I almost called this “Pro’s & Con’s of Mini Sessions vs. Full Sessions”, BUT it really just comes down to preferences. So I don’t want to say one way is BETTER than another way. It’s totally up to the photographer and client as to what they prefer. If you’re considering having your family portraits taken, this might be really helpful for you to find what fits your preferences best!
(Disclaimer: Every photographer is slightly different in how they price, shoot, and deliver their sessions. So this post is tailored to your experience with me specifically. This is how Valerie Joy Photography does sessions. But it may overlap to other photographers in various ways. I’d suggest clarifying with your photographer how they do things.)
Mini Sessions:
-Location is chosen by the photographer, not the client. Typically a themed session (Fall, Christmas, Snow, Sunflower field, Studio backdrop, etc.)
-Photographer chooses the dates that clients have to work around.
-$125. Lower total cost compared to Full Session. But not as good of a deal if you break it down per minute.
-15 minutes of shooting.
-Fast paced, to get the most photos during our time together. This naturally doesn’t leave much time for personal discussions, or breaks for fussy children. (It has happened that a child was fussy during their mini session, and the gallery was very limited because of that. If we’d had more time, we could have taken a break to have a snack, and I could have delivered a much larger gallery.)
-Approximately 30 images in final edited online gallery for download.
-Best for clients on a smaller budget, families with members who can’t make it through a full hour of shooting, clients who prefer multiple smaller sessions per year, or only want a handful of images for whatever reason.
(If you want to know when I offer Mini Sessions, be sure to follow me on Facebook & Instagram to see those announcements.)
Full Sessions:
-Location is chosen by client (based on photographer suggestions, if needed.)
-Client chooses the date and time which works best for them (within photographer’s availability, of course.)
-$250. Higher total cost compared to Mini Session. But a better deal if you break it down per minute.
-60 minutes of shooting.
-More casual pace, allowing kids to relax between poses, and photographer and client to get to know each other a little bit. This pace usually leads clients to be much more comfortable in front of the camera.
-Approximately 120 images in final edited online gallery for download.
-Best for clients who want a larger gallery with LOTS of variety to choose from, who want to have more of a say in when & where their session is, and who want an individualized, relaxing experiences.
If you’d like to book a Full Session with me, my favorite season for photos is almost here (FALL!!!!!) and my schedule fills up quick, so contact me ASAP!
Big brother-dog Bentley!
Ft. Wayne, IN Maternity Photogrpaher