only

2. mailerlite.com — Best for beautiful photography emails

Best if your brand depends heavily on visuals.

• Clean templates that showcase photos well
• Easy drag-and-drop editor
• Simple automation for things like welcome emails and follow-ups Framekit

Great photographer use case:
A monthly “recent work + booking openings” newsletter that looks like a mini portfolio.

3. kit.com — Best if you want to build a personal brand

Best if you also create content (YouTube, blog, tutorials, presets, courses).

• Strong for creators
• Good subscriber management
• Useful if your photography business expands beyond client shoots Jobbers

4. canva.com + regular email (ultra-budget option)

If you only have a small number of clients:

• Design a nice update in Canva
• Export it as an image/PDF
• Send through your normal email account (carefully using BCC or a small mailing list)

This costs almost nothing, but it becomes harder to manage as your list grows.

My recommendation for you:

• Under 200–500 past clients: Start with MailerLite for polished photography emails. Framekit
• Hundreds/thousands of contacts and you want the cheapest long-term option: Use Brevo. Zapier
• Trying to become a photography educator/creator: Use Kit. Jobbers

A simple setup that works well for photographers:

1. Create a list: “Past Clients”
2. Create a list: “Interested Leads”
3. Send one valuable email per month: - recent work
4. seasonal booking dates
5. a small client-only offer
6. a referral reminder

Avoid sending only discounts—clients are more likely to remember you if your emails also feel like a personal update.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with MailerLite.

mailerlite.com is probably the best balance of free + professional + easy to use for sending client updates, mini-session announcements, seasonal offers, and promotions.

My picks

• 🥇 MailerLite — best overall for you: Free for up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. You also get email campaigns, basic automations, signup forms, and a landing page. MailerLite MailerLite
• 🥈 Brevo — best if your list will grow: Its free plan allows unlimited contacts and 300 email sends/day, although that daily limit can be restrictive for a big campaign. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• 🥉 Mailchimp — good, but not my first choice on a tight budget: It has a free tier for under 250 contacts, but its current free offering is more limited than I'd want for a photographer building a client list. Mailchimp

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with MailerLite's free plan. Create separate groups such as:

• Past clients
• Wedding clients
• Portrait clients
• Family clients
• Potential clients/leads

Then send things like:

📸 Fall Mini Sessions — 5 Spots Left
I'm opening a limited number of fall portrait sessions this October.

Past clients get first access before I announce the dates publicly.
Book your spot →

That lets you turn your existing client list into repeat business without paying for ads or expensive CRM software.

One important distinction: if by "client updates" you mean individual project communication (e.g., "Your gallery is ready," "We're confirmed for Saturday," contracts, invoices, questionnaires), I'd choose a different tool than MailerLite. If you mean broadcasts/offers to many past and potential clients, MailerLite is my pick.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have (e.g. 50, 250, 1,000) and whether you're mainly doing weddings, portraits, events, or commercial work, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use—including the specific tools I'd pair together.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d go with brevo.com.

Why Brevo is my pick

• $0 to start — the free plan is genuinely free with no time limit. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• You can store up to 100,000 contacts on the free plan, although you’re limited to 300 emails per day. Brevo Help
• It has a drag-and-drop email editor, templates, basic analytics, and automation. Brevo Help
• Unlike many platforms, its pricing is largely based on how many emails you send, rather than simply how many clients are in your database. That's particularly useful for a photographer who may have lots of past clients but only occasionally send campaigns.
• You can also use its basic CRM/sales features to keep track of leads and deals. Brevo Help

What I'd do in your situation

I'd set up Brevo with three simple groups:

• Past clients — "I have new mini-session dates available"
• Potential clients — "Fall family photography dates are open"
• Wedding/event leads — personalized offers and availability

Then send a polished monthly or seasonal email featuring your best 3–5 photos, a short update, and one clear offer/CTA.

For comparison, mailchimp.com also has a free plan, but it's currently limited to 250 contacts and 500 sends/month, making Brevo considerably more attractive if you're trying to build a client list without immediately paying. Mailchimp Mailchimp

My ranking for you:

1. 🥇 Brevo — best budget choice
2. 🥈 MailerLite — worth considering if design simplicity is your priority
3. 🥉 Mailchimp — polished, but the free limits are restrictive
4. Flodesk — beautiful for photographers, but harder to justify when money is tight

If by "client updates and offers" you mean individual client communication rather than newsletters/marketing, I'd actually recommend a different setup—and potentially $0/month.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with brevo.com.

My pick: Brevo

It has a free-forever plan with:

• 300 emails/day
• Up to 100,000 contacts stored
• Email campaigns and templates
• Basic analytics
• Automation for up to 2,000 contacts
• No credit card required Brevo Help Brevo Help

That makes it particularly good for photographers because you can build a client list without paying simply because your list gets bigger. If you only send occasional promotions—mini-session announcements, holiday offers, booking openings, etc.—you can stay free for quite a while.

The other one I'd consider: MailerLite

mailerlite.com is arguably nicer-looking and easier for creating beautiful photographer-style newsletters. Its free plan currently allows 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, plus landing pages, forms and basic automations. MailerLite MailerLite

The catch is that MailerLite changed its free plan in June 2026, reducing the subscriber limit from 500 to 250. MailerLite

What I'd do in your shoes

My recommendation: Brevo. Keep a list of past clients and prospects and send something like 1–2 useful emails per month: recent work, upcoming availability, mini-session announcements, referral offers, and seasonal promotions.

One important distinction: if by "client updates" you mean project-specific communication (e.g., "Your gallery is ready," "Your shoot is Saturday," contracts/invoices), I'd use a different type of platform rather than email marketing software. If that's what you mean, I can recommend the cheapest all-in-one photographer client-management platform instead.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d pick mailerlite.com.

🥇 Best budget choice: MailerLite

Its current free plan gives you:

• $0/month
• Up to 250 subscribers
• 2,500 emails/month
• Email campaigns and basic automations
• Landing pages and signup forms
• A website you can use even without your own site MailerLite MailerLite

That’s plenty if you're using it to send things like:

📸 “Your gallery is ready!”
🎉 “Fall mini-session dates are now open”
💰 “20% off prints this weekend”
📅 “I have three portrait slots available next month”

How I'd rank the cheap options

Brevo is particularly interesting if your contact list grows quickly: its free plan allows up to 100,000 stored contacts, although you're limited to 300 email sends per day. Brevo Help Brevo Help

Mailchimp's free plan currently caps you at 250 contacts and 500 sends/month, so I'd choose MailerLite over it for a photographer starting out. Mailchimp

My recommendation: Start with MailerLite, build a list of past clients and prospective clients, and send a polished monthly update rather than paying for a complicated CRM. Once you get beyond ~250 contacts, reassess whether Brevo or a paid MailerLite plan makes more sense.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/leads you have (e.g. 50, 200, 1,000) and whether you want email, SMS, or both, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use for a photography business.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I'd pick MailerLite.

• MailerLite Free — $0/month: up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, plus email campaigns, basic automations, signup forms, a landing page, and a website. MailerLite MailerLite
• That's plenty for sending things like mini-session announcements, holiday offers, booking reminders, new-gallery announcements, and occasional client newsletters.
• When you outgrow it, the paid Comfort plan starts at $12/month, so you don't have to make a big jump in cost. MailerLite

How I'd rank the budget options

Brevo is an interesting alternative because its free plan allows up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 sends per day, although the daily sending cap can become annoying for larger campaigns. Brevo Help Brevo Help Mailchimp's current free plan is limited to 250 contacts and 500 sends/month. Mailchimp

For a photographer, I'd start with MailerLite. You can make the emails visually attractive with your photography, create a simple "Join my VIP list" signup form, and automate follow-ups without paying anything initially.

mailerlite.com

If you tell me roughly how many past/current clients you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can tell you which platform would be cheapest for your specific situation.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with brevo.com.

Why Brevo is a great fit

• $0/month to start — the free plan is permanent, not just a trial. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• You can store up to 100,000 contacts on the free plan. Brevo Help
• You can send 300 emails per day, which is plenty for most solo photographers sending occasional client updates, mini-session announcements, holiday offers, etc. Brevo Help
• It includes an email editor, templates, basic analytics, and some automation. Brevo Help
• When your business grows, the entry paid plan starts at $9/month, with pricing primarily based on email volume rather than simply the size of your contact list. Brevo Help

What I'd do in your shoes

Use Brevo to create a simple client email list with categories such as:

• 📸 Past clients
• 💍 Wedding clients
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Family/portrait clients
• 🎄 Holiday/mini-session prospects
• ⭐ VIP/repeat clients

Then send things like:

“Fall Mini Sessions are Open 🍂”
I've opened 8 spots for my October mini sessions. Since you've worked with me before, you're getting first access before I announce them publicly.

That's much more professional than sending 50 individual texts or BCC emails.

One caveat: the free emails include Brevo branding, and you're limited to 300 sends/day. Brevo Help For a small photography business, though, that's a pretty minor trade-off.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you want to send emails, texts, or both, I can tell you the absolute cheapest setup I'd use and what I'd avoid.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with brevo.com.

Why Brevo is my pick

• $0/month on the free plan.
• You can store up to 100,000 contacts.
• You can send 300 emails per day, which is plenty for most solo photographers starting out. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• You get a drag-and-drop email editor, templates, basic analytics, and some automation.
• You can use it for both client updates and promotional offers—e.g. mini-session announcements, holiday shoots, referral offers, print sales, etc.
• If you eventually need more volume, the paid Starter plan begins at $9/month. Brevo Help

One important caveat

The free emails include Brevo branding, so they won't look quite as polished as a fully branded campaign. Brevo Help

For comparison, mailchimp.com currently limits its free plan to 250 contacts and 500 monthly sends, making Brevo considerably more generous for a growing client list. Mailchimp

What I'd do in your position

Start with Brevo → create three lists:

• 📸 Past Clients — occasional updates, galleries, referral offers
• 💍 Wedding/Portrait Leads — useful tips + special offers
• ⭐ VIP/Repeat Clients — early access to mini sessions and promotions

Then send 1–2 genuinely useful emails per month, rather than constantly selling. For a photographer, something like “Fall Mini Sessions are open — past clients get first choice” is much more effective than generic newsletters.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have now (e.g. 50, 500, 2,000) and whether you want email, text messages, or both, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use and how I'd structure it.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I'd start with Brevo.

🥇 Best value: brevo.com

Its free plan is unusually generous for a solo freelancer:

• $0/month forever
• Up to 100,000 contacts
• 300 emails per day (about 9,000/month if you use the full allowance)
• Drag-and-drop email templates
• Basic analytics
• Contact management/CRM features
• Basic automation for up to 2,000 contacts
• No credit card required Brevo Help Brevo Help

For photography, that makes it useful for things like:

“Mini-session dates just opened!”
“20% off portrait sessions this month”
“Your gallery is ready”
“Holiday photo sessions are now booking”

Why I'd choose it over Mailchimp

I wouldn't start with Mailchimp if keeping costs down is your priority. Its free offering has become considerably more restrictive, while Brevo's free tier is built around sending volume rather than charging you simply for having a large contact database. Mr. Review Ai Picktool

One catch: Brevo's free emails include Brevo branding, and you're limited to 300 sends/day. Brevo Help

What I'd do in your shoes

Use Brevo Free initially and build one simple client list with tags such as:

• Past clients
• Wedding
• Portrait
• Family
• Headshots
• Leads

Then create 3–4 reusable campaigns—one for client updates, one for promotions, one for seasonal offers, and one for re-engaging past clients.

You don't need an expensive CRM or marketing platform yet. $0/month is plenty until your client list and email volume actually justify upgrading.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you want email, SMS/text, or both, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use for a photography business.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d go with brevo.com.

Why Brevo is my pick

• $0 to start — the free plan includes up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends per day. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• You can send client updates, mini-session announcements, seasonal offers, booking reminders, and newsletters.
• It has a drag-and-drop email editor and reusable templates, so you can make your emails look professional without coding. Brevo Help
• It also includes basic CRM/sales tools, which can be useful for keeping track of photography leads and clients. Brevo Help
• When you outgrow the free plan, paid plans start at $9/month, so there's a relatively inexpensive path to scale. Brevo Help

Brevo vs. Mailchimp

Mailchimp's current free plan is limited to 250 contacts and 500 monthly sends, so I think Brevo gives you considerably more room as a small photography business. Mailchimp Mailchimp

One important distinction: if by "client updates" you mean individual messages to existing clients rather than newsletters/promotional offers, you may not need an email-marketing platform at all. Your regular Gmail/Outlook account could be simpler and free.

For a photographer, though, I'd set up Brevo + a simple branded email template + separate lists for past clients, leads, and prospects. That gives you a very inexpensive system for turning one-time shoots into repeat bookings.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with brevo.com.

Why Brevo is my pick

• Free plan: up to 300 emails/day, with a very large contact-storage allowance. StackFYI Accelrio
• You can send client updates, mini-session announcements, seasonal offers, booking reminders, and newsletters.
• It’s particularly good if you have lots of past clients but only email them occasionally, because you're not primarily paying based on how many contacts you store. ToolSkeptic
• You can segment clients—for example, weddings, portraits, families, headshots, commercial—and send relevant offers to each group.
• You can start at $0, which matters when you're still building your photography business.

My budget ranking

One important distinction: if by "client updates" you mean individual project communication—e.g. "Your gallery is ready," "Your shoot is tomorrow," or "Here's your invoice"—I'd use a client-management/gallery platform rather than email marketing software.

But if you mean "I want to email 50–500 past clients about my fall mini sessions / holiday portraits / new pricing / special offer", Brevo is where I'd start.

For a photographer, I'd actually set up three simple lists: Past Clients → Leads → VIP/Repeat Clients, then use Brevo to send occasional targeted offers rather than generic blasts. That keeps it inexpensive and makes the emails feel much more personal.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d pick brevo.com.

Why Brevo is probably your best fit

• $0/month to start. Brevo’s free plan is permanent, not just a trial. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• You can store up to 100,000 contacts, which is far more than you'll likely need as a solo photographer. Brevo Help
• You can send 300 emails per day for free. Brevo Help
• You can create professional-looking email campaigns with a drag-and-drop editor and reusable templates. Brevo Help
• It also has basic CRM/sales tools, so you can keep track of potential clients rather than using a separate system. Brevo Help

For a photographer, I'd use it for things like:

• 📸 Mini-session announcements
• 🎄 Holiday photo-session offers
• 💍 Wedding photography availability
• 📅 "I have 3 dates left this month" emails
• 🖼️ Recent-work/newsletter updates
• 🎁 Referral or repeat-client discounts
• 💌 Follow-ups with past clients

One important downside

The free emails include Brevo branding, and you're limited to 300 sends/day. Brevo Help For a small photography business, though, that's usually plenty to start.

I wouldn't choose Mailchimp first if money is the main concern. Its current free plan is limited to 250 contacts and has a maximum of 500 sends/month or 250/day. Mailchimp Mailchimp

My recommendation: Start with Brevo at $0, build your client list, and only pay when your business actually needs the additional sending capacity.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/leads you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you want email, text messages, or both, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use for a photography business.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d go with brevo.com.

Why Brevo is my top pick

• $0/month to start — the free plan is permanent and doesn't require a credit card. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• You can store up to 100,000 contacts on the free plan, so you won't get punished just because your client list grows. Brevo Help
• You can send 300 emails per day, which is plenty for most solo photographers sending client updates, mini-session announcements, seasonal offers, etc. Brevo Help
• It has drag-and-drop templates, basic analytics, contact management, and automation. Brevo Help
• When you outgrow the free plan, the Starter plan currently begins at $9/month. Brevo Help

What I'd use it for as a photographer

I'd create a simple client list with tags such as:

• Past clients
• Wedding clients
• Portrait clients
• Family clients
• Commercial clients
• Leads
• VIP/repeat clients

Then send things like:

📸 Fall Mini Sessions Are Open
I'm opening 8 spots for my fall portrait sessions. Existing clients get first access before I announce them publicly.

You can also send occasional "It's been a while!" emails to past clients, which can be particularly useful for photography because repeat bookings are valuable.

Brevo vs. Mailchimp

I'd choose Brevo over mailchimp.com if keeping costs down is the priority.

Mailchimp's current free tier is limited to 250 contacts and 500 monthly sends. Mailchimp Mailchimp

One important distinction: if by "client updates" you mean individual project communication—e.g., "Your gallery is ready," "We're meeting at 5 PM," or "Here's your contract"—I'd use a different tool than an email-marketing platform. If you mean broadcast updates and promotional offers, Brevo is a very good budget choice.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you want email, text messages, or both, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use as a photographer.

My pick: Brevo

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with brevo.com.

Its free plan is unusually useful for a solo business:

• $0/month forever — no time limit or credit card required.
• 300 emails per day, which is plenty if you're sending occasional client updates, mini-session announcements, holiday promotions, and offers. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• You can store up to 100,000 contacts on the free plan, so you don't immediately get punished for building a larger client list. Brevo Help
• It includes a drag-and-drop email editor, templates, basic analytics, and some CRM/sales tools. Brevo Help
• When you outgrow it, the Starter plan begins around $9/month. Brevo Help

How I'd use it as a photographer

I'd create 3 simple lists/segments:

• Past clients — anniversary shoots, family sessions, referrals
• Prospects — people who inquired but haven't booked
• Subscribers — people who want photography tips/offers

Then send things like:

📸 Fall Mini Sessions — Limited Dates Available
I'm opening 8 spots for fall family mini sessions this October. Existing clients get first access before I announce the remaining dates publicly.

That's much more professional than sending dozens of individual promotional emails from Gmail.

Why not Mailchimp?

mailchimp.com is also a reasonable choice, but its current free plan is limited to 250 contacts and 500 email sends per month. Mailchimp Mailchimp

For a photographer trying to build a client database, I think Brevo gives you considerably more room before you need to pay.

Bottom line: Start with Brevo Free. You can spend $0 while you're small, build your client list, and only pay when your sending volume actually justifies it. Brevo Help

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have and how often you want to send offers, I can also tell you whether Brevo, Mailchimp, Kit, or MailerLite would be the cheapest for your specific situation.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d go with brevo.com.

Why Brevo is probably your best fit

• $0/month to start — the free plan is permanent and doesn’t require a credit card. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• You can store up to 100,000 contacts on the free plan, which is far more than most solo photographers will need. Brevo Help
• You can send 300 emails per day for free. That's plenty for occasional client updates, mini-session announcements, holiday promotions, print sales, etc. Brevo Help
• It includes email templates, a drag-and-drop editor, basic analytics, contact management, and some automation. Brevo Help
• If you eventually outgrow the free tier, the Starter plan currently begins at $9/month. Brevo Help

How I'd use it as a photographer

You could have separate groups such as:

• Past clients → occasional offers and seasonal updates
• Wedding clients → planning reminders and timeline updates
• Portrait clients → mini-session announcements
• Commercial clients → availability and new-work announcements
• Prospects → portfolio/newsletter/offers

For example, you could send a beautifully branded email saying:

📸 Fall Mini Sessions are Open
I'm offering 8 limited sessions this October. Past clients get first access before I announce them publicly.

That looks considerably more professional than sending a mass BCC email from Gmail.

What I would not choose first

Mailchimp is popular and has a nice interface, but for someone specifically trying to keep costs down, Brevo currently offers better value. Current comparisons put Brevo's entry paid plan at $9/month versus Mailchimp around $13/month, while Brevo's free tier is also much more generous for contact storage. ToolFit

My recommendation: Start with Brevo Free and don't pay for anything until your photography business actually needs the additional sending capacity.

One important distinction: use Brevo for marketing/newsletters/offers. For individual client communication about their specific shoot, I'd still use regular email or your client-management system. That keeps your marketing list separate from client-service communication.

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d choose brevo.com.

Why Brevo is a great fit

• $0/month to start — the free plan is permanent, not just a trial. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• Up to 100,000 contacts can be stored on the free plan, which is far more than most photographers will ever need. Brevo Help
• You can send 300 emails per day for free. That's roughly 9,000 sends/month if you spread them out. Brevo Help
• It has a drag-and-drop email builder, templates, basic analytics, and automation. Brevo Help
• You can use it for things like: - "I have 3 portrait-session openings this month"
• Mini-session announcements
• Holiday/photo-session offers
• Wedding photography promotions
• Client newsletters
• Referral offers
• Follow-ups with past clients

The main downside is that free emails include Brevo branding, and you're limited to 300 sends/day. Brevo Help

What I'd do in your position

Start with Brevo Free and build one simple client list:

Past clients → Prospects → Wedding clients → Portrait clients → Commercial clients

Then send a polished email perhaps 1–2 times per month, rather than constantly marketing to people.

For example, you could send:

Spring Portrait Sessions — 4 Spots Available
I'm opening four discounted portrait-session dates this month.
[View the offer]

That gives you a professional-looking marketing system without adding another monthly bill.

What about the alternatives?

Current comparisons also put Brevo among the strongest low-cost options, particularly because its pricing is based largely on email volume rather than the size of your contact list. Sasanova Outmano

Bottom line: start with Brevo Free. Don't pay for an email platform until your photography business is generating enough repeat/referral business that the extra features are actually worth it.

If by "client updates and offers" you mean sending individual client galleries, booking reminders, invoices, and promotional emails all from one place, that's a slightly different category—and there are some very inexpensive photographer-specific options I'd consider instead.

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d choose Brevo.

brevo.com is especially good if you want to send things like:

• 📸 New-session offers — “Mini sessions are $50 off this weekend”
• 📅 Client updates — availability, booking reminders, seasonal announcements
• 🎁 Promotions — holiday shoots, senior portraits, wedding packages
• ✉️ Occasional newsletters — recent work, behind-the-scenes, referral offers

Why Brevo is my pick

Its free plan is genuinely useful for a solo photographer: you can store up to 100,000 contacts and send up to 300 emails per day, with no time limit and no credit card required. Brevo Help Brevo Help

The next tier starts at $9/month and includes 5,000 emails/month, templates, segmentation, forms, and other marketing tools. Brevo

That makes it particularly attractive for photography because you're likely to have a small client list but don't necessarily want to pay based heavily on the number of contacts you accumulate.

Brevo vs. Mailchimp

Mailchimp's current free plan is limited to 250 contacts and 500 email sends/month. Mailchimp

My recommendation: start with Brevo's free plan. Don't pay for anything until you're consistently hitting the 300-email/day limit or need its paid features.

One important distinction: if by "client updates" you mean individual one-to-one messages about shoots, invoices, galleries, etc., I'd use a different tool than email marketing. But if you mean sending the same offer/update to multiple past and prospective clients, Brevo is an excellent budget choice.

brevo.com

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, my top pick right now is Brevo.

🥇 Best value: Brevo

Brevo

Its free plan gives you:

• $0/month forever
• Up to 100,000 stored contacts
• 300 emails/day
• Email templates and a drag-and-drop editor
• Basic analytics
• Automations for up to 2,000 contacts
• Basic CRM/sales tools, including deal tracking help.brevo.com

For a photographer, that's plenty for things like:

📸 “Mini-session dates just opened!”
🎁 “10% off family portraits this month”
🖼️ “Your gallery is ready”
📅 “Fall portrait bookings are now available”

The big advantage is that you aren't paying based primarily on how many people are sitting in your client list. You can keep a large database while only paying when your sending needs grow.

🥈 Another good choice: MailerLite

MailerLite

MailerLite's free plan allows 2,500 emails/month, with up to 250 subscribers, plus automation, landing pages, forms and a website. www.mailerlite.com

I'd choose MailerLite over Brevo if you want your email marketing to feel particularly pretty/creative, which can be useful for photography.

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Brevo for $0. Build one client list and separate it into groups such as:

• Past clients
• Current clients
• Leads/prospects
• Wedding clients
• Family/portrait clients
• Commercial clients

Then send 1–2 useful emails per month, rather than bombarding people with promotions.

One important distinction: use a platform like Brevo for marketing/updates to groups of clients. For individual client communication—booking details, invoices, gallery links, etc.—I'd still use regular email or your client-management system.

Bottom line: If absolute affordability is the priority, Brevo Free is probably the best starting point for a solo photographer in 2026. Its combination of $0 cost, huge contact capacity, and CRM features is hard to beat. help.brevo.com

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you want email + SMS, I can tell you the cheapest setup I'd use.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with MailerLite.

mailerlite.com currently has a free plan for up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, plus email campaigns, basic automations, landing pages, signup forms, and reporting. That’s more than enough for most solo photographers starting a client/lead list. MailerLite MailerLite

My picks

• 🥇 MailerLite — best overall for you: Free up to 250 subscribers/2,500 emails monthly. Easy to make polished emails that fit a photography brand. Paid plans start at $12/month if you outgrow it. MailerLite
• 🥈 Brevo — best if you expect a larger contact list: Its free plan allows up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends/day. The catch is the daily sending limit. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• 🥉 Kit — worth considering if you're building a photography audience: Particularly attractive if you want to grow beyond existing clients into a creator/newsletter business.

For a photographer, I'd use it like this

Create separate groups for:

• Past clients — "Mini sessions are open!"
• Wedding/event leads — availability and special offers
• Portrait clients — seasonal sessions
• Potential clients — portfolio updates and promotions

Then send something like one useful update per month, with occasional targeted offers rather than blasting everyone.

Bottom line: Start with MailerLite at $0. You don't need an expensive CRM or marketing platform yet. Once you have more than ~250 active contacts, reassess whether upgrading MailerLite or moving to Brevo makes more financial sense.

mailerlite.com

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with Brevo.

🥇 Best budget choice: Brevo

$0/month to start, with:

• 300 emails/day on the free plan
• Unlimited contacts (up to 100,000 stored)
• Professional-looking email templates
• Basic analytics
• Automation
• Customer/contact management tools help.brevo.com

That makes it particularly good for a photographer who wants to send things like:

📸 “I have 3 mini-session spots left this month!”
🎉 “20% off family portraits through Sunday”
📅 “Fall booking calendar is now open”
❤️ “Thank you for working with me — here's a referral offer”

Another excellent option: MailerLite

MailerLite is arguably nicer if your priority is beautiful, photography-focused newsletters. Its free plan currently allows 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, with landing pages, forms, automations, A/B testing and a drag-and-drop editor. www.mailerlite.com

My recommendation for you

I'd choose Brevo if you expect your client/contact list to grow beyond a few hundred people. Its pricing is based primarily on emails sent rather than simply the number of contacts, and the free plan has a generous contact-storage limit. help.brevo.com

One important distinction: don't use a regular Gmail account to mass-send promotional offers. An email marketing platform gives you unsubscribe handling, contact management, analytics, and better deliverability.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/contacts you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you want to send monthly newsletters, occasional offers, or automated follow-ups, I can tell you which platform will be cheapest for your specific photography business.

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with MailerLite.

mailerlite.com is particularly well-suited to photographers because you can make your client emails look polished without needing much technical knowledge.

My pick: MailerLite

The current free plan gives you:

• $0/month
• Up to 250 active subscribers
• 2,500 emails/month
• Drag-and-drop email designer
• Basic automations
• Landing pages and signup forms
• A/B testing and reporting MailerLite MailerLite

That is plenty if you're sending things like:

📸 "Spring mini-session dates are open!"
🎉 "20% off graduation portraits this month"
📅 "I have 3 spots left for October weddings"
💌 "Your gallery is ready"

The big advantage for you: you can build a nice-looking photographer-branded email once, then reuse it for every promotion instead of manually emailing clients one by one.

One alternative worth considering: Brevo

brevo.com is arguably even better if you have a lot of contacts but don't email them very often. Its free plan allows unlimited contacts but limits you to 300 emails per day. Brevo Brevo

So I'd choose:

I wouldn't start with Mailchimp. Its current free offering is less attractive for a tiny photography business, particularly once you start growing your list. ToolSkeptic

What I'd do if I were you

Start MailerLite Free, connect it to your photography website/booking process, and create 3 audiences:

1. Past clients — referrals, repeat bookings, special offers
2. Leads — people who inquired but haven't booked
3. Prospects/newsletter — people who opted in for photography updates

Then send 1–2 genuinely useful/promotional emails per month, rather than bombarding people.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/leads you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you're mainly doing weddings, portraits, events, or commercial photography, I can tell you which platform would be cheapest for your specific situation and how I'd set it up.

So I'd choose:

I wouldn't start with Mailchimp. Its current free offering is less attractive for a tiny photography business, particularly once you start growing your list.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with Brevo.

🥇 Best overall: Brevo

Brevo

Its free plan is particularly good for photographers because you can have up to 100,000 contacts and send 300 emails per day, with no time limit or credit card required. It also includes a drag-and-drop email editor, templates, basic analytics, and automation. help.brevo.com

That means you could use it for:

• 📸 "I have 3 mini-session spots left!"
• 🎉 Holiday/photo-session promotions
• 📅 Session availability updates
• 💌 Post-session thank-you emails
• 🎁 Special offers for past clients
• 📷 New portfolio/gallery announcements

One caveat: the 300/day limit can become annoying if you eventually have a large mailing list.

🥈 MailerLite — best if you want prettier newsletters

MailerLite

MailerLite's free plan gives you 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, plus landing pages, signup forms, automations, A/B testing, and a website builder. www.mailerlite.com

For a photographer with a relatively small client list, that's actually a very attractive package.

My recommendation

For your particular use case, I'd choose Brevo and start free. Build one list of past/current clients, another for prospective clients, and send a polished monthly update plus occasional limited-time offers.

One important distinction: don't use mass email to send personal client communication or private gallery information. Use your normal client-management/gallery system for individual client work, and Brevo for marketing/promotional communication with people who have appropriately opted in.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have (e.g. 50, 500, 2,000) and whether you want text messages too, I can tell you which platform would be cheapest for you specifically.

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with an email marketing platform, not a full CRM. You mainly need a way to:

• send mini-session announcements
• share booking openings
• offer seasonal discounts
• send gallery updates
• stay in touch with past clients

My top affordable picks:

🥇 Best overall budget choice: Brevo

Best if you want the most value for $0.

• Free plan available
• Lets you store a large contact list
• Includes email templates, basic automation, and reporting
• Good for sending occasional newsletters to past clients help.brevo.com

Great photographer use case:

“Fall family sessions are open — returning clients get first booking access.”

🥈 Best for a creative brand: MailerLite

Best if you care about beautiful emails.

• Very beginner-friendly
• Clean templates that fit photography portfolios
• Good landing pages and simple automations
• Free tier is useful for smaller client lists mailtoolfinder.com

Great for:

• wedding photographers
• portrait photographers
• photographers building a personal brand

🥉 Simplest option: Mailchimp

Best if you want something familiar.

• Easy to learn
• Lots of tutorials
• Good templates
• However, the free tier is more limited than some competitors now. toolfit.io

My recommendation for a solo photographer:

• 0–500 clients: MailerLite or Brevo free plan
• 500+ contacts: Brevo is usually the better value because it scales more cheaply help.brevo.com
• Luxury/wedding photography brand: MailerLite for prettier campaigns

A simple setup that works well:

1. Create lists:
   • Past clients
   • Wedding inquiries
   • Family/portrait clients
   • Leads who never booked
2. Send 1–2 emails per month
3. Offer something exclusive:
   • early booking
   • referral discount
   • seasonal mini sessions
   • print promotions

Avoid sending marketing updates from regular Gmail — you’ll lose automation, tracking, and it can look less professional as your list grows.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with MailerLite.

🥇 Best overall: MailerLite

Its current free plan gives you:

• Up to 250 subscribers
• 2,500 emails/month
• Drag-and-drop email design
• Basic automations
• Landing pages and signup forms
• A/B testing
• No time limit on the free plan www.mailerlite.com

That's plenty if you're using it to send things like:

• 📸 "I have 3 mini-session spots left"
• 🎄 Holiday mini-session announcements
• 💰 Limited-time booking offers
• 🆕 New portfolio/gallery announcements
• 📅 Seasonal availability
• Referral or repeat-client promotions

One important catch: MailerLite changed its free plan in June 2026, reducing the limit from 500 to 250 active subscribers and from 12,000 to 2,500 emails/month. www.mailerlite.com

🥈 If you expect your client list to grow: Brevo

Brevo is arguably the better long-term bargain. Its free plan allows unlimited contacts (up to 100,000 stored) but limits you to 300 email sends per day. help.brevo.com

For example, if you eventually have 2,000 past clients but only send occasional promotions, Brevo's contact model can be more attractive than MailerLite's 250-person free limit.

My recommendation for a photographer

I'd personally start with MailerLite if you're building your photography business from scratch. It's simple, inexpensive, and its free plan gives you enough functionality to look professional without paying for a complicated marketing system.

One other tip: don't send bulk promotional emails from your normal Gmail account. An email marketing platform gives clients an unsubscribe option and helps you manage consent/deliverability properly.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have (e.g. 50, 500, 2,000) and whether you want text messages too, I can tell you which platform would be cheapest for your specific situation.

For a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with Brevo. It gives you the best balance of cost, professionalism, and room to grow. Its free plan allows up to 300 emails per day and includes tools like templates, contact management, and basic analytics. help.brevo.com

A simple setup for photography clients:

• Client updates: “Your gallery is ready,” sneak peeks, booking confirmations, delivery reminders
• Offers: mini-session promotions, holiday shoots, referral discounts, seasonal packages
• Organization: separate lists for wedding clients, portraits, past clients, and leads

Other good budget options:

My recommendation by stage:

• 0–500 clients/leads: Brevo or MailerLite free plan
• 500–2,000 contacts: MailerLite is often a comfortable fit
• Growing studio with automated follow-ups: Brevo is a strong value because you can manage larger contact lists without paying just for storing contacts zapier.com

One extra tip: don’t only email promotions. A profitable photographer list usually works better when it includes:

• recent work/sneak peeks
• behind-the-scenes moments
• client stories
• helpful tips (outfit ideas, location ideas, preparation guides)
• occasional offers

That keeps past clients warm so they think of you when they need another session.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I'd start with MailerLite.

🥇 Best overall: MailerLite

MailerLite

Its current free plan gives you:

• $0/month
• Up to 250 active subscribers
• 2,500 emails/month
• Email campaigns and basic automations
• Landing pages and signup forms
• A/B testing
• 2 user seats www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com

That's plenty if you're building a client list and sending things like:

📸 "Mini-session dates just opened"
🎉 "20% off portrait sessions this month"
💍 "Wedding photography availability for 2027"
📷 "Your sneak peek is ready"

One important catch: MailerLite recently reduced its free tier from 500 to 250 subscribers and 12,000 to 2,500 monthly emails, so it's best for a relatively small client list. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com

🥈 If you expect your list to grow: Brevo

Brevo

Brevo's free plan is particularly interesting for photographers because it allows unlimited contacts (up to 100,000 stored), although you're limited to 300 email sends per day. It also includes basic CRM/sales tools. help.brevo.com

So if you have 800 past/current clients but only occasionally send an offer, Brevo may actually be the better bargain.

My recommendation

For a photographer starting from scratch, I'd use MailerLite until you hit 250 subscribers, then evaluate whether moving to Brevo makes sense.

And don't feel like you need an expensive "photographer CRM" just to send updates and offers. A free email-marketing platform can handle this very well.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I'd start with MailerLite.

🥇 Best overall: MailerLite

MailerLite

Its current Free plan is $0, allows up to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, and includes email campaigns, basic automations, landing pages, signup forms, and performance reporting. www.mailerlite.com

That's a very good fit for a photographer because you can use it to:

• 📸 Send new gallery announcements
• 💰 Promote mini-session offers
• 🎄 Announce seasonal sessions
• 🎁 Send special offers to past clients
• 📅 Remind people when your booking calendar opens
• ✉️ Build a professional-looking branded email rather than sending individual emails
• 🤖 Set up a simple automated sequence for new subscribers

For example: Someone signs up for your "Fall Mini Sessions" list → they automatically receive a welcome email → a few days later they get your offer → you follow up with remaining dates.

🥈 If you have a larger client list: Brevo

Brevo

Brevo's free plan is particularly interesting if you have lots of contacts but don't email them very often. It allows up to 100,000 stored contacts and 300 email sends per day, although the free emails include Brevo branding. help.brevo.com

So, for example, having 2,000 past clients doesn't necessarily force you into a paid plan—you just have to stay within the daily sending limit.

What I'd choose

I wouldn't start with Mailchimp on a tight budget. Its current offering is much less attractive for a tiny photography business; its marketing plans are primarily paid/trial-based rather than giving you the kind of ongoing free setup MailerLite does. mailchimp.com

My recommendation: start with MailerLite Free, build a list of past clients and prospects, and use it specifically for promotions and updates—not ordinary one-to-one client communication. That gives you a professional marketing system without adding another monthly bill.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, my top pick is Brevo.

Why Brevo is a great fit

• $0/month to start — the free plan is genuinely free with no time limit. help.brevo.com
• You can store a large number of contacts and send up to 300 emails per day for free. help.brevo.com
• You get email templates, a drag-and-drop editor, basic analytics, contact management, and automation—enough for client newsletters and promotions without needing a complicated setup. help.brevo.com
• When your business grows, the entry paid plan starts at $9/month and allows 5,000 emails/month. help.brevo.com
• Brevo charges primarily based on emails sent rather than the number of contacts, which can be particularly economical for photographers who have lots of past clients but only email them occasionally. toolfit.io

What I'd do in your situation

Use Brevo for:

📸 Client updates

"Fall mini-session dates are now open"

🎟️ Special offers

"Past clients get 15% off family sessions this month"

📅 Availability

"I have 3 weekend dates available in September"

💌 Occasional newsletters

Recent shoots + photography tips + upcoming availability

I'd stay on the free plan initially. If you're sending a monthly update to, say, 100–200 clients, 300 sends/day is plenty.

One important distinction: if by "client updates" you mean individual project communication (e.g., "Your gallery is ready," "Your invoice is due," "Here's your contract"), I'd use a client-management/gallery platform rather than an email-marketing platform. For promotional offers and keeping your past clients engaged, Brevo is the better budget choice.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you have and how often you want to email them, I can tell you which platform will be cheapest for your specific situation.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I'd start with Brevo.

🥇 Best overall: Brevo — $0 to start

Brevo's free plan gives you:

• Unlimited contacts — useful as your client list grows
• 300 emails/day
• Drag-and-drop email design
• Email campaigns and basic analytics
• Automation for up to 2,000 contacts
• No credit card required help.brevo.com

For a photographer, you could use it for:

• 📸 "Mini-session spots are open!"
• 🎄 Holiday photo-session offers
• 💌 Client gallery/update announcements
• 🎁 Referral discounts
• 📅 "I have 3 openings next Saturday"
• 🆕 New portfolio/work announcements

The 300/day limit is plenty if you're sending to a few hundred clients rather than thousands at once.

🥈 MailerLite — better if you want a prettier newsletter

MailerLite is another excellent option. Its free plan allows 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, plus landing pages, forms, automations, and email campaigns. www.mailerlite.com

I'd choose MailerLite if your priority is beautiful, photography-heavy emails and you expect your client list to stay under 250 for a while.

My recommendation for you

For a freelance photographer, I'd pick Brevo. You can start at $0, build a client list, send professional-looking offers, and only pay once your marketing needs actually justify it. help.brevo.com

One important distinction: use an email-marketing platform for offers/newsletters, but send personal client/project updates directly from your normal business email. That keeps your marketing list separate from client communication and feels more professional.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d go with Brevo as the best overall value.

🥇 My pick: Brevo

Brevo

Its free plan gives you:

• $0/month forever
• Up to 100,000 contacts stored
• 300 emails/day
• Email templates + drag-and-drop editor
• Basic analytics
• Automation features
• Forms for collecting new client leads help.brevo.com

For a photographer, that’s plenty if you're sending things like:

• “Spring mini sessions are now booking”
• “I have 3 spots left this month”
• New gallery/portfolio announcements
• Holiday or seasonal offers
• Client follow-ups
• Referral discounts

🥈 MailerLite — better if you want a prettier, simpler setup

MailerLite

MailerLite's free plan is also excellent, with 2,500 emails/month, landing pages, forms, basic automation, and a website builder. The catch is that you're limited to 250 active subscribers. www.mailerlite.com

For a solo photographer with a small client list, I'd actually consider this the easiest option.

What I would avoid

Mailchimp isn't my first choice anymore for a tight-budget photographer. Its free tier is only 250 contacts and 500 sends/month, so you can hit the ceiling pretty quickly. mailchimp.com

My recommendation

For your particular business, I'd start with Brevo. You can build a simple photographer-branded newsletter, import your past clients (with appropriate marketing consent), and start sending offers without adding another monthly expense.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/emails you have now (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can tell you which one will be cheapest for your situation.

If you’re a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with Brevo.

Why Brevo is my pick

• $0/month on the free plan, with no time limit or credit card required. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com
• You can store up to 100,000 contacts, which is far more than most solo photographers will need. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com
• You can send 300 emails per day—plenty for occasional client updates, mini-session announcements, holiday offers, booking reminders, etc. help.brevo.com
• It has a drag-and-drop editor and reusable templates, so you can make your emails look professional without knowing design or HTML. help.brevo.com
• If you eventually outgrow the free plan, the paid Starter plan begins around $9/month. help.brevo.com

What I'd use it for as a photographer

You could create a few simple lists:

Past Clients → "I have 3 mini-session spots left this fall"

Potential Clients → "Now booking 2026 holiday portraits"

Wedding Clients → "Your engagement-session guide"

VIP/Repeat Clients → Early access to promotions

I'd also set up a simple "Join my photography updates" form on your website/Instagram so people voluntarily subscribe.

One caveat: the free version puts Brevo branding on your emails. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com If you eventually want a completely white-label, more premium presentation, you can upgrade.

Bottom line: For a photographer who wants to spend $0 initially and still have room to grow, Brevo is probably the best starting point. I wouldn't pay for Mailchimp at this stage.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/emails you expect to have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can also tell you which platform would be cheapest specifically for your situation.

If you're a freelance photographer on a tight budget, I’d start with Brevo.

🥇 Best budget choice: Brevo

Its free plan is unusually generous for a solo photographer:

• $0/month indefinitely
• Up to 100,000 contacts
• 300 emails/day
• Email campaigns, templates, basic analytics
• You can build a list of past clients and prospects and send things like:
  • Mini-session announcements
  • Holiday offers
  • Booking availability
  • New portfolio updates
  • Referral promotions
  • “I have 2 spots left this month” emails help.brevo.com

The main downside is that the free emails include Brevo branding.

🥈 Another good option: MailerLite

MailerLite is probably the nicer-looking/easier option for a photographer, but its current free plan is considerably smaller: 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. www.mailerlite.com

Its advantage is that it's particularly good for beautiful newsletters, landing pages, signup forms, and simple automations—useful if you're trying to make your photography brand feel polished.

What I'd do in your situation

Start with Brevo if you have more than ~250 contacts or expect your list to grow quickly.
Start with MailerLite if you have fewer than 250 contacts and care more about presentation/design.

For a photographer, I'd actually avoid paying for a platform initially. You can get a surprisingly effective client-marketing system for $0/month and only upgrade once the marketing is generating enough bookings to justify it.

If you tell me roughly how many clients/contacts you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can tell you which one is the cheapest for your specific situation and how I'd set it up.