Sending a questionnaire to your clients for portrait sessions sets you up for success when it comes time to plan their session. It will not only save you time by learning about your clients ahead of time, but it will also allow you to customize their session and create a connection before you even get started. It’s an easy way to prepare that will pay dividends on your confidence heading into your time together. 



Here are a few of our favorite questions to ask clients before portrait sessions:

ABOUT YOUR FAMILY:

What are the names and ages of your children and what are three words you would use to describe their personalities?

Tell me a little bit about your overall family dynamic. Is this a blended family? Single parent family? Traditional family?

Do you have any favorite hobbies that you do together as a family?

Describe your perfect weekend together.

What are each of your kids into right now?

What motivates your kids to behave? Is there anything I can leverage to get the best behavior out of them?



Do any of your family members have any special considerations that I need to know about to make our session go smoothly?

ABOUT THE SESSION:

Has your family ever been photographed before? If so, when was the last time?

How did your children feel about/react to having their photos taken before?

What type of location do you envision for your session? Would you like suggestions?

Do you have any past photos or sessions of ours that stand out to you?

Are there any “must have” photos you would like for me to capture during the session?

How do you plan to display your photos? (albums, digital files, canvases, etc.)



Do you have anything else you would like to share with me?

If you’re not already using Iris, we’d love to get your started with a FREE 14-day trial. If you’re already using a studio-management system and thinking about switching to Iris, you can read more about our complimentary migration services HERE.