# AI Receptionist for Photographers: Book Shoots Source: https://insertchat.com/industries/photography > Share packages, book consult calls and mini-sessions, and keep every shoot inquiry while you’re behind the camera. An AI receptionist for photographers answers calls, website chat, texts, and email while you’re shooting or editing, using your packages, policies, and session types. InsertChat’s assistant shares starting prices and what each package includes, records the date, location, and hours of coverage, books consult calls and mini-sessions on your calendar, and passes custom requests and contracts to you. ## Turn a wedding date question into a booked consult call Example workflow: Website chat. Illustrative scenario. Answers depend on your sources; actions depend on your connected tools and permissions. This is not a customer testimonial or measured result. An engaged couple opens your website chat on a Saturday while you’re shooting a wedding two hours away. > Are you free on June 12 next year for a wedding in Sonoma? We’re thinking eight hours of coverage plus an engagement shoot. What would that run? ## Answer from your packages Share the starting price of your eight-hour collection, what it includes, the Sonoma travel fee you list, and the engagement-session add-on. ## Capture the details Record the date, venue, hours of coverage, guest count, and how they found you, and mark the inquiry as a high-intent lead. ## Book a consult call Offer times for a 30-minute video consult and book the one the couple picks, with your meeting link in the invite. ## Your team sets the boundaries You confirm the date, send the contract, and collect the retainer. Day-of problems, gallery complaints, and licensing questions come straight to you. ## What it handles for photographers and studios Handled by your assistant: - Package, collection, and starting-price questions - Date inquiries, recorded for you to confirm - Weddings, portraits, families, headshots, and brand shoots - Mini-session and headshot slots booked on your calendar - Turnaround, gallery delivery, and print questions from your policies - Travel fees, locations, and what-to-wear guides Sent straight to your team: - Day-of changes, such as a client running late or a location move - Clients unhappy with a gallery or an edit - Rush delivery requests with a deadline - Cancellations and refund requests under contract - Commercial licensing and usage-rights questions ## What it asks and what it needs to know Details it collects: - Client names, phone number, and email - Shoot type and date, with backup dates - Location or venue, and travel distance - Hours of coverage or session length - Number of people in the photos - Budget range and the package that interests them - Planner or venue contact, for weddings What to add to its knowledge: - Packages and collections with starting prices - Session types, lengths, and what each includes - Travel fees and the areas you cover - Retainer, payment schedule, and cancellation terms - Gallery turnaround, delivery, and print options - Mini-session dates, locations, and styling guides ## Can an AI receptionist book photography sessions? Yes, for anything with a fixed length. Set up event types in Calendly or Cal.com, such as a 20-minute mini-session, a 60-minute headshot session, and a 30-minute consult call, and the assistant books the right one. Weddings and custom shoots work differently: it records the date and details for you, then books a consult call so you can talk it through with the client. ## Will it quote my prices to clients? It shares the starting prices and package contents you publish, and nothing beyond them. A couple asking for six hours instead of eight, a second shooter, or an album upgrade gets the add-on prices you list. Requests that need a custom price are saved for you, since InsertChat doesn’t write quotes. You send the custom proposal after the consult call. ## Can it collect a retainer? It never takes card details on a call or in chat. If you connect Stripe, the assistant can create a payment link or checkout session for a retainer, and you can require your approval before it does. If your contract software collects the retainer, the assistant tells clients when it’s due and leaves the rest to you. ## How much does an AI receptionist for photographers cost? Pro is $98 a month, about $3.27 a day, for one phone number, monthly credits, three seats for you and your associates or editors, and three AI assistants. A studio that runs wedding and portrait brands can give each its own assistant. Calls round up to whole minutes. New customers can try Pro free for 7 days with 500 credits, card required. ## Does it connect to my photography client management software? No. InsertChat doesn’t connect to photography studio software. If you track clients in HubSpot or Zoho CRM, the assistant can create contacts there with the permissions you choose. Otherwise, every inquiry waits in the shared inbox with the details it collected. ## Can clients send inspiration photos? Yes. Clients can attach mood boards and location photos in your website chat, and you see them with the conversation. Pictures sent by text go to you rather than to the assistant. ## Can it answer Instagram DMs? No. InsertChat answers phone calls, website chat, SMS, email, and WhatsApp. Put your website chat or booking page link in your bio, and inquiries from Instagram reach the assistant there. ## My business line is my cell phone. Can I still use it? In the US and Canada, forward unanswered or busy calls from your mobile to InsertChat, so your phone rings first and the assistant picks up when you’re shooting. Our call forwarding guides list the codes for major carriers. Elsewhere, use a local or toll-free InsertChat number where available. ## Related features - [Website chat](https://insertchat.com/product/website) - [Scheduling](https://insertchat.com/product/scheduling) - [Lead capture](https://insertchat.com/product/lead-capture) ## Broader industry - [Hospitality & events](https://insertchat.com/industries/hospitality-events): Answer guests, couples, and event planners while your team looks after the people in front of them.