If you’re torn between a full portrait session and a mini session, you’re not alone. I get this question a lot, "which one is better for my family.". The answer is going to be different for each family, and may change from year to year as your kids get older and their needs and attention spans change.
Here’s a run down of the differences between FULL sessions and MINI sessions, and some advantages to each and you can decide which one fits your family’s preferences and needs.
Full sessions:
Full sessions have my heart,, I love trying to deliver a great client experience & getting to know my clients before and during our session without a rush. Other Advantages to full sessions:
Kids sometimes need time to adjust to a new setting before they can be expected to focus on getting their photo taken. Sometimes children are shy, and need time warm up to me since I’m a new person to them. I have three children so I get it. Once we take the time to make sure they’re comfortable, it’s usually all good. More time means a more relaxed session. If you have particularly rambunctious kiddos, or on the opposite end particularly shy kiddos who need time warming up to new people and places, sometimes even adults at first can seem uncomfortable and stiff.. if thats the case then the longer session format will be your best friend. We have time to explore the location, get comfortable with each other, time to play games and get the wiggles out, and coax those genuine smiles.
You choose the location. Maybe there’s a spot that’s incredibly special to your family, or a location that you think is absolutely gorgeous and have been dying to get pictures taken at. You get to choose where your session takes place! You will also be able to walk around your portrait location, so we can move to several different backdrops for a much more diverse final gallery.
A full session will give you a more diverse gallery. Emotive, candid, authentic photos My number one favorite thing about full sessions is that after we get the “whole family smiling at the camera” shot, I then have time to get some beautiful candid shots of your family and really capture the connection between family members.
Mini sessions:
As a mom, I understand the appeal to capture some beautiful, professional photos for a lower price point in a faster time frame. So if you just need a few photos. THIS is the session to take advantage of! You can count on 2-3 different poses in the same background, and your gallery will only include a predetermined amount of the best of the best images. Other advantages of mini sessions:
Price point. This lower price point is a more manageable option for families who love to get updated images every year, but don’t necessarily need to have “the works” every single time.
Short & Sweet. Mini session time slots are 15-20 minutes in length and that time goes by VERY quickly. You know your kiddos best, and some little rugrats can truly ONLY hang for 20 minutes and then they are past the point of no return. I TOTALLY understand! If you know your kid is a total ham right out of the gate, mini sessions absolutely may be your best bet. If you have older children that cooperate and are comfortable with the idea these are great too.
Each mini has three main poses and anything extra I'm able to capture is a great bonus! I will mainly focus on the full family portrait, just the kids, and then each individual kid. If I have time, I'll also try to snap a few photos of mom and dad with the kids.
Mini sessions are at a pre chosen location, and taken in one spot. These sessions are not full of many candid shots, or playful photos, so please consider booking a full session if you want more of those kinds of photos for your albums! A mini can be a great option for families with older kids who just want some updated family photos for their walls or to send in their Christmas cards!
So, how do I decide if a mini is best for me and my family?
Mini sessions are a great option for some families, but they aren’t for everyone.
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.
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.
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. Mini sessions are typically stacked, which means that punctuality is SUPER important. 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 15-20 minute mini slot. (As a warning that goes along with this one, mini sessions are scheduled in a tight block and typically book completely up, so we have much less wiggle room when it comes to lateness, cooperation, etc. These short spots can be unpredictable and fast)
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