What Are Photography Mini Sessions?

So, what are photography mini sessions and what do they entail???

Depending on the Photographer, they may offer different family portrait packages. One of the most popular trends – which you may have seen, are called “mini sessions.” Here is a brief explanation of what are photography mini sessions. As well as a few things to consider when booking them.

Mini Sessions Are Exactly What They Sound Like – A Shorter Version Of A Longer Portrait Session

In summary, mini sessions are exactly what they sound like. Just a shorter version of a longer portrait session. Most photography sessions last anywhere from 30, 60, or 90 minutes. But mini sessions are meant to last a much shorter amount of time. Depending on the Photographer, this can be as short as 15, 20 or 30 minutes. With this being said, there are a few things you will want to consider when booking these.

Make Sure You Know All Of The Details

One of the things that make mini sessions so appealing are the price. Since the time of the session is shorter, you can expect the price to be half the price or even more of the normal session price. But make sure that you understand the details. Things like the amount of images you will receive, the length of the session, and if there are any additional charges are all important to understand.

My mini sessions are much different than traditional mini sessions in the sense that the main difference is the amount of time of the session. I find that 30 minutes is the perfect amount of time for certain families. For example, families with one child that is between 6-12 months old. Or families with teenage or adult children.

The Length Of The Session Is Important To Consider

If you have younger children, you’ll want to consider the amount of time of the session. If the session is just 15 or 20 minutes, this may not be enough time to get younger children comfortable in front of the camera. Many mini sessions that you see advertised on Facebook, for example, are geared to benefit the Photographer. They can pack their schedule with a bunch of sessions – often times back-to-back-to-back. And there is little to no flexibility.

In my experience, scheduling sessions with little or no time between appointments can be a little tricky. I like to give at least 30-45 minutes in between my appointments. And this is crucial for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I find that many families with younger children often run behind schedule 5-10 minutes. Sometimes getting everyone out of the house on time can be IMPOSSIBLE! Giving clients a little bit of leeway ensures that the session is stress free. And secondly, I have also found that many mini sessions run 5-10 minutes over the session time. Some children are dialed into the session right away; however, there are some families where the children snap into gear towards the very end of the session. I have no problem extending sessions a little longer if this is the case.

Also Keep In Mind The Amount Of Images You Will Receive

Another thing to consider is the amount of images you are going to receive. With many social media ads for mini sessions – they may only include a handful of images. Again, this is geared to benefit the Photographer more than the client. Sessions back-to-back and the need to only edit and deliver a small amount of images to the client.

Like I mentioned before, the main difference between my 60 minute and 30 minute sessions is the amount of time. I guarantee at least 25 edited images for mini sessions; and in fact many times it is double this amount. I only disregard images that are duplicate images, images that may have been out of focus, and images where someone’s eyes are closed.

Hopefully this gives you a little more insights into the question, “what are photography mini sessions?” If you are interested in scheduling portraits, I would love to connect with you. The best way to reach me is through the contact form on my website. Thanks!