Free template · 10 questions
Portrait session questionnaire
Individual portraits put one person alone in front of your lens, with no partner to hide behind. Most of what makes or breaks the session is how directed they want to be, and what they're self-conscious about.
When to send it
About a week before the session.
Paste them into HoneyBook, Dubsado, Google Forms or an email.
Client questionnaire · Portrait
The purpose
- What are these portraits for: a milestone, a gift, your own walls, a profile picture?
- When did you last have portraits taken that you loved? What did you love about them?
- Share two or three images with a mood you like.
Logistics
- Do you have a location in mind, or would you like suggestions?
- How many outfits are you thinking of bringing?
- Are you booking hair and makeup?
On camera
- Honestly, how do you feel in front of a camera?
- Would you like me to pose you precisely, or give you something to do and capture what happens?
- Is there an angle or feature you prefer, or one you'd like me to avoid?
- What helps you relax: music, talking, a friend tagging along, quiet?
How to use the answers
Ask about the last good photo
The portrait they loved tells you more than any mood board: it shows the angle, the light and the expression they already trust.
Take the self-conscious answer seriously
Put it on your shot list. One sentence of reassurance at the start ("I'll keep the light soft and shoot from a little higher") buys you the whole session.
Let them bring a friend
For nervous clients, a friend behind your shoulder making them laugh is worth more than any prompt.
The question forms get wrong
Most clients don't know how they like to be directed.
So they write “we're awkward” and leave it there. Send the Good Side camera quiz with your questionnaire: two minutes on their phone, and you get their camera type and a session plan with prompts in order.