Session types are the services your clients can book again and again — Family, Newborn, Branding, Seniors, Weddings, Studio Portraits, you name it. Once you set one up, Session runs your whole flow for that service: client picks a time, chooses their package and any add-ons, signs your contract, completes your questionnaire, pays… all in one booking.Clients actually complete all steps of the booking process while booking. Imagine that!
1. Go to Session Types
- In the top nav, go to Manage > Session types.
- Click New session type (or open an existing one to edit).
2. Add the basics
- Name – what clients will see (e.g. “Family Session”).
- Description & images – optional but great for your Booking Site.
- This is the info that makes the service look polished and “bookable.”
3. Set packages & fees
Inside the session type you can decide:
-
How you want to collect money
- Collect entire fee during booking
- Collect a retainer during booking (Session will send the balance reminder)
- Collect fee outside of Session
-
Single package or multiple packages
You can offer one package or multiple, but not both for the same session type. -
Gallery delivery
Choose Final edits or Soft proofing so gallery delivery is already wired into the booking.
4. Add contracts & questionnaires
Attach the things you always need for this service:
- Contract (and even a second contract, like a model release)
- Questionnaire
- Post-booking questionnaire
Because they live on the session type, every future booking of this service will automatically include them — no chasing invoices, manually sending contracts and questionnaires.
5. Email communication
At the bottom you’ll see Email communication. Here you can override your global emails just for this service:
- Booking confirmation
- Session reminder
- Session follow-up
Perfect when, say, a Newborn session needs extra prep instructions but your Headshots don’t.
6. Additional properties
Click Edit under Additional properties to control:
- Visibility – Public (shows on Booking Site) or Private (hidden, share link only).
- Location – set a default if this service is always at the same place.
- Require Date – make clients pick a date now, or let them book and schedule later.
- Remaining Balance Due – if you took a retainer, pick when the rest is due (e.g. 3 days before session) and Session will handle it.
These settings are what make a session type feel “ready for clients.”
7. Save it and make sure you have availability
Session type = what you offer. Availability = when you offer it. After creating your session type, make sure your calendar/availability is set so clients can actually pick a time.
See: How to set up your availability.