Boost your average order value by 30%+ this holiday season
Help families say yes to portraits
As we head into the busiest sales season of the year, studios have a powerful tool at their fingertips to drive revenue and give families the opportunity to afford portraits they love: Affirm.
Affirm is a flexible “Buy Now, Pay Later” payment option available through Captura Workflow. It breaks down cost barriers and drives conversion, especially during key moments like senior portraits, holiday bundles, and back-to-school promotions.
By offering flexible payment plans, studios can reach more customers, increase average order value (AOV), and create a more accessible, feel-good buying experience.
Why Affirm works
Affirm works because it makes professional photography purchases more accessible. Whether it’s senior portraits, family sessions, or holiday specials, the ability to spread payments out over time helps remove price sensitivity for many families, without any hidden fees for the customer.
Here’s what’s available:
Pay in 4: Four bi-weekly, interest-free payments (for carts over $50)
Monthly Installments: Longer payment terms (up to 36 months) depending on cart size and credit approval
(Note: Available in the U.S. and Canada. Options vary based on cart total.)
While the studio covers the transaction fee (6% + $0.30), the higher order values and increased conversion rates often more than offset that.
Real results: What studios are seeing
Studios that have adopted Affirm are already seeing impressive results. According to Upstate Images, the team ran a 5-day Affirm-centric campaign targeted at seniors from the Class of 2024. The results speak for themselves:
“Over those 5 days, 42% of our customers chose Affirm. The Affirm customers had a 50% lift in AOV compared to the non-Affirm customers. Our AOV during those 5 days lifted 31%.”
– Rob and Dave Locke, Upstate Images
They initially had doubts. Like many studios, they were wary of the added processing cost and uncertain whether it would pay off. But after going “all in” with a thoughtfully crafted campaign, built in partnership with the Captura studio marketing team, they found that Affirm more than paid for itself, and even helped convert customers who might not have purchased otherwise.
Bottom line from Rob and Dave: “Use Affirm on any account where you want to make more money, and help more families afford portraits.”
How to get started
If you're not yet using Affirm, it’s easy to get started — just follow these steps in order:
Reach out to your CSM
If you don’t currently have Affirm enabled, your CSM can help initiate the setup process. They’ll ensure the feature is turned on in your account and can also advise you on setting a strategic minimum cart threshold for Affirm purchases.Enable Affirm in Workflow:
Once Affirm is active on your account, go to your Shopping Cart Templates > New Shopping Cart, and toggle on Affirm under “Additional Payment Methods.” Be sure to configure your cart threshold if desired.Partner with Your Studio Marketing Team
With Affirm enabled, it’s the perfect time to collaborate on a campaign that promotes flexible payments. Think back-to-school bundles, holiday cards, or giftable packages, Affirm makes them even more attractive to customers.
The holiday season is the time to act
From Black Friday to holiday card season to year-end family portraits, the next few months are bursting with sales opportunities. Enabling Affirm could be the difference between a browsing shopper and a buyer.
And with real studio data showing AOV lifts of 30% or more, there’s no better time to try it.
Need help?
Whether you’re just getting started or ready to launch your next campaign, we’ve got you covered:
Already using Affirm? Reach out to your Captura Studio Marketing Team to brainstorm and build your next Affirm-powered promotion. It’s a great way to boost seasonal sales.
Need to get set up? Contact your CSM to enable Affirm for your studio and get expert guidance on setting strategic cart thresholds.
We’re here to help you win this season.