Best pet photography booking software to grow your business

You can keep a limited number of priority slots available each week and label them clearly (for example, “short-notice session”). If you do end-of-life sessions, set a specific session type with longer time allowance and quiet location options. The booking form can collect sensitive notes so you’re not asking difficult questions on the phone. You stay in control of your diary while still making space for genuinely urgent work.

Most UK pet photographers benefit from splitting bookings into outdoor dog photography, studio portraits, home visits (often for cats or anxious dogs), and mini sessions. Each has different timings, prep requirements, and pricing. Separate options prevent clients booking a 30-minute mini when they actually need a 90-minute multi-pet session. It also keeps your day running to time.

A deposit at booking is the simplest way to reduce no-shows and weather-related “maybes”. Many photographers take the remaining balance on the day of the shoot, or before the online gallery is released, especially where ordering appointments are involved. If you sell prints and wall art, you can also take session fees up front and collect product payments at the ordering stage. The key is having one clear rule clients see before they book.

Mini sessions need tight time slots, strict buffers, and automatic reminders because you might be photographing 10–20 families in a day. You can publish a limited run of sessions, take deposits up front, and stop bookings once the slots are gone. Automated messages can include arrival times, parking instructions, and what to wear for the set. That reduces late arrivals that knock the whole day off schedule.

Yes — you can set up separate calendars for each photographer and control who is available for which session types. That’s useful if one of you specialises in studio work while another prefers outdoor dog photography. If you use an assistant for lighting or wrangling, you can build buffers so handovers don’t overlap awkwardly. It keeps the team organised without a constant group chat.

Send a booking link that shows real availability and the correct session options, rather than asking clients to suggest dates. When clients can pick a slot and pay a deposit in the same step, they commit faster. You can also include add-ons (extra pets, weekend premium, travel) so the price is clear before they book. That cuts down the “just checking prices” timewasters.

At minimum: booking confirmation, a reminder 48–72 hours before, and a pre-shoot prep guide the day before. For pet photography, prep notes make a real difference — leads/harnesses, treats, grooming timing, and what happens if it rains. You can also request temperament notes and any triggers in advance. That means fewer surprises and a calmer session.

You can set different prices and durations per session type, and add optional extras for additional pets, extended time, or a second location. That’s important because a single calm dog is not the same workload as two dogs and a toddler. Clear pricing options stop haggling on the day and protect your margins. Clients also appreciate knowing the cost before they commit.