Photography questionnaire template for portrait sessions

The first part of a portrait session is often spent on questions. Who is coming? What will they wear? What do you want? I would rather have those answers before I pick up the camera.

Before the form opens

You decide what you need to know. For family, senior and newborn sessions the answers are much the same: who is in the photos, where, in what style, and for what use. Send the link when the client books. Set close_at a few days before the shoot so you have time to read it.

While it is open

Clients choose a session type and the setting, then list their people. They pick styles, outfits and a must-have shot, and paste a link to photos they love. A last box covers practical needs, such as nap times. A client's AI may ask "Who will be in the photos?" Then "Which styles do you like?" Then "Is there a shot you must have?" It shows the answers and sends only after a yes. See agent-fillable forms.

After it closes

Read the CSV the night before. Copy the must-have shots into a shot list and note any practical needs. A wedding photography questionnaire covers bigger days, and a photography booking form settles the date first. Busy season? Offer a mini session sign-up. More ideas are in forms for photographers.

Questions

Can I use it for newborn sessions?

Yes. Choose the newborn session type and use the people question for the names of the parents and baby. Ask only about things you must act on, such as nap times.

How early should I send it?

Send it when the client books. Set close_at a few days before the session so you have time to read the answers and prepare.

How do I turn the answers into a shot list?

Download the CSV, copy the must-have shots and the people list into your notes, and share the outfit and style answers with your assistant.

Or paste the JSON

Give this to your AI. It needs the AI Form API MCP server or an API key. It makes the form and sends you the link.

text

Create this form with the AI Form API create_form tool (or POST https://aiformapi.com/v1/forms with my API key). Then reply with the public_url.

{
  "title": "Plan your portrait session",
  "description": "A few questions so I can plan your session before the day. There are no wrong answers.",
  "fields": [
    {
      "id": "client_name",
      "label": "Your name",
      "type": "short_text",
      "required": true,
      "max_length": 150
    },
    {
      "id": "client_email",
      "label": "Your email",
      "type": "email",
      "required": true
    },
    {
      "id": "client_phone",
      "label": "Your phone",
      "type": "phone"
    },
    {
      "id": "session_kind",
      "label": "What kind of session is it?",
      "type": "single_choice",
      "required": true,
      "options": [
        "Family",
        "Senior portraits",
        "Newborn",
        "Couple",
        "Individual",
        "Something else"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "people_in_frame",
      "label": "Who will be in the photos?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "required": true,
      "help": "First names and the ages of any children are enough.",
      "max_length": 800
    },
    {
      "id": "photo_destination",
      "label": "What will you do with the photos?",
      "type": "multi_choice",
      "options": [
        "Wall prints",
        "An album",
        "Holiday cards",
        "Social media",
        "Gifts for family"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "session_setting",
      "label": "Where would you like to shoot?",
      "type": "single_choice",
      "options": [
        "Outdoors",
        "In a studio",
        "At home",
        "I am not sure, please suggest"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "style_liked",
      "label": "Which styles do you like?",
      "type": "multi_choice",
      "options": [
        "Natural and candid",
        "Posed and classic",
        "Bright and airy",
        "Moody and dark",
        "Playful"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "outfit_ideas",
      "label": "Outfit ideas or colours",
      "type": "long_text",
      "max_length": 800
    },
    {
      "id": "must_have_shots",
      "label": "Is there a shot you must have?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "max_length": 800
    },
    {
      "id": "inspiration_board",
      "label": "A link to photos you love",
      "type": "url"
    },
    {
      "id": "best_time_of_day",
      "label": "Best time of day for you",
      "type": "single_choice",
      "options": [
        "Morning",
        "Midday",
        "Golden hour before sunset",
        "Flexible"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "helpful_to_know",
      "label": "Anything that would help the session go smoothly?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "help": "Nap times, mobility, sensory needs or allergies for an outdoor shoot.",
      "max_length": 800
    }
  ]
}

Or call the API

bash

curl -X POST https://aiformapi.com/v1/forms \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AIFORMAPI_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"title":"Plan your portrait session","description":"A few questions so I can plan your session before the day. There are no wrong answers.","fields":[{"id":"client_name","label":"Your name","type":"short_text","required":true,"max_length":150},{"id":"client_email","label":"Your email","type":"email","required":true},{"id":"client_phone","label":"Your phone","type":"phone"},{"id":"session_kind","label":"What kind of session is it?","type":"single_choice","required":true,"options":["Family","Senior portraits","Newborn","Couple","Individual","Something else"]},{"id":"people_in_frame","label":"Who will be in the photos?","type":"long_text","required":true,"help":"First names and the ages of any children are enough.","max_length":800},{"id":"photo_destination","label":"What will you do with the photos?","type":"multi_choice","options":["Wall prints","An album","Holiday cards","Social media","Gifts for family"]},{"id":"session_setting","label":"Where would you like to shoot?","type":"single_choice","options":["Outdoors","In a studio","At home","I am not sure, please suggest"]},{"id":"style_liked","label":"Which styles do you like?","type":"multi_choice","options":["Natural and candid","Posed and classic","Bright and airy","Moody and dark","Playful"]},{"id":"outfit_ideas","label":"Outfit ideas or colours","type":"long_text","max_length":800},{"id":"must_have_shots","label":"Is there a shot you must have?","type":"long_text","max_length":800},{"id":"inspiration_board","label":"A link to photos you love","type":"url"},{"id":"best_time_of_day","label":"Best time of day for you","type":"single_choice","options":["Morning","Midday","Golden hour before sunset","Flexible"]},{"id":"helpful_to_know","label":"Anything that would help the session go smoothly?","type":"long_text","help":"Nap times, mobility, sensory needs or allergies for an outdoor shoot.","max_length":800}]}'

JSON definition

json

{
  "title": "Plan your portrait session",
  "description": "A few questions so I can plan your session before the day. There are no wrong answers.",
  "fields": [
    {
      "id": "client_name",
      "label": "Your name",
      "type": "short_text",
      "required": true,
      "max_length": 150
    },
    {
      "id": "client_email",
      "label": "Your email",
      "type": "email",
      "required": true
    },
    {
      "id": "client_phone",
      "label": "Your phone",
      "type": "phone"
    },
    {
      "id": "session_kind",
      "label": "What kind of session is it?",
      "type": "single_choice",
      "required": true,
      "options": [
        "Family",
        "Senior portraits",
        "Newborn",
        "Couple",
        "Individual",
        "Something else"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "people_in_frame",
      "label": "Who will be in the photos?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "required": true,
      "help": "First names and the ages of any children are enough.",
      "max_length": 800
    },
    {
      "id": "photo_destination",
      "label": "What will you do with the photos?",
      "type": "multi_choice",
      "options": [
        "Wall prints",
        "An album",
        "Holiday cards",
        "Social media",
        "Gifts for family"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "session_setting",
      "label": "Where would you like to shoot?",
      "type": "single_choice",
      "options": [
        "Outdoors",
        "In a studio",
        "At home",
        "I am not sure, please suggest"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "style_liked",
      "label": "Which styles do you like?",
      "type": "multi_choice",
      "options": [
        "Natural and candid",
        "Posed and classic",
        "Bright and airy",
        "Moody and dark",
        "Playful"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "outfit_ideas",
      "label": "Outfit ideas or colours",
      "type": "long_text",
      "max_length": 800
    },
    {
      "id": "must_have_shots",
      "label": "Is there a shot you must have?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "max_length": 800
    },
    {
      "id": "inspiration_board",
      "label": "A link to photos you love",
      "type": "url"
    },
    {
      "id": "best_time_of_day",
      "label": "Best time of day for you",
      "type": "single_choice",
      "options": [
        "Morning",
        "Midday",
        "Golden hour before sunset",
        "Flexible"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "helpful_to_know",
      "label": "Anything that would help the session go smoothly?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "help": "Nap times, mobility, sensory needs or allergies for an outdoor shoot.",
      "max_length": 800
    }
  ]
}