Fall family sessions

With fall upon us, you are probably saying tons and tons of post on social media from photographers advertising their mini sessions. But you may be wondering, what is the benefit of doing a mini session? Should I do a mini session, or is a full session a better fit for my family? While I can't speak for every photographer, I can tell you all about my mini sessions and how they compared to my regular sessions.

What is a mini session?

A mini session is exactly what it sounds like. It is a shortened version of a regular portrait session. Often, photographers offer mini sessions back-to-back, so they can fit a higher volume of clients into a specific window of time. This means that you probably won't have a choice of location, and instead must go to wherever the photographer is shooting for the day. Mini sessions are also short, typically only 15 to 20 minutes in length.  While this is more than enough time to get a great family portrait and a couple shots of the kids, it doesn't leave a whole lot of time for variety.

Should I do a family session or a full session?

If you are thinking about a family portrait session, and can't decide if a mini or a full is the right fit for you, here are some things to consider.

1. A full portrait session gives us a full hour to spend taking photos.  This means that you will have the opportunity to change outfits, should you wish to. It also means that we will have time for a greater variety of photos. A mini portrait session gives us only 15 minutes. There is no time for changing clothes, and we may only be able to get a couple of different types of shots. However, if you have toddlers, this is sometimes all they have an attention span for! So there are pluses and minuses to each length option, depending on your needs.

2. When booking a full portrait session, you can select the date and location. If you have your heart set on having your photos in a certain place, for example perhaps your home or your family farm. Or, like most of the families I work with, you stay pretty busy, and there are only certain days of the week on which you are available to do a family session. If this is the case, a full session is going to be the better option for you. However, if you are not picky about your location, and your availability is flexible, it might be a better fit for you to do a mini session.

Do what works for you

In either case, I'm here to serve my families. This means that no matter the length of your session or the location, I will still be able to create some beautiful family portrait. Not only that, but whether you are doing a full session or a mini session, I will still provide the service of helping you select your prince, products, and other tangible heirlooms for you to keep your family memories preserve for years to come. Specifically, during my mini sessions, I will even assist with your Christmas card designing and ordering!

Learn more

For more information, visit my family portrait session info page and my mini session info page. And when you decide what you'd like to book, it's simple. Just contact me, and I will get you on my calendar!