Mini Session vs. Full Session

Today’s topic is the amazing world of mini sessions. It has come to a point in my photography career that I want to explain the difference between a mini session and a full session to clarify and help my clients deciding whether a mini session is right for their families.

IMAGES EXPECTATION

Mini sessions are ideal for updating family photos around holidays, to make christmas cards, birthdays, special occasions, announcements or to give as a gift to someone you love. You'll get usually 5 or 10 digital files depending on the package offered for that specific mini session theme and sometimes you'll have the option to purchase the entire gallery for an amount pre-defined by the photographer.

BUDGET $$$

In fact mini sessions are offered at reduced price and it is a great deal. If you’re on a tighter budget, or you'd like to have many sessions during the year a mini session is a great way to get professional photos without blowing your family budget.

PUNCTUALITY

Usually, mini sessions last 15 minutes. You have to be a punctual person and assure that you can get your family ready and at the mini session location couple minutes before it starts. Keep in mind that there are several mini sessions before and after yours, so when the photographer set a 15 minutes limit on it they mean it because the next family is ready to start as soon as you’re finished.

KIDS PERSONALITIES

Before you book a mini session, I recommend you ask yourself this question: " Does my children warm up immediately or they need some time before they loosen up?"

Here's why:

When you book a Full Session, we'll have lots of time to get your children to warm up to me. However, with a Mini Session we won't have this extra time.

If you happen to be interested in Mini sessions, keep in mind they are great if you are ok with capturing your kids just as they are, whether that is smiling (or not), climbing, jumping, or everything in between. Or, you have very outgoing, cooperative kids that you know will listen very well during our brief time slot.

LOCATION

Typically, mini sessions have themes and location pre-defined, especially if they’re held seasonally. Make sure you like the location, props and it falls in line with what you were hoping for in your pictures.

FULL SESSIONS

A full session ranges from 1-2 hours depending on the package. When you book a full session, you'll have me, all to yourself! Your session will be my main focus of the day. We won't hurry and we will focus to get the shots you want. There will be much more pre-planning to make your photoshoot more customized. The location will be your choice. There will be more time to get your baby to open up, your toddler to smile and to get playful/candid shots. Outfit changes and props are always welcomed with a full session. The result is a more relaxed session and a beautiful variety of images.

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Mini sessions are great if you just want a few good quality professional photos, have a short wish list of poses, and are willing to go with the flow of a fast, less predictable time slot.

Mini Sessions are amazing and I love shoot them but you need to keep in mind that it is NOT a one size fits all ;)