Should I schedule a full session or a mini session this season for our fall family photos?
This is such a good question because you can go either rout depending on your prefrences and family!
Okay let’s first talk a full session. Every photographer does things a little differently, but this is how I do things. A full session shouldn’t feel rushed, it last about an hour (give or take for me). Full sessions are more money, but for my package, all the photos are included and the session is much more catered to you and your family. We talk about your vision and I give you location advice. Sometimes I will recommend a spot depending on where you live or if there are flowers blooming or the leaves changed color in a certain area. If the weather is bad, I’m always pretty flexible when it comes to rescheduling since I don’t take more than 3 sessions a week. I also highly recommend a full session if you have a newborn or if it’s a maternity session. Newborns are very unpredictable and tough. The key to newborn session is patient. With a mini you are limited on time so if the baby is crying, it can be extremely hard to slow down. Depending on your budget and vision, I highly recommend getting a full session for your maternity photos. A full session is nice because we can do multiple outfits and it’s nice and slow which makes the experience so much better. It’s something to remember before your baby comes in your entire life changes. Full sessions also capture more. If you have a certain poses in mind and more creativity a full session is the way to go. The more time we have the easier it will be to photograph your children. Some people think minis are better for small children, that is not true at all. Most children just need a little more time to warm up. I find some of my best photos come towards the end of the session (around 40 minimum into it). If you want more snuggle photos, a little more detail, and definitely get all the shots, a full session has the way to go. Here’s one more thing to think about. If you don’t get family photos often, I truly recommend you’re paying a little more, getting that full session that way you are truly happy with what you are getting! If you get family photos all the time or you already got a full session in the beginning of the year then a mini session is nice.
All right, let’s talk about mini sessions! My mini sessions are about 25 minutes long, sometimes 20 for Christmas, you get about 20 photos to choose from (you can upgrade), and the location and date is set. I only have about five of them a year maybe more sometimes. The location and date is set to a certain place so if you aren’t available the days schedule them, then I either recommend getting a full session with me or find somebody else that fits your schedule. Because we only have 25 minutes once that timer goes off we’re done. So if your kid was crying the first 15 minutes of the session and we couldn’t get him to cheer up sadly that is the risk that we took. If you’re toddler, Does cry the whole time sometimes you just gotta laugh about it and realize that is the season of life that you are in. Yeah they might not be your favorite photos, but you can always try again next year. You’ll still appreciate these photos so much for the years to come and it makes a good story. This is why I recommend full sessions for little kids. Also, if you had to reschedule your mini session. I would either have to charge you or rescheduling fee or add you to a different mini. If you really want that golden hour light and it’s a sunny day out that day you may not quite get it if your mini session is scheduled a little bit earlier rather than a later one. With full sessions you are more so guaranteed better light.
If you get photos often, then getting a mini session is perfect!! If you’re on a low budget, then the it is definitely the way to go! If you like a theme of a mini session a photographer has to offer, then definitely book it!
If you don’t get photos often, I highly recommend just scheduling a full session. If you have a newborn, get that full session if possible. If you want maternity photos and you have a particular vision get the full session. If you have smaller kids who are unpredictable get the full session. If you have a lot of things sometimes that’s a good reason to get a full session too!
I hope this helps you decide if you wanna go with a full session or a mini session. Remember, whatever you do pick I’m just happy that you decided to take the time and energy to do this! I know getting photos done can feel like a lot, but they are supposed to be fun in an experience that you can remember forever.
