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Business phone system for photography studios in Colorado

336 photography studios operated in Colorado in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.

Establishments
336CBP 2023
Employees
652mid-March 2023
Per 100k residents
5.6U.S. 3.4
State rank
9th of 51by count

The photography studio industry in Colorado

Colorado had 336 photography studios in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541921, Photography Studios, Portrait). They employed 652 people in mid-March and reported $23.7 million in annual payroll. That is the 9th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Photography studios make up 0.18% of the 182,486 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Colorado has 5.6 photography studios, 67.0% above the national rate of 3.4. The average establishment has 1.9 employees against 3.3 nationally. Payroll per employee is $36,308, 6.4% above the U.S. figure of $34,133.

Photography studios: Colorado compared with the U.S., 2023
MeasureColoradoUnited States
Establishments33611,483
Mid-March employees652 (moderate noise)37,479 (moderate noise)
Annual payroll$23,673,000$1,279,256,000
Employees per establishment1.93.3
Payroll per employee$36,308$34,133
Establishments per 100,000 residents5.63.4

Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.

Colorado's largest markets for photography studios

Census published photography studio counts for 12 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Colorado. The largest is Denver, CO, with 181 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 94% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Photography studios by metro or micropolitan area, Colorado, 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployeesPer 100k residents
Denver, CO1813885.9
Colorado Springs, CO421055.4
Fort Collins, CO24—6.4
Greeley, CO16—4.3
Boulder, CO14—4.2
Rifle, CO10—12.5
Edwards, CO7—12.9
Pueblo, CO6—3.5
Grand Junction, CO4—2.5
Durango, CO487.0
Breckenridge, CO4310.5
Steamboat Springs, CO347.8

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.

Team sizes at photography studios in Colorado

92.2% of Colorado's photography studios with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 87.7% nationally. 97.9% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.

Photography studios in Colorado by employment size, 2023
Employment sizeEstablishmentsShareU.S. share
1–4 employees30792.2%87.7%
5–9 employees195.7%7.2%
10–19 employees72.1%2.7%
20–49 employeesnot published—1.7%
50 or more employees00.0%0.6%

Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.

What photography studios in Colorado use the phone for

Photographers are often behind the camera when the phone rings, and inquiries for weddings, portraits and events tend to go to whoever responds first. Capturing every inquiry and calling back quickly matters.

Typical inbound and outbound calls for photography studios in Colorado:

Calls after closing time

Evening inquiries are common, so a voicemail that is transcribed and flagged helps prioritize callbacks.

Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.

What a phone system costs a photography studio in Colorado

Photography studios in Colorado average 1.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 2-person team. Priced per seat, 2 users would run $60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 2 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.

At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.

Monthly list price for a 2-person photography studio
Provider (plan)Pricing basisPer monthPer year
Callata (Callata Office)$99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user$99.00$1,188.00
Quo (Starter)$19.00 per user$38.00$456.00
Nextiva (Core)$23.00 per user$46.00$552.00
Ooma (Office Pro)$24.95 per user$49.90$598.80
Dialpad (Standard)$27.00 per user$54.00$648.00
RingCentral (RingEX Core)$30.00 per user$60.00$720.00

Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.

Area codes in Colorado

Colorado has 6 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.

Area codes in Colorado by assigned exchanges
Area codeExchangesTime zoneIn service sinceOverlay with
720785Mountain1998303, 983
303784Mountain1947720, 983
970775Mountain1995748
719665Mountain1988none
98346Mountain2022303, 720
7480Mountain2025970

Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.

How Callata works for photography studios in Colorado

For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.

If you already have a number in Colorado, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.

Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.

Frequently asked questions

How many photography studios are in Colorado?

336 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 652 people in mid-March.

Which Colorado metro area has the most photography studios?

Denver, CO, with 181 establishments in 2023.

What does a phone system cost a 2-person photography studio?

$60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).

Do I need to register to text customers from a Colorado number?

Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.