Scheduling photo sessions is a crucial part of the client experience for photographers.

Whether your scheduling engagement shoots, family portraits, or studio sessions, having an efficient process in place can make a huge difference in how your clients perceive your business.

While the task might seem straightforward, how you go about it can either enhance the client experience or become a drawn-out frustration.

Here, we’ll explore several methods for scheduling sessions that will make the process easier for both you and your clients.

First of All…Why Does a Smooth Scheduling Process Matter?

Someone wants to schedule a session with you? Great!

How do we get them set up with a date and time, without it being annoying or a burden for the client?

A smooth scheduling process is an essential part of offering a premium client experience. It’s one of those things we can take for granted, but should be simplified and easy.

It not only reflects how organized and efficient your business is but also ensures that your clients feel confident and excited about working with you. On the flip side, a disorganized or slow scheduling process can cause confusion, frustration, and delays, making it harder for you to build rapport and keep clients happy.

When setting up a scheduling process, it’s important to think about how it fits into your overall workflow.

Are you scheduling sessions before a contract is signed?

Or do you wait until after the contract is finalized to book the session?

These are small but important considerations that can affect the efficiency of your business.

For some of you, a date may already be pre-selected when a client signs the contract (amazing!), but what if it’s not? This guide will help get more clarity on what to do when that’s not the case.

Let’s look at a few different approaches now!

3 Methods for Scheduling Client Sessions Easily!

Method 1: The Classic Touchpoint

The first and most traditional method is the “classic” touchpoint, where you communicate with clients via email, text, or even a phone call to agree on a date and time for their session.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start the conversation: Ask your client what dates they are available and start the back-and-forth exchange.
2. Provide options: A slightly more efficient version of this would be to suggest two or three dates with specific time slots and ask your client to choose one.
3. Confirm: Once you’ve agreed on a date, confirm the details.

This method works well if you’re a low-volume business and have the time to engage with clients over multiple touchpoints. It gives you a personal connection with the client but can feel a little drawn out if you’re juggling multiple inquiries.

You just need to make sure you actually remember to start this conversation, and do it at a time that makes sense.

Pros:

• Personal connection with the client
• Simple and straightforward for smaller businesses

Cons:

• Can be time-consuming, especially for high-volume businesses
• Requires constant follow-up and communication (especially if you don’t hear back from your client to schedule quickly)

Method 2: Using a Scheduling Link

To streamline the process, many photographers use scheduling tools like Calendly or the built-in scheduling features offered by CRMs like HoneyBook. This method allows clients to select a time that works for them based on your availability.

Here’s how it works:

1. Set up a scheduler: Create a unique scheduling link that reflects your available dates and times for specific session types (ie: portraits, engagements, etc.)
2. Share the link: Send the link to your clients so they can choose a date that works for them without the back-and-forth.
3. Confirm: Once the client selects a time, you’ll be notified and can confirm the session.

Pros:

• Saves time by letting clients choose their own time
• Reduces the need for back-and-forth communication
• Works well for businesses with medium to high volumes of clients

Cons:

• Requires constant maintenance of your calendar to avoid double bookings
• If you’re working with specific shooting times (like golden hour), it may require additional communication to ensure the right time is chosen

To work around time-specific challenges, such as shooting at golden hour, you might block off full days and confirm the exact start time later as an extra step.

Method 3: Specialized Session Scheduling Platforms

For photographers managing high volumes of sessions, such as mini-sessions or studio portrait blocks, specialized scheduling platforms like Session can be a game-changer. These tools not only allow clients to schedule themselves but also integrate payment and session details, streamlining the entire process.

Here’s how it works:

1. Create session blocks: Set up specific time slots and days for your sessions.
2. Clients book and pay: Clients can select their preferred time slot, pay for the session, and receive confirmation—all in one place.
3. Manage all in one: You’ll have a comprehensive view of your bookings, payments, and schedule.

Pros:

• Ideal for higher volume photo businesses
• Streamlines scheduling, payment, and communication
• Minimizes the need for manual intervention

Cons:

• May feel impersonal, especially for lower volume businesses
• Requires setup and learning the platform

Enhancing Client Experience Through Scheduling

No matter which method you choose, the goal is to ensure that the process of scheduling a session is seamless and easy for your clients. An efficient scheduling process shows professionalism and organization, which, in turn, gives clients confidence in your services.

A couple quick questions to think about as you look to refine your session scheduling experience…

• Is your current scheduling process enhancing your client experience?
• Are there ways you can make scheduling faster, smoother, or easier for both you and your clients?

By evaluating how you currently schedule sessions and exploring new tools and methods, you can improve efficiency and provide a better overall experience for your clients!