Time Frame
The most obvious difference is that the word mini implies smaller and in the photo world it is in relation to the amount of time. My mini sessions are between 30-45 minutes in duration, although they are longer than usual, they are fast and furious. You may think that that is plenty of time and it is if you are looking for photos for holiday cards. As a comparison, my full regular sessions, range from 1:30 to 2 hours. These sessions, while they sound really long, typically include more time for little breaks for your kids, time to chat a bit more and break the ice, and certainly time to get more creative and artistic in a collaborative way with you and your family.
Variety of Photos
Mini a sessions give you a limited number of photos to choose from, and typically all sessions follow the same formula the photographer has put together for them. I capture the siblings together, the parents together, mom with kids and dad with kids, and finally a headshot of each family member. Again, the minis 30 sessions are more about creating a timestamp for your family in a professional way. In contrast, you will see a much greater variety in a full photo session, where the sky is the limit with creativity and collaboration based on the following things: location, mood, personalities, energy levels, age range, and surprises that pop up. This is why I personally love in-home family sessions so much more as they are customized for your family and your family dynamics. No two sessions are the same and it is a true representation of your family life at that moment.
Prices and Products
Since minis are much shorter but can be scheduled back-to-back, they are less expensive. They typically start at $195 – $225. You will also expect to see a much smaller viewing gallery (20-40 images). As expected, full sessions are more expensive, due to the customized experience, amount of time spent collaborating, the number of photos taken and thus the size of your gallery. I usually send ALL photos taken and edited, and my clients get an average of 100+ pictures.
Location
Typically, mini-sessions are all held at the same location and are photographed with specific time slots throughout the day. Families don’t have a choice where the session will take place unless the photographer has special circumstances in mind. With full sessions, families get to choose where the session will take place. Again, I prefer in-home sessions as that is where I believe the magic takes place and kids are most relaxed and themselves. Some families prefer outdoors, and we discuss what the optimal location and time would be for that.
So if you are looking for some quick updated photos of your family for holiday cards, then a mini-session could well be the best choice for you. However, if you are looking for something that truly represents your families’ personalities in a more artistic and creative way, photographed in a location that is meaningful to you, then I’d recommend a full Family is Home session.
As always, please reach out if you have specific questions about anything above or about the sessions I offer. I hope you found this helpful!
