Full Session or Mini Session | Which is Better for Your Family?

Now that the Fall season is upon us, you have likely been hearing about mini sessions. Although I capture families throughout the year for full length sessions, I offer mini sessions once a year during the Fall season. I offer minis because as a mom, I understand the appeal to capture some beautiful, professional photos for a lower price point in a faster time frame. Mini sessions are a great option for some families, but they aren’t for everyone. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether a mini session is right for you and your family.

PHOTO EXPECTATIONS

If you are booking a mini session hoping for just a couple good photos of your family or for holiday cards, this is exactly what they are intended for. If you have a very specific shot list in mind, though, a mini session is probably not the right fit for you. Mini session time slots are 15 minutes in length and that time goes by VERY quickly. It is not always possible to go down a list to check off a specific set of must have shots. These short spots can be unpredictable and fast. Having a couple must have shots is ok, but having a longer list just means that a full session will be a better fit for you so we can capture everything on your shot list.

A mini session might be right for you if you just want a few good photos, have a shorter wish list, and are willing to go with the flow of a fast, less predictable time slot.

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you have a longer, more specific set of shots in mind and you don’t feel comfortable with the unpredictability of a shorter spot to accomplish them in.

THE PERSONALITIES OF YOUR KIDS

As a photographer, I try really hard to be very engaging and fun with the kids with which I work so that they warm up to me as quickly as possible. Despite my best efforts, there are some children who just don’t warm up in the time span of a mini session. This totally understandable. There are also going to be very high energy kids who just refuse to sit still, despite our best efforts. This is one of the many reasons I love my full length sessions, which provide busy kids with time to explore freely.

A mini session might be right for you if you’re ok with capturing your kids just as they are, whether that is smiling or not, climbing, jumping, or everything in between. If you have very outgoing, cooperative kids that you know will listen very well during our brief time slot, then this is the session for you.

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you prefer wanting more opportunity to capture the exact kinds of photos you want, or if you have a difficult or high energy child and are not confident that the shots you want could be captured during a small time frame. Keep in mind that this is one great advantage of a full session. Kids have time to warm up, and we have time to burn off that energy and snag some amazing moments on your list.

BUDGET

If you are on a tighter budget, a mini session is an excellent fit. If a photographer you love is out of your price range, a mini session is a great way to get photos from him or her without completely blowing your family budget.

FLEXIBILITY

Mini sessions are typically stacked, which means that punctuality is SUPER important. If you’re always the person running late to things, a mini session might be a big source of stress. Typically, photographers are unable to honor any lost time because there is someone else whose spot is directly after yours. Therefore, you would forfeit your spot altogether if you’re late, or have less shoot time than the typical 15 minute mini slot.

A mini session might be right for you if you are a super punctual person and are confident that you can get you and your family out the door and to your session before it starts. And, if you don’t mind potentially having a spot at a time that is off your usual schedule.

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you are honest with yourself and know that it would be tough to honor a very specific time slot, or your kids are on stricter schedules that you don’t feel comfortable deviating from.

WARDROBE ASSISTANCE

How comfortable are you with styling your family? There is a difference between a full and mini session in regard to the styling services I provide. There is a large volume of clients who book minis, so my styling services are limited.

A mini session might be right for you if you are fine handling wardrobe on your own. I share a styling guide and Pinterest board with my mini session clients, but I’m unable to offer the full wardrobe styling experience. (Access to my client closet of dresses, personalized advice for everyone’s outfit, style boards, etc.).

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you want styling advice and access to my client closet of dresses. You can set up a styling meeting to try on dresses, and I can help you pick pieces for everyone in the family. I’ll even put together a styling board if you want to get an idea of how all the outfits look together!

THEME & LOCATION OF THE SESSIONS

A lot of mini sessions have themes, especially if they are held seasonally. I offer mini sessions in the Fall for foliage and also holiday aligned sessions. I sometimes offer Winter studio mini sessions. I never offer beach family mini sessions because those sessions don’t lend themselves to the mini session format. If you book a holiday aligned session, expect all your photos to have Christmas props in the background. When you go to book a mini session, make sure you really like the setting and props being used so the session is in line with your vision and goals.

A mini session might be right for you if you like the location and/or props being used, and it falls in line with what you were hoping for in your pictures.

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you are really just looking for photos, in general, but don’t favor the setting and/or props that the photographer is advertising in the session. For example, wanting photos that are not holiday themed. It is also not right for you if you want beach family photos.

TIME OF SESSION

Ahhh..the coveted golden hour time slot. Golden hour is the hour before sunset during which time the light is softest and golden. It is the time of day when I can also capture the sunset in the backdrop of your photos. Almost everything in my portfolio was captured during golden hour or early morning. For most people, sunset is the preferred time of day to schedule photos. Unfortunately, I can only capture one or two clients during that time of day for a mini session.

A mini session might be right for you if you are not concerned with the time and don’t want sunset images.

A mini session might NOT be right for you if you really want to have that golden glow in your images.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a mini versus a full session, and hopefully these points gave you some insight into both options. I absolutely love mini sessions for so many great reasons, and I especially love the opportunity it gives me to work with so many amazing families. Are you thinking of booking a mini session, or is a full session a better fit for your family? Contact me for more information on both.