What happens when a client books you
The path from someone clicking your link to the deposit landing in your account.
It's worth knowing this end to end, because most of it happens without you.
What the client does
- 1
Picks a date
Only days you've marked available, and only dates that aren't fully booked.
- 2
Picks a time
Generated from your hours and the service length, with anything that clashes with an existing booking already removed.
- 3
Enters their details
Name, email and phone — all three are required here — plus optional notes about what they're after.
- 4
Reviews and books
They see a summary with the total and the deposit due. If you've given them a promo code, this is where it goes in. Then they press "Book Now".
What happens next, automatically
- The booking appears on your calendar straight away, with the status Pending.
- The client gets a confirmation email containing a link to their private client portal.
- If you've set a default contract template, it can be attached and sent for signature.
The client portal is the important part. It's where they sign the contract and pay the deposit, and it's the only place they need to go — no account, no password. They get in via a link emailed to them.
The statuses, in order
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pending | Booked, but nothing signed or paid yet |
| Confirmed | You've accepted it |
| Contract Signed | The client has signed |
| Deposit Paid | Money has arrived in your Stripe account |
| Completed | The shoot has happened |
| Cancelled | Called off |
You can move a booking to any status by hand from the booking's detail panel on the calendar — signing and paying just do it for you.
After a session is marked Completed, a review request goes out to the client automatically. You don't need to send it, and there's nothing to set up.
Common questions
Can I take a booking without collecting a deposit?
Yes — set the service's deposit to 0%. The client books without paying, and you can invoice them separately.
What if I hit my plan's booking limit?
Clients see a message saying you aren't currently accepting bookings, and are told to contact you directly. The free plan allows 2 bookings a month; Pro and Studio are unlimited.
Can I stop a specific client from booking?
There's no block list. The practical approach is to turn off the relevant availability or deactivate the service.
Didn't solve it?
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