Trying to decide between a Full Session or a Mini Session? Read on!

Here we are going to break down the difference between the two session types with a table (because Kristen loves a good graph!) and then go into detail below.

	Mini Session	Full Session
Cost	$250	$750
Image Amount	20	100
Outfits	1	2+
Location	no choice	your choice
Time	30 minutes	90 minutes
Image Variety	a little	a lot

Let’s break it down even further.

Cost – It’s not the only thing to consider, but it is a big thing to consider. Only you know your personal finances and can decide which option works for you right now. 

Here are a few questions you can ask when deciding: 1) Will this cost put me into debt? We are big fans of getting out of and staying out of debt! 2) Could I start setting money aside each week and have enough before my session date? 

The good news is that we do not require your full payment upfront for your Full Portrait Session. You will pay a retainer upfront and the remaining balance closer to your session date. If you are booking a Mini Session, we do require your full payment upfront, although it is a significantly smaller amount.

Image Amount – While the delivery method is the same for both session types (an online Pinterest style album), the total amount of photos in your gallery will be quite different. 

Consider how many photos you are hoping to get out of this. Do you just need a few good ones for a holiday card? Or, are you hoping to create a collage wall or photo album with these photos? Envision how you will use your images.

If you are only needing a few, then a Mini Session might be a good fit for you. If you envision creating a collage wall out of these photos, then we suggest booking a Full Session so that you have plenty of images to choose from for your wall. 

Regardless of which session you choose, your online album will allow you to download your images at no additional cost and you have the option to order prints, wall art, and albums for additional cost directly from your album, saving you lots of time.

Outfits – Do you have a few favorite styles or colors that you love and can’t possibly choose between the two? Or, are you stressed at the thought of choosing even 1 outfit? If you are loving multiple outfits, then a Full Session is the way to go! If you decide that you only want 1 outfit, then a Mini Session could be the way to go.

No matter which Session you book, we will provide you with our custom Style Guide to help you choose your outfits. 

Location – This might be the biggest deciding factor of all. 

Are you dreaming of taking your family photos on Grandpa’s ranch? Or really want that mountain peak in the background? Or, maybe even want to take photos in the comfort of your own home? If any of these ring true for you, we recommend booking the Full Portrait Session so that we can bring your vision to life! 

If you don’t have a location preference and would prefer that we set it for you, then definitely consider one of our Mini Sessions.

Time – We have found that a lot more consideration goes into this factor than whether you want to smile for 30 minutes or 90 minutes. The reality is that during your 90 minute Full Session, you will get lots of “smile breaks” in between poses and locations and groupings. We also give you lots of direction that helps incorporate plenty of “non smiling” shots. 

Another thing to consider is your group size. The larger the group, the more time it takes to organize and pose everyone. 

A general guideline is that if you have more than 5 people, or more than just your family “unit”, consider booking a Full 90 minute Session to allow enough time to capture everyone. You could also consider booking TWO 30 minute mini sessions if you do not want the full 90 minutes.

Variety – Lastly, think about how much variety you want in your final photos. Do you have any specific photos in mind? Specificity and variety take time.

During a 30 minute Mini Session, we are usually able to capture a full group shot, along with a few individual shots and pairings. i.e. mom with daughter, mom with son, dad with daughter, dad with son, parents only, kids only, etc. 

During your 90 minute Full Portrait Session, we are able to capture all of those shots, plus so much more. We will photograph candids, those in between moments, and even different backgrounds/surroundings. 

Regardless of which option you choose, we will capture as much variety as time allows!

At the end of the day, our mission is to serve you with an exceptional photo session experience from beginning to end…and then again with your next shoot! We want to provide you with photos that you love and cherish forever. We are thrilled and thankful for the opportunity to spread joy and cheer you on in life! We hope that we answered your question “Is a Mini Session right for me?”! Feel free to reach out anytime with questions.