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Self-Service Mode

Self-service mode lets clients check your availability and book on the spot. No messages, no waiting, no back-and-forth. The client picks a date, picks a time, fills in their details, and the booking is confirmed.

This works well for sessions with a clear duration and straightforward pricing, like portrait sessions, headshots, consultations, or content creation days.

The booking flow, step by step​

When a client clicks on a self-service booking on your page, they walk through a series of steps. Here is exactly what they see at each one.

Step 1: Schedule​

The first thing the client sees is a calendar.

  • Monthly calendar view. Days with available time slots are highlighted. Days that are fully booked, blocked, or outside your booking window appear grayed out.
  • Time slot list. When the client taps a date, available time slots appear on the right. Slots are grouped by AM and PM for easy scanning. Each slot shows the start time.
  • Countdown timer. If you have payment enabled for this service, a countdown timer starts as soon as the client picks a time slot. This gives them a set window to complete the booking before the slot opens up again (more on slot holds below).
  • Addon selection. If your service has addons, they appear on this step. The client can check off the extras they want, and the total price updates live as they add or remove items. Each addon shows its name, description, and price.

Step 2: Details​

The client fills in their personal and event details.

  • Client info. First name, last name, email address, and phone number.
  • Location selection. What the client sees here depends on the location mode you set for the service:
    • Fixed. The location is shown as a read-only detail. Nothing to fill in.
    • Client provides. A text field where they type their preferred address.
    • Preset. A list of your preset locations with photos and addresses. The client picks one.
    • Virtual. No location field. The session will be virtual.
    • In-person or virtual. The client chooses which they prefer, and then sees the relevant fields.
  • Event size. If enabled, a field for how many people will be at the session.
  • Notes. A free-text field for anything the client wants to share. You can rename this label.
  • Budget. If enabled, a dropdown with your budget range options.
  • How they found you. The referral source dropdown.

Step 3: Questionnaire (if attached)​

If you attached an intake questionnaire to this service, the client sees it now. All the questions appear inline, and the client fills them out as part of the same flow. This keeps everything in one place instead of sending a separate form later.

If there is no questionnaire, this step is skipped entirely.

Step 4: Payment (if enabled)​

If you turned on payment collection for this service, the client handles payment here.

  • Online payment. The client enters their card details and pays through your connected payment processor. If you set a deposit, they only pay the deposit amount now.
  • Manual payment. The client sees your payment instructions (bank transfer details, payment app info, or whatever you wrote). They make the payment on their own and then upload proof of payment, like a screenshot or receipt.
  • Client chooses. Both options are shown, and the client picks whichever they prefer.

When you are collecting a deposit, the client sees a clear breakdown: the total price, the deposit amount, and the remaining balance. If you turned on auto-invoicing for the remainder, the client knows the rest will be billed closer to the event date.

If payment is not enabled for this service, this step is skipped.

Step 5: Contract (if attached)​

If you attached a contract template to this service, the client reviews and signs it here.

  • Contract preview. The full contract text appears for the client to read through.
  • Signature capture. The client provides their signature using one of two methods:
    • Draw. They draw their signature with a mouse or finger on a touchscreen.
    • Type. They type their name, and it appears in a signature-style font.
  • Signer name. The client confirms their full legal name.
  • Consent checkbox. The client checks a box confirming they agree to the terms.

Once signed, the contract is locked in and tied to this specific booking.

If there is no contract, this step is skipped.

Step 6: Confirm​

The final step shows a summary of everything.

  • Review summary. The client sees the service name, date and time, location, selected addons, total price, and any other details they entered. This is their last chance to double-check before submitting.
  • Submit. The client clicks the confirm button, and the booking is created.

After submitting, the client gets a confirmation email with all the details, including any meeting link, add-to-calendar link, and payment information.

Slot holds and preventing double bookings​

When a client picks a time slot, CoreHue holds that slot for them while they complete the rest of the booking flow. This means no one else can grab the same time while the first client is filling in their details, signing a contract, or entering payment.

If the client takes too long (the countdown timer runs out) or abandons the booking, the hold releases and the slot becomes available again. This keeps your calendar accurate and prevents awkward double bookings.

How availability works​

CoreHue calculates available time slots by looking at several things together:

  • Your weekly availability schedule (the days and hours you set as available).
  • Any date overrides (days you blocked off or gave custom hours).
  • Your existing bookings (times already taken).
  • Your Google Calendar events (if connected, busy events block those times automatically).
  • Buffer time between sessions (so you have breathing room between bookings).
  • Advance notice (how much lead time you need before someone can book).
  • Max booking window (how far into the future clients can book).

Everything is calculated in your timezone. The client's browser automatically converts times to their local timezone, so there is no confusion if you are in different parts of the world.

Addons during booking​

If your service has addons, clients select them during the schedule step. The total price updates in real time as they check and uncheck options. Addon prices are locked in at the moment of booking, so even if you change your pricing later, existing bookings keep the original amounts.