What is a mini-session, anyway? Why choose this over a full session? Is it more worth my time and money to book a full session? Trying to manage the mental load of booking family photos yearly can be overwhelming! We have full sessions, half sessions, mini-sessions, and lifestyle sessions to choose from. We have outfits to pick and frames to hang. Which is the best session type for you and your family?! Never fear, I am here to help you understand more about minis and why they are a great choice for family portraits.

Mini-Sessions are generally a 10-15 minute block of time that a photographer will offer back to back. A mini-session is meant to provide basic family portraits while still capturing the essence and personality of your family. The sessions that I offer are 15 minutes and they come with 10 digital images of my clients’ choice (with the option to purchase more from the gallery if desired.)

Shorter Time. As a mom of little ones, I know that they would never last a full hour for a shoot. It is so important to me to have professional images each year of my family since I know my girls are growing SO fast! I know that the shorter time of a mini-session will keep my daughters’ attention, and that we can get some genuine smiles (and maybe even have a fun time together while we are at it.) 🙂 A yearly mini-session gives me the opportunity to have photos of them growing up without forcing them into a photoshoot that is much longer than they can handle.

Reduced price. Hiring a professional photographer is an investment in documenting your family history in a meaningful, beautiful, artistic, and timeless way. This investment can look different for each session type, however a mini-session will generally be the lowest prices you will find offered by a photographer. If a longer session is out of your budget, but you still love the work of a specific photographer, a mini-session may be the perfect session for you! Offered at a lower price, you can still get those magical images of your favorite photographer’s work without breaking the bank!

Just what you need. Many times, a mini-session only comes with a certain number of images. This is because with the shorter session time and quick turn around, a photographer will take a smaller number of photos. If you struggle with decision fatigue, which I know many exhausted parents do (myself included), a mini-session will give you the basic portrait combos you need. You will have just enough for a GORGEOUS gallery wall or a beautiful Christmas Card. Many photographers, like myself, will usually offer more images than the number included for purchase. I can NEVER choose only 10 photos to share, so I always include a couple more. These are perfect if you are hoping to print portraits as well as some personality and candid photos. 🙂

Is it spring or fall? Find your favorite photographer and inquire about their minis! You won’t regret it! 🙂