Mini Session vs. Full Session
Should You Book a Family Session or a Mini Session? How To Decide!
When you look around your home at the photos decorating your walls and mantle, are your kiddos half as tall as they are now? Is your hair six inches shorter? Is your two year old missing from all the images? Then, it might be time to plan a family photo session! Time passes quickly, and in all the hustle and bustle, documenting the changes it brings can easily fail to make your to do list!
So, now that you’re playing with the idea of booking a photo session, which one is best for your family? Yep, that’s right! Family sessions aren’t one-size-fits-all. Photographers offer a wide variety of session styles, ranging from full-day, in-home lifestyle sessions to speedy five minute snap-and-gos. But the two kinds of family photo sessions I offer are one-hour family sessions and fifteen-minute mini sessions. The full, one-hour sessions can be booked for the date and time that best suits your family, while the 15-minute minis are scheduled only on particular days at a location of my choosing. There are many other differences between the two kinds of sessions, and they work perfectly for very different situations. So, which should you book?
By asking yourself these four questions, you can easily choose the session style that will give you the family photos of your dreams!
1.What kinds of images are you hoping to see in your gallery?
One-hour photo sessions are connection-focused while mini sessions are more focused on documenting a moment in time.
If you’re hoping to see a wide range of emotion, location, and activity in your gallery, a one-hour family session is the way to go! Because we have so much time, we can explore every nook and cranny of a location, giving your gallery a diverse look. We can also let the little ones run free, creating candids that will take your breath away.
If you’d prefer to keep your images simple and classic, a mini session might be just the thing! We begin with everyone smiling together, then quickly run through a few prompts and poses while swapping through different family member combinations. If you aren’t big on candids and would just prefer to see your family joyfully snuggled together, that is definitely something we will capture during a mini session! And while you’ll receive only 15 images from a mini session, every photo will be perfection!
2. How much time does it take your family to warm up to the camera?
If you have a shy little one, a one-hour family session is a perfect way to go! Because we have so much time, pressure is totally off giving them time to adjust to being directed in front of the camera. We even have time to take snack breaks!
However, if your family members are photo session pros and the children are a bit older, a mini session could be a great way to go! If everyone arrives ready and willing to smile for the camera, you’ll get images you love in a fraction of the time! But it’s important to think about every single family member’s personality, because just one unhappy little one can spoil a mini session.
3. What are you looking for in a photography experience?
Are you looking for a memorable adventure for the whole family with an experience that is as exciting as the photos we take? Then, a one-hour family session is exactly what you’ve been looking for! We will run, dance, play, and explore a wide variety of nearby locations as I create room for your family to interact organically. These sessions are relaxed and easygoing, and you’ll be surprised at the amazing images we can capture when your kiddos aren’t feeling pressured or rushed.
But if you prefer the traditional feel of a session -- we arrive, you take our picture, we head out -- then let’s roll with a mini! A mini session is also great for family members who are unable to move around much or tire quickly, as we stick to a single location for all of the images.
4. What are you hoping to do with your images?
If you’re hoping to fill an album and swap out all the framed photos in your home, a one-hour session will give you plenty of photos and enough variety to do exactly that! And because the session is so much fun, each image will bring back a beautiful memory you’ll want to relive over and over again!
If you’re simply looking to commemorate a milestone, update the photo on grandma’s mantle, or create your own holiday cards, mini sessions will give you exactly what you’re looking for!
No matter which session you choose, as long as it’s right for everyone in your family, you’ll have a gallery full of photos you’ll love for decades! I can’t wait to get to know you, book your session HERE , and tell a piece of your family’s story through photos!