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Client Questionnaires for Photographers

You know the feeling: it's the week of the shoot and you're still piecing together the timeline, the address, and that one must-have family photo from a dozen scattered emails. A client questionnaire fixes that. This guide covers why it saves your sanity, exactly what to ask, when to send it, and how to build and send one in CoreHue.

Why a questionnaire beats endless emails​

Trying to gather shoot details over email means messages crossing, answers buried in threads, and details that slip through right when you need them. A single form replaces all of that.

  • Everything in one place. All the answers live together, not scattered across your inbox.
  • Nothing forgotten. Ask once, up front, and you won't be hunting for the venue address the night before.
  • You look organized. A thoughtful questionnaire tells the client you've done this many times and have it handled.
  • Less work for both of you. The client fills it out once, on their own time, instead of replying to question after question.

What to ask your photography clients​

Tailor your questions to the kind of work you shoot, but most questionnaires cover the same ground. Keep it focused, a form that's too long doesn't get finished.

Event and contact details

  • Names, the best phone number, and a backup contact for the day
  • Date, start time, and the full address of every location
  • How to get in, parking, and any venue rules or restrictions

The timeline

  • The running order of the day and the key moments
  • When and where you'll have time for portraits
  • Any tight windows you need to plan around

Must-have shots and people

  • Specific photos they'd be heartbroken to miss
  • Family or group combinations, with names so you can call them out
  • VIPs you should recognize on sight

Preferences and style

  • The look they love (and anything they want to avoid)
  • Whether anyone is camera-shy
  • Surprises, special moments, or sensitivities you should know about

For weddings especially, the family-photo list is the single most useful thing you can collect ahead of time.

Send it at the right moment​

Timing makes a questionnaire useful instead of annoying.

  • Right after booking, send a short welcome form to capture the basics while they're excited and engaged.
  • A week or two before the shoot, send the detailed questionnaire, the timeline and must-have shots, when plans are actually settled.

Sending the heavy detail too early means answers change; too late means you're scrambling. A couple of weeks out is the sweet spot.

How to build and send a questionnaire in CoreHue​

CoreHue lets you create reusable questionnaires, send them with a link, and even fire them off automatically when a client books.

  1. Build your form. Create a questionnaire under Building a form and add your questions. Use different field types, short text, long text, multiple choice, dates, and more, to match what you're asking.
  2. Reuse it. Save the form as your standard intake or pre-shoot questionnaire so you're not rebuilding it for every client.
  3. Send it. Share the questionnaire with a client and their answers come straight back to you, all in one place.
  4. Automate it. Set up automation so the questionnaire sends on its own after a booking, no remembering required.

Once it's set up, the right form reaches each client at the right time without you thinking about it.

Next step​

Start by writing down the questions you find yourself asking every client, then turn them into a reusable form. Head to Building a form to create your first one, or see the Questionnaires overview for the full picture.

Stuck on what to include? Email us at hello@corehue.co and we'll help you shape it.