Do you offer full session types that share the same availability? If so, Studio Manager’s Shared Availability feature can streamline your workflow by allowing you to manage a single schedule that applies across a group of session types.

For example, you may offer three similar types of photoshoots: “Newborn”, “Family”, and “Pets”. Because these different session types are all conducted in the same location, you provide the same availability across all three to maximize potential bookings. In this scenario, grouping these three session types under the same shared schedule would allow you to easily manage your availability in one go. If you decide to expand your overall availability to include evenings, you can simply update your shared schedule and all three of your session types will automatically update!

This article will go over how to set up your first shared schedule, as well as how to add different session types to it.

Creating a shared schedule is easy, and can be done in just a few steps. To create your first shared schedule, click the Shared Availability button in the top right of your Session Types page (Studio Manager Dashboard > Bookings > Session Types).

In the Shared Availability Settings page that opens, scroll down to the timetable section. Here, you can begin building out your shared schedule by customizing your availability within the List View or Calendar View. Both views share the same information, so any changes you make in one view will automatically appear in the other.

Tip: If you need additional assistance setting up your availability, you may like to check out our “Setting up your Session Availability” article here.

Once you’ve set up your availability for your shared schedule, click Done in the top right hand corner to save your changes. You are now ready to assign your brand new shared schedule to any of your session types!

If you anticipate requiring multiple shared sessions (i.e. for another group of session types), you can create another one by clicking New Schedule in the top right hand corner.

When you have a shared schedule ready, you can assign it to any full session type in your Sessions Types page (Studio Manager Dashboard > Bookings > Session Types).

While creating or editing a specific session type, go to its Availability section. Under “How do you want to offer your availability?”, select Use shared schedule and choose the applicable schedule from the dropdown menu that appears. Your session type’s availability will automatically update to match the selected schedule, and you’re good to go!

Tip: When you assign a shared schedule to a session type, the name of the session type will be automatically listed under the schedule in your Dashboard’s Shared Availability page for easy reference!