Hi, I'm Elijah. I built Mankai for photographers like my mom.
A self-hosted WordPress business platform for clients, booking, galleries, contracts, invoices, payments, and the client portal — on your domain, in your database. One annual license.
Self-hosted on WordPress. Unlimited clients. Annual license. Built for photographers — works for other client businesses too.
Studios often end up combining CRM software, gallery software, booking tools, forms, contracts, invoicing, email automation, and a client portal — each with its own login and monthly bill.
Mankai takes a different approach. It brings those workflows into the photographer's own WordPress installation: your domain, your database, your branding. Clients book, sign, pay, and pick up galleries in one place while you run the business from one admin.
I'm not asking you to hate other tools. I'm offering a simpler architecture — one system you host and control.
Real Mankai screens. Demo data. No floating SaaS mockups.
Open one screen. Know what needs you today.
Every client, every thread, tied to the job.
Sessions, availability, and golden hour on your schedule.
Proofing and delivery on your domain.
Quotes, deposits, and payments — no extra percent from Mankai.
Clients, sessions, calendar, booking, and workflows in one admin.
Quotes, invoices, payment tracking, Stripe and PayPal. Mankai adds 0%.
Proofing galleries, delivery galleries, print ordering, client portal.
Inbox, forms, automated emails, templates, and notifications.
Self-hosted WordPress. Your domain, your database, your branding.
Unlimited clients. No per-seat math. No transaction cut from Mankai.
Best if you already run WordPress and just need the CRM.
Annual license · updates, support, every CRM feature.
Includes
Does not include the public photography website theme.
Get the pluginBest if you want the CRM and a complete public site together.
Annual license · plugin + theme through Freemius.
Everything in Plugin, plus
You install both on hosting you control. No page builder required.
Get Plugin + ThemeAn active Mankai license is required to use the CRM admin. If a license expires, a seven-day grace period gives you time to renew. Your stored business data is not deleted.
Already own the plugin and want the photography theme too? Get the theme separately
Every license includes every CRM feature — no per-client fees, no payment surcharges, no feature gates. Annual billing only.
"I grew up watching renewal emails land in a photographer's inbox. I write mine like I remember that." · Elijah
$499 one time Planned price: $799
Already purchased Mankai Plugin + Theme? I can configure the system, connect your workflow, and migrate applicable existing business data.
I originally built Mankai around the problems I watched photographers deal with firsthand — starting with my mom's studio in Wisconsin — then it turned into a much larger platform. I still write the docs, ship the updates, and answer support myself.
Marathon City, Wisconsin · Read the fuller story
Yes. Mankai is a WordPress plugin. You install it on hosting you control (or that I set up with you).
No. The plugin runs the CRM on any compatible WordPress site. The Photography Theme is optional if you want a complete public studio site wired to the CRM. Already have the plugin? You can add the theme later.
No per-client or per-session caps. Your hosting plan is the practical limit.
Mankai uses an annual license sold through Freemius. An active license is required to use the CRM admin. Public booking and client portal pages on your site are not locked the same way when a license lapses.
You get a seven-day grace period to renew. After that, Mankai administration is locked until the license is reactivated. Your stored business data is not deleted.
No. Clients pay through your Stripe or PayPal account at standard processor rates. Mankai adds nothing. Manual payments (cash, check, Venmo) can be recorded too.
Yes, as an optional service after you purchase Plugin + Theme. Request Setup & Migration from the contact form; I review the project and send an invoice. Current price: $499 (planned $799).
In your WordPress database on your hosting. Exportable. Not rented from me. Uninstall does not wipe business data unless you explicitly turn that on.
Get Mankai on your WordPress site, or read the docs first if you want the long version.
No sales call, no signup wall. I recorded a quick tour of Mankai running a real studio: booking, galleries, contracts, invoices, all of it. Watch that, then decide if it fits how you work.
Elijah, maker of Mankai CRM