5 Differences Between Mini Sessions and Regular Family Photo Sessions
Big vs. small. Regular size vs. mini sized. Duh. That’s the difference between a mini session and a regular family session. End of post.
Just kidding. There are lots of differences between minis and “regs” as I’ll call them, and I’m going to tell you about five of them.
The obvious one: Time.
Mini sessions can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on who’s hosting them, but typically they fall somewhere between 10 and 20 minutes. Regs sessions are an hour, which means there’s more time to accommodate fussiness, grumpiness, or shyness. Minis are usually stacked back to back so you can’t lallygag. It’s photos or bust.
Location.
With the exception of my 15 minute “Porchraits,” which are portraits located on your front porch (hence the pun), mini sessions are typically in a set location, on a set date, during set times. For minis, you the client fit yourself into the photographer’s schedule, and come to the photographer. For my regs sessions, I come to your house during a time that we both agree works for us.
The goal of the session.
Maybe this one should have been first. The goal of the mini session is different from the goal of the regs session. Mini sessions are typically posed, smiling photos, with a specific goal of holiday cards, headshots, or other update-type photos. Regs family sessions have a more relaxed vibe, and focus (pun not intended) on the connection between you and your family. They’re for documenting a point in time and seeing the authentic versions of everyone in your family, not just the smiley versions.
What’s included.
This is definitely going to vary from photographer to photographer. But in my case, minis are less hands-on than regs sessions. There’s no call before the session, no “forming the session around your family” because the mini session has a specific goal (see above) and location (also see above), and has a specific amount of time to accomplish that goal (see farther above). The session fee is higher because it includes more. It includes less time, but it includes a few digital images, and doesn’t include a print credit. Regs session fees are lower because they don’t include digitals. Digitals are purchased separately through a collection (I have a tiered collection system, with some, more, and all digitals included), and the collections include print credit to help you get your photos printed with minimal work. With minis, you’re doing a lot more of the work because you have to find the place to print your photos, get them printed and taken care of all on your own, without my help.
Minis are only held at certain times of the year.
While regs sessions are held year-round (since they’re at home, they can be done any day without regard for weather), mini sessions are held on specific days (I like to do Motherhood Porchraits in the spring and Holiday Porchraits in the fall). Minis are outside and beholden to the weather, while regs sessions are indoors and just all-around more in your control.
Minis are not a miniature version of the same family photo experience, and they’re not for everyone. If you prefer more true-to-life photos, more connection, less posing, more control, and less DIY, minis might not be your thing. Regs sessions are perfect for all of that. If you “just need a quick update photo” though, minis are perfect.