Completing a booking or handling a no-show
Once a session has happened, marking it complete moves it out of your active list and stops reminders and follow-ups. It's also how you close the loop when a client doesn't turn up.
Marking a booking as complete
- Open the booking.
- Choose Mark as complete from the three-dot menu.
- Read any warnings in the dialog, then click Mark as complete.
Mark as complete is only offered on a confirmed booking. Completing it "closes the booking and stops reminders and follow-ups", and payments, documents and calendar history aren't affected. The booking stays on your calendar, since the session did happen.
Before you confirm, the dialog flags anything still open, such as:
- The booking still has an upcoming date
- A scheduled date is still in progress
- There's an outstanding balance
- A payment proof is waiting for your review
- A contract is waiting for a signature, or for your countersignature
- A questionnaire hasn't been answered
None of these stop you completing it. They're a last check so nothing slips through. An unpaid invoice stays open and keeps its own reminders, so completing a booking never lets a balance quietly disappear.
Reopening a booking you completed too early
- Open the completed booking.
- Choose Reopen booking from the three-dot menu.
- Give a Reason. It's required.
- Turn on Restart reminders for upcoming dates if the session is still ahead.
- Click Reopen booking.
The booking moves back to active work as if you'd never closed it.
When a client doesn't turn up
There's no no-show button or status in CoreHue, so here's the cleanest way to handle one.
First, check they were told
Open the booking and choose Email history from the three-dot menu. If the confirmation or reminder wasn't delivered, your client may never have known the details. Better to know that before you assume anything. See My client didn't get my email.
Write down what happened
Bookings don't have a notes field, so use the contact. Open your client's page, go to the Overview tab, and add a note under Contact notes. Only you can see it. Write the date, how you tried to reach them, and what you agreed afterwards. If a deposit is ever disputed, this is the note you'll want.
Sort out the money
CoreHue doesn't charge or refund anything automatically here. Your cancellation policy decides what happens:
- A deposit already paid is usually kept, if your policy says so.
- An unpaid balance is a judgment call. Many photographers keep the deposit and let the rest go. You can write off what's left on the invoice. See Editing, cancelling or writing off an invoice.
- If the mix-up was on your side, refund promptly. See Refunding a payment.
Then close the booking
| Booking was… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Confirmed | Mark as complete |
| Still pending (waiting on payment or a signature) | Cancel booking, leaving Notify contact by email off unless you want them emailed. See Cancelling a booking |
| Expired on its own | Nothing to do. It's already closed |
Fewer no-shows next time
- Turn on booking reminders. Most no-shows are forgetfulness. Reminders the day before and on the day make a real difference. See Setting up automatic reminders (Plus and Pro).
- Take a deposit. People turn up to things they've paid for. See Pricing, deposits and payment deadlines.
- Send the booking page. It has the date, place and any meeting link in one spot, so your client isn't hunting through emails on the morning of the shoot.
Frequently asked questions
Does marking a booking complete close its invoice?
No. Invoices are separate. An unpaid invoice stays open, and invoice reminders keep working if you have them on.
Can I complete a booking before the session date?
Yes, but the dialog warns you that the booking still has an upcoming date. If you did it by mistake, use Reopen booking.
Why can't I see Mark as complete?
Mark as complete only appears on confirmed bookings. A pending booking needs to be confirmed or cancelled instead.
Is there a way to mark a booking as a no-show?
Not as its own status. Record what happened in the contact's notes, then complete or cancel the booking as described above.