6 Ways Family Photographers Can Reuse Client Testimonials

6 Ways Family Photographers Can Reuse Client Testimonials Across the Client Journey

Hey y’all, and welcome back. I wanted to kick off this blog post the same way I kicked off the podcast and YouTube video—by giving a huge shout-out to one of my students inside the Family Photographers Marketing Society, Diana Wood. She inspired this.

She shared a glowing testimonial from one of her family photography clients, and it was one of those reviews where you read it, and you think: “wow, this is gold!”

And instead of just celebrating it and moving on, I wanted to encourage her to think like a marketer and stretch that testimonial so it helps her family photography business in the long run.

Because testimonials aren’t just validation (even though they’re really nice to get—words of affirmation is one of my love languages). I want you to start seeing testimonials as marketing assets, not just validation.

Here are six ways family photographers can reuse client testimonials throughout the client journey, rather than letting them live in one place, such as Instagram stories, once and then move on.

🎥If you would rather watch the YouTube Version of this click here⬇️

🎙️If you would rather listen to the Podcast version of this click here⬇️

💻Read the blog below

Why you should reuse client testimonials

This is a behind-the-scenes look into what I would say on a marketing call with my own students, so you get your own CMO training.

I’m Dolly DeLong. I’m a Nashville-based family photographer and a systems and workflow educator. I teach family photographers how to build better marketing systems, workflows, and SOPs so they can stay visible without feeling scattered, without having to start over every month.

I’m here to help you go from scattered to streamlined because you are an amazing, magical muggle. I’m so glad you’re here, so let’s dive in!

Tip #1: Always get clear permission to use testimonials (and images)

Before we start repurposing testimonials everywhere, the first thing I want to cover is ensuring you have clear permission from your client to use their words and images.

I know—you’re the photographer, you own the images, you’re the one who takes them. But I prioritize my clients. They’re humans. Some families prefer privacy and want to enjoy the images for themselves. And you need to respect that.

Most of the time, when clients leave a review, they assume it will be used for marketing. But there are always those few clients—God bless them—that don’t read closely or assume it’s just for you to read.

So inside your review request process, here’s what I want you to do:

• Make it very, very clear that their words may be used in your marketing materials

• Make it very clear that their images may be used for marketing materials from their session

This can be handled seamlessly within your CRM, such as Dubsado or HoneyBook.

*This is my affiliate link for Dubsado

I ask for permission from the get-go before the session even begins—inside the contract or intake form—so I don’t have to bring it up later. I’ll ask something like:

• “Would you like me to post a preview?”

• “Can I use these images for marketing, for blogging purposes?” (Yes or no)

Ninety-nine percent of my clients say yes. And what about the 1% who are private? That’s okay. I respect that.

Clear communication builds trust. And trust leads to better testimonials and client experiences.

Tip #2: Condense long testimonials using AI without changing the meaning

Some testimonials are long, amazing, and beautiful. I love those. But for marketing purposes, paragraphs can be a lot. Like TOO MUCH!

Here’s what I recommend: enter that testimonial into ChatGPT (or another AI tool you prefer) and ask it to summarize it while preserving the original wording.

Not add. Not rewrite. Because we want to use our clients’ words and highlight the most impactful lines.

Think about this as pruning it down to the best, juiciest words.

Keep the full version where it belongs—Google reviews, Yelp reviews, wherever the longer review lives—and pull out the one- to two-line versions for marketing.

Tip #3: Put the juiciest line front and center on your website

Once you have the condensed testimonial, place it in a visible location.

Start with your homepage, where your visitors will first see it.

One or two lines of a juicy testimonial will do so much heavy lifting for you. Other clients’ words about you will do the selling for you.

You just have to make it easy to consume and easy to read.

If you use a website platform like Showit (I’ve used Showit since 2018), you can reuse the testimonial canvas across pages.

Tip #4: Turn testimonials into Instagram carousel posts

This is one of my favorite ways to reuse testimonials.

Here’s what I do:

• Start the carousel with the testimonial text as the first slide

• Follow it up with images from the client session (with permission)

This works beautifully because:

• Testimonials stop the scroll (especially a juicy one-liner) paired with an image

• Images reinforce trust

• You’re telling a story visually and emotionally

• The client’s words are selling your product (you, the family photographer)

Systems-first tip: if you use Canva, don’t reinvent the wheel every single week. Create two or three carousel templates you really like and reuse them.

People won’t notice. They’re not going to be nitpicky like you are. Save time.

Tip #5: Use testimonials inside your email newsletter

This is something I’m incorporating more in my own workflow this year: use testimonials inside your email newsletter.

Testimonials aren’t just top-of-funnel content. They’re incredible middle-of-funnel reminders about why your clients love you and why they need to work with you again.

Inside your email newsletter, add a section called something like:

• “Kind words”

• “From a recent client.”

If you use an email marketing platform like Flodesk, create a template for your weekly or biweekly newsletter so you don’t start from scratch every time.

This reinforces trust without being overly aggressive—and I know many family photographers don’t like constantly selling.

And if you want a discount for Flodesk, check out my affiliate link for 25% OFF below *or here*

Tip #6: Place testimonials where decisions are being made

Two places people forget to add testimonials:

• Your contact page

• Your Instagram stories

On your contact page, testimonials can act as the final nudge. They’re on your contact form for a reason—people are thinking about booking, and a juicy testimonial can be that final push.

For Instagram Stories, once you’ve posted a testimonial, share it to your stories and follow it up with another story asking for a review.

You probably have past clients following you who haven’t left a review yet—not because they hate you, but because life is busy (especially for moms and dads).

Try this story sequence:

1. Testimonial story

2. “If you have worked with me, please leave a five-star review on Google. It really helps move the needle in my business.”

3. “If you haven’t worked with me yet…this could be you” + booking link

Bonus systems takeaway: Stop relying on your memory

I couldn’t end this without a big systems takeaway.

Stop relying on memory when requesting testimonials.

In the backend of your CRM, such as Dubsado, you can have testimonials collected automatically, requested consistently, and stored in one place.

Because if it’s not in your workflow, it will be skipped.

That’s why I created my family photography client experience workflow blueprint—my Trello workflow I’ve honed since 2018—so you can deliver a five-star client experience from inquiry to gallery delivery without missing a beat. You can check it out here. 

Quick recap: the 6 tips

1. Get clear permission to use testimonials and images

2. Condense long testimonials using AI without changing the messaging

3. Put the juiciest line front and center on your website

4. Turn testimonials into Instagram carousel posts

5. Use testimonials inside your email newsletter

6. Place testimonials where decisions are being made
   Bonus: automate testimonial requests inside your CRM like Dubsado

If you’ll let me know, which point will you implement in the backend of your family photography business this week? Comment below!

Meet Your Favorite Marketing Strategist for Family Photographers (Dolly DeLong Education)

Hi, I’m Dolly DeLong, a Nashville-based family photographer, marketing strategist, and systems educator for family photographers who want structure, clarity, and consistency in their marketing.

My photography journey began in 2006, and over the years, I built a sustainable family photography business while navigating motherhood, client work, and the realities of running a solo creative business. Along the way, I discovered something unexpected: I loved the backend just as much as the creative side.

What started as organizing my own workflows turned into helping other family photographers simplify their marketing, build repeatable systems, and stop relying on last-minute posting or panic marketing.

Today, I focus exclusively on helping family photographers intentionally market their businesses (not with trends but with consistently showing up).

I offer two ways to work with me:

• The Family Photographer’s Marketing Society: a systems-first membership that provides a clear weekly marketing cadence for Instagram and email, so you always know what to focus on without starting over.

• 1:1 Strategic Marketing Support for established family photographers who want hands-on guidance in building a sustainable, SEO-supported marketing system.

Through my blog, podcast, and YouTube channel, I teach family photographers how to think like marketers, plan ahead, and create marketing rhythms that support both their business and their family life.

I still photograph families around Nashville because it’s one of my greatest joys. But helping family photographers build calm, consistent marketing systems that actually fit real life is a close second.

I’m so glad you are here reading this blog! I hope this was helpful.