Celebrate Joy

Every family has a story and so does your yours! Families come in all shapes, sizes, and stages in their journies. Mini session photos can be a fun yearly activity and memory to treasure the time with your family.

Mini vs. Full Session

What exactly is a "Mini Session" when we're talking about photography? If you've never heard of a mini session, let me be your guide.

Generally you just get less with a mini session. Less time with the photographer (hey, maybe that's okay with you). Less time shooting. Less images. And importantly for many people, less of an expensive.

A mini sessions are usually 15 minutes or less of shooting time, and the sessions are back-to-back so the photographer can capture plenty of sessions without leaving the location. These are great for a family, a couple or individual as well as they can be offered seasonally and/or with a theme.

BRUNSWICK GEORGIA MINI SESSIONS PICTURES

Prepping for Your Mini Session

Here are some things to prepare and consider when planning your mini session.

Set Yourself Up For a Win: Pick the best time for your family. Maybe your little one takes naps at 2 pm, so you schedule for after they wake up. Maybe you get hangry at 5 pm, so you feed everyone before you arrive. Arrive early and ready to go!
Details: Ask your photographer if you have questions a few days before your session. This way you're not texting the photographer fifteen minutes before you're supposed to arrive for the details. Your photographer should have a contract - yes, even for mini sessions, for you to sign, and it should include all the information.
Ready the squad: Mini Sessions move FAST so you'll want to be ready to move quickly. No one should be changing clothes or an enormous Pinterest list of complicated poses to accomplish, plus multiple props to use. The K-I-S-S method applies here, "Keep It Simple, Sally". Whoever Sally is, she's got it figured out. Simple is best!
Additional tips for outfits, planning and coordinating your family photography click here for more.

Final Thoughts

Realistic exceptions: Between teenagers and toddlers, chances are someone might cry, get sick, or both! No need to force anyone to smile or act a certain way, because it will show on anyone's face when they're upset.
Prompting I will prompt you with a few directions, like "Hold hands and walk toward the sign". You are free to try whatever feels natural too, without prompting, skip, play tag, make silly faces!
When in doubt, a little bribery can be a good thing! A treat or lunch afterwards never hurts to motivate!

Some Sessions Should Be Full Sessions

Now that you've heard all the awesome things about minis, I bet you're thinking "Why would I ever do a full session"? Let me be clear, that is not what I'm saying at all. Many types of sessions demand more time to be creative, multiple clothing changes, locations, etc. but a mini is still a great way to get some updated shots and quickly, when life is busy.