Is sending a photo mandatory?
No. I find a photograph, name and additional personal details helpful, but they are not mandatory. Not wanting to share personal information does not automatically make it impossible to discuss your question.
In my work there are two different reasons for requesting a photograph: one relates to my spiritual approach and the other to ordinary life context. It is important to distinguish them rather than suggesting that a reading is invalid without an image.
The energetic aspect is part of my personal practice
Within my own method, I treat a photograph as an additional way to connect with the person and, in the language of my practice, to “read their energy.” This describes my subjective approach, not a scientifically established property of photographs.
Other tarot readers use different methods: some always ask for photographs and others never do. I do not believe anyone should be pressured to share an image against their wishes.
The contextual aspect is entirely practical
A photo or background details can also help establish who we are talking about. Age range, stage of life, the nature of the relationship, and shared history may all matter. The prospects of communication mean different things for two teenagers, a married couple, or people who separated many years ago.
You can provide this context in words without sharing a picture. A name or birth date does not replace the story either. There is no reason to collect more personal information than necessary, and details about third parties deserve particular care.
What should you share first?
Start with the question itself and a short explanation of the circumstances, not a questionnaire. If you are comfortable, you may add a first name, general age range, or photograph. If you are not, a meaningful description can be enough. Respecting a client's boundaries matters more than filling in every possible field.