Fotello
Free playbook · Fotello API

Let an AI receptionist book your shoots.

Your phone rings, a voice agent answers, pitches your packages, and drops a booked order straight into Fotello. Here's exactly how we built it, step by step.

  • Answers every call nights, weekends, and while you’re on a shoot.
  • Pitches your real packages with prices pulled live from Fotello.
  • Books into your calendar listing, appointment and client created for you.
Free playbook

Get the full build guide

Tell us where to send updates and the complete playbook unlocks right away.

Free. No credit card. We never share your details.

  • Step-by-step build guide (about an hour end to end)
  • Copy-paste receptionist prompt and tool server code
  • Side-by-side guide to Vapi and 5 alternatives
What a call sounds like

Two minutes on the phone. One order in Fotello.

The agent asks the questions you would, recommends the package that fits, offers real openings from your calendar, and confirms the client's email before booking.

Ava · AI receptionist
Incoming call · +1 (604) 555‑0142
Live
AvaHi, thanks for calling Lakeside Media! Are you looking to book a shoot?
CallerYes, 2221 East 30th Ave. About 2,000 square feet.
⚡ get_catalog
AvaOur Core Package fits that perfectly at $200. Most agents add drone for $100.
CallerLet's do both. Thursday morning?
⚡ check_availability
AvaI have Thursday at 10 AM. Shall I lock that in?
⚡ book_order
Order booked in Fotello
Core Package + Drone · Thu 10:00 AM · $300
How it works

Four pieces, one booked shoot

The voice agent handles the conversation. Fotello's public API handles your real prices, real availability and the order itself, so nothing gets made up on the call.

01

Client calls

An agent dials your business number, any time of day.

Your number
02

Voice agent

Answers, asks for the address, size and services, and pitches your packages.

VapiRetellElevenLabs
03

Your tool server

A small server that does the pricing, scheduling and order building.

get_catalogcheck_availabilitybook_order
04

Fotello

The order lands with the listing, the appointment and the client already in place.

list-productsget-available-slotscreate-order

Build your AI receptionist in about an hour

Six steps from a blank account to a phone call that books a real order in Fotello.

1

Get Fotello ready to take phone orders

10 min

The agent can only sell what Fotello knows about, so tidy up these settings first.

  • Products with clear names. Name size-based options like “Up to 2,500 sq ft” so the right tier can be picked from the square footage the caller gives you.
  • Business hours and service areas. The agent only offers times your team is actually free, inside the areas you cover.
  • Auto-accept on, payment set to optional or not required. Then an order with a time is accepted the moment it's created: listing made, appointment booked, client emailed.
Prefer to review every phone order yourself? Leave auto-accept off. Orders arrive as pending and you accept them from Fotello, or call /v1/accept-order.

Unlock the remaining steps

The server code, the receptionist prompt and the go-live checklist are free. Just tell us where to reach you.

Voice platforms

Vapi, or one of these

Any platform that can answer a number and call your server mid-call works with the Fotello API. The tool server stays the same; only the webhook format changes.

Vapi

WHAT WE USED
Developer platform

Dashboard plus API. Add a number, write the prompt, and point function tools at your server. This is what our demo runs on.

SetupLow-code + API
Phone numbersBuilt in
Best forFastest path to a demo
Visit Vapi

Retell AI

Developer platform

Voice agents tuned for natural back-and-forth, with custom functions that call your server and a visual flow builder.

SetupLow-code + API
Phone numbersBuilt in
Best forNatural conversations
Visit Retell

ElevenLabs Agents

Voice-first platform

Known for lifelike voices. Server tools call your webhook, and calls connect through Twilio or your own SIP line.

SetupLow-code + API
Phone numbersTwilio or SIP
Best forVoice quality and brand voice
Visit ElevenLabs

Bland AI

Phone-first platform

Built around phone calls at volume, with Pathways for scripted conversations and custom tools that call your API.

SetupLow-code + API
Phone numbersBuilt in
Best forScripted, high-volume calls
Visit Bland

Synthflow

No-code builder

Build the agent visually, with custom actions that call external APIs like the tool server in this playbook.

SetupNo-code
Phone numbersBuilt in or Twilio
Best forTeams that don’t code
Visit Synthflow

Twilio + OpenAI Realtime

Build it yourself

Twilio streams the call audio to OpenAI’s Realtime API and your own code handles the tools. Most control, most engineering.

SetupCode
Phone numbersTwilio
Best forFull control
Visit Twilio

Features and pricing change often, so check each provider before you commit. Fotello isn't affiliated with any of these platforms.

Get help

Rather set it up together?

Book a free 1:1 with a Fotello specialist. We'll walk through your order form and customer portal, and get your AI receptionist taking real bookings.

  • Review your catalogue and booking settings

    So the agent pitches the right packages and only offers real times.

  • Connect your API key and voice agent

    We get the receptionist answering on your number, with your prices.

  • Run a test call together

    You call, it books, and we watch the order land in Fotello.

Book a free setup call
1:1 with a Fotello specialist · pick any open time