Pros & Cons of Mini Sessions and Full Sessions

‘Tis the season for family photos! Whether you are making cards to send to your friends and family or simply want a few pictures of your kids with Santa Claus, there are so many ways to document you and your family. It is also the season for mini-sessions. Mini sessions are where photographers will set up in a studio or create a setup outdoors and schedule a number of short sessions back-to-back. There are so many benefits to a mini session vs. a regular full-length family session, but there are also a few drawbacks. I’m going to walk you through the pros and cons of mini-sessions so that you can make the right decision for yourself and your family this holiday season. 

First, let's talk about the benefits of doing a mini-session. Mini sessions are typically 15 to 30 minutes long. This is a definite pro if you have young children who might struggle to stay focused and happy for a full-length session. Photographers doing short sessions like this will be prepared to breeze through a series of set poses and prompts so that you still get a variety of portraits. Another benefit of mini-sessions is their price. Money can be tight when you are raising a young family, especially during the holidays. There are many families who want to prioritize professional photos but cannot afford a full session. Minis are the perfect compromise for those who can’t spend much but don’t want to give up on professional portraits. Finally, having the photographer choose the location and have everything set up for you when you get there is a huge plus. You do not have to worry about bringing props or deciding on details when you are short on time. 

Of course, there are certain things that a mini-session cannot give you. While it is nice not to have to worry about choosing a location in some cases, there are times when you may want to choose a location that is tailored to your preferences. Another con of mini-sessions is that you will not be able to make any special requests as far as poses or props. Your photographer won’t have time to personalize the session. One situation where you will definitely want a full session is if you are taking photos with extended family. Full sessions allow you the time and flexibility to take portraits with several different groupings and poses. You simply cannot get the wide variety of a full-length session with a mini session. In a traditional session, you can request multiple outfits and/or locations. The session is truly yours to work with your photographer and create the exact portraits that you are hoping for. 

I had so much fun doing fall minis with so many clients this year! We were able to document so many sweet families and the cutest little kids. If you are located near Illinois, please reach out to learn when we will be doing more mini-sessions or to book a full session for you and your family.