A photography client questionnairefor any kind of shoot.
“Oh, we needed them for a billboard.”
A shoot goes the way the questions before it went. This one asks what the photos are for, where they’ll be used, who’s in them, who approves them and how they need the files, in plain words a client can answer in about ten minutes.
Names, contacts and how they found you. The person filling it in isn’t always the person who approves, so it asks for both.
The shoot
What kind of shoot, where, when and for how long. Portrait, brand, product or event, the same questions sort it.
How the photos will be used
Website, social, print, ads, packaging. Use decides resolution, shape and the license, and a billboard found out after the shoot is a reshoot.
Style
Photos they like, and what to avoid. Pictures say more than adjectives, so it asks for links.
People and places
Who appears, whether anyone is under 18, and whether the location needs a permit. Each person in commercial work needs a release.
Review and delivery
Who chooses the favorites, who approves, and which sizes they need. Agreeing on this early avoids “I thought there’d be more.”
Budget
A range, so you can shape the shoot to it.
The template.
Everything in brackets is yours to fill in. The Word file has the same words, ready to change.
Photography Client Questionnaire
Thank you for getting in touch with [Studio name]. These questions help us plan your shoot around what you need. Answer what you can, and leave anything you’re unsure about for our call.
1. About you
Your name, and your company if this is for a business:
The best email and phone number to reach you:
Who will choose and approve the final photos, if not you?
How did you hear about us?
2. The shoot
What kind of shoot is this: portraits, a brand or team shoot, products, an event, something else?
Your preferred date and time, and any dates that are not possible:
Where would you like to shoot: indoors or outdoors, at your place or in a studio?
How long do you expect it to take, or what needs to happen during it?
3. How the photos will be used
Where will the photos appear: website, social media, print, advertising, packaging?
Do you need a particular shape, such as vertical for stories or wide for a website banner?
Roughly how many finished photos do you need?
When do you need them by?
4. Style
Share links to a few photos you like, and say what you like about each.
Is there anything you do not want, such as a look, an angle or a color?
Are there brand colors, logos or products that must appear?
5. People and places
Who will be in the photos, and how many people?
Will anyone under 18 appear?
Does the location need permission or a permit to photograph?
Is there anything we should know about the people being photographed, such as accessibility needs or time limits?
6. Review and delivery
Who will look through the photos and pick favorites?
How many people need to see them before they are approved?
Do you need full-size files for print, smaller copies for the web, or both?
What the photos are for, where they’ll be used, who’s in them, where and when, the style they want, who approves the final selection, how many photos they expect, and their budget.
Can I use this questionnaire for weddings?
Yes. Keep the sections and add the wedding questions: the day’s timeline, the venues, the family groups for formal photos, and who will point out relatives. The wedding photography contract covers the rest.
Is there a PDF version?
Yes. Download the PDF to print or attach to an email. Download the Word file to add your logo, change the questions or turn it into an online form.
When should I send it?
Before you quote, or as soon as the date is booked. Answers that arrive before the quote are the ones that change it.