Planning a Photography Session?
Whether it's for maternity, family, senior, engagement or holiday, for whatever reason you are planning your next photography session, you have probably heard of the term "mini session" quite a bit. There are a few differences between a mini photography session and a custom or regular photography session. Here is what you need to know before deciding on which one is best for you.
Time
This is of course one of the main differences. A regular or custom photography session will last anywhere from 45 minutes - 2 hours. While a photographer will usually book several mini sessions in one day and will schedule each session (I've seen) anywhere from 10 minutes to 25 minutes at most.
Number of Poses
A custom or regular session will allow for as many poses as wanted or possible within the booked timeframe. Mini sessions offer less time, so the photographer will use their skills to capture as many moments as possible in a shorter period of time. While the photographer tries to get as many photos as possible in that timeframe, you will naturally end up with less photos than someone who booked a custom or regular session.
Number of Photos
Along with the thought of number of poses, mini sessions usually have less images that come included with your session. With a mini session, the number of photos included could either be none (I've seen some photographers do this) up to 10 (but that's usually pretty high). With a custom or regular session, depending on the package you've chosen, you could get anywhere from 10 to all of your final edited images.
Cost Comparison
Because mini-sessions are a shorter length of time and offer less photos to choose from in your gallery, the session investment is typically less than that of a full custom session. If you have a favorite photographer whom you’ve been following and would love to work with but has been out of your price range, a mini-session investment may be a great way to get in front of that photographer’s lens and ‘try them out’.
Themed/Pre-styled vs Free Range
Mini sessions usually have either a theme or are pre-styled and don't leave much wiggle room if you are looking for something different. Custom or regular sessions do not have a predetermined theme, location or style and it can be left up to the decision of you and the photographer of the exact feel you are wanting in your session.
Multi-generation Family
To get a multi-generation or a large (over 5 people) family photo, it would be best to have custom or regular session as there is more time allotted to maneuver multiple people. Photographers who do mini sessions, usually would either discourage or not agree to doing a multi-generation or large (over 5 people) family during their mini session due to the complexity of needing multiple images with multiple factions of the family.
Young Ones
If you have a young child, sometimes mini sessions are great. Click, snap & boom! you're done before the kiddos start acting up or one starts crying. Some kiddos need a little bit of time to warm up to this stranger holding some contraption and telling their parents or siblings what to do. If this is the case, I suggest a regular session to give them time to warm up to the photographer. Another reason a regular session might be better than a mini is that the mini is a short period of time and that's it. You don't have this extra time for the kiddo to calm down from his temper tantrum on the way out of the door because he couldn't bring his favorite blankey with him. A regular session will allow that tantrum to be forgotten and the money you've invested on your session didn't go down the drain because there were few images with him not squirming out of your arms or have a beat red face from crying.
Specific Day
Mini sessions are only scheduled on specific days. The photographer's mini session date or left over time slots might not work for you and your family. Some photographers, may have paid and booked a specific location, props or time slot, therefore that date and those times are the only ones available for that specific mini session. If your family is busy, has a difficult schedule or you want to do it a specific day or time, a regular or custom session would work best for you. A custom or regular session can have a theme to it, however, it might not be to the extent that it was during a mini session or might not be available to be done at all.
Session Products
Because mini sessions are shorter and offer less variety in your gallery, they are perfect for simple updated family photos, holiday cards and gifts for grandma & grandpa. If you are more interested in creating a family wall gallery in your home or printing a yearly album, a custom or regular session will offer the variety of lifestyle images that would work perfectly for those ideas. Regular sessions include more candid images, headshots, and a creative photo collaboration with your photographer.
Test Run
Mini sessions are great for those who have been eyeing up a photographer and have been considering working with them for a future regular session, think of it more like a sample session.
Image Delivery
Photographers usually send out their photos from a mini session anywhere from 1 week to 2 weeks after the session date. The quick turn around time is due to, your photographer working their tush off to get a larger number of people's sessions completed, sometimes even staying up to the wee hours in the morning trying to finish up multiple sessions. Also due to the lower number of photos taken at the mini session means less photos that the photographer has to review, edit and allows for quicker turnaround time. A regular session takes 2 to 3 weeks to get your images back. Your photographer is also working their tush off to get your session back, but they usually aren't in a mad rush as they don't have a bunch of other sessions that they need to get out ASAP. Not that they aren't taking their time with mini sessions, photographers usually provide more editing with regular sessions and limited editing with minis. Regular sessions also have more photos to review and edit, therefore it does take a little bit longer to go through all of the photos.
Breaks & Movement
Due to the shorter length of time during a mini session there aren't any breaks. A photographers goal is to get you as many pictures as possible and with many breaks, this goal is not achievable and they don't want to let you down by not providing you with as many options as possible. Mini sessions also stick to one specific location and don't allow for variety in that location. Regular sessions allow times for breaks, to fix your hair, check your makeup, grab your hat for a few photos and to move to different spots at your chosen location. This will allow for more variety in your session.
Flexibility
With a mini session, you will only be allowed to take photos in one outfit. Custom or regular session will allow for the flexibility of outfit changes. As previously mentioned, mini sessions are in one location and usually involves one specific styled set. Custom or regular sessions allow for the flexibility to be able to change it up in your specific chosen location. For instance at one of my favorite locations to shoot in Lancaster County, off the top of my head I can think of 5-6 different locations that was utilized during a senior session, allowing for a much greater variety in her images (images below).
Bonding
You can have a great time during a mini session, bond and have fun with your family. A regular or custom session will allows for an extended time to have fun and bond together as a family. Either way, you will have a great experience and will create memories for a lifetime.
Year-Round Petite Sessions
Did you know that I offer year round petite sessions? These petite sessions range in time from 15 minutes to 35 minutes. They are semi-custom as they are not themed and are not scheduled on set days with a bunch of other families lined up one right after the other. Since they are semi-custom, there are some specifics to them such as a choice between 3 different pre-determined locations and a set number of final images dependent on package choice.
This is a great alternative to those who want a mini-session, but don't want to do any of the themed sessions. Also perfect option for families of younger children who's attention span seems to not last long enough for a 45 minute to 1 hour session.
PICKING WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU
Regardless of if you choose a mini session, petite session, custom or regular session, you are creating memories for a lifetime and you will have something to remember this sliver in time, forever.
mini vs custom session examples
Custom Session - Family
Mini Session - Family
Regular Session - Senior
