Photographers: portrait session planning with online booking

A good portrait session starts before the shoot: the right type of session, the right light, clients who know what to wear. Answering the same questions by message for each booking takes hours. With Book, clients choose a session type on your own booking page, read your advice in the description, and book a time you've opened.

On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description, all shown on your public page. Each slot belongs to one service, sits within one day and has its own capacity.

Durations and prices are examples: set your own. Say in each description how many edited photos are included and when the gallery is delivered.

Studio sessions can run at any time; outdoor sessions depend on light. Open outdoor slots at golden hour for the season, and change the times as days get shorter: slots repeat weekly on the weekdays you choose until an end date, so set one end date per season. Slots of different services can overlap, so leave travel time between studio and outdoor slots by not opening both at once.

Use each description for styling advice: colours that work, how many outfits, props, and for families how to coordinate. Clients read it before booking and arrive ready.

Each online booking takes one place. Give family sessions one place and say in the description how many people are included. The booking form takes first name, last name, email and phone, plus an optional note that reaches you in the new booking email: ask for the number of people, children's ages and the location wanted.

Say in outdoor descriptions what happens if it rains, such as a move to the studio or another day. Clients can't move or cancel online: they contact you, and you move the booking from your list, across services if needed. Book doesn't email clients about changes. Your bookings sync with Google, iPhone or Mac calendars.

Book doesn't take deposits or payments, deliver galleries or send reminders. One booking page per business, no staff field: with a second photographer, create services per photographer. See the guide on mini sessions. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.