Why a Mini Session Might Be Right for Your Family Photos
Mini Sessions are the BEST. Yes, as a Photographer, I have my own reasons to love mini sessions. But today, I’m talking to you from mom to mom.
I was a mom before I was a photographer. I’ve always had a love for photography, but it was seeing photos of myself with my kids, seeing me in the role of mama, that made me go and dust off my camera (quite literally, it had been a while) and decide to offer this as a service for you. Photos with our kids are so, so precious and priceless.
Everyone else gets to see you and the great job you’re doing as a mom. We get to watch the tender glances and stolen kisses you share with your babies. But you don’t get to see yourself in this role unless someone captures it for you, and that’s what I’m here to do.
So, as I get into my reasons why mini sessions are the best, remember: I was a mom first and then a photographer.
What is a mini session?
A mini session is a 15-minute session on a set day and location. I choose the date and location and open up a limited number of time slots available for a set fee. A mini session can be used for couples photos, family photos or as a portrait session for one person. If you have any other requests, feel free to reach out, and we can decide together if a mini session is the right fit for you.
Mini sessions are budget-friendly
First of all, mini sessions are budget-friendly.
I don’t know how many photographers you’ve priced before landing here on my website, but it can be several hundred dollars for a full session. Some photographers charge over $500 for a single family photo session.
My goal is to keep my mini sessions affordable and accessible to you as a normal family on a normal income. And I know your kids are changing so quickly! Ideally, I want to keep it so affordable that you can do more than one session per year. Maybe you want to do a spring mini and a fall mini or a summer mini and a Christmas mini.
If your kids are little like mine, they change so quickly. You don’t want to put this off anymore. You don’t want to be waiting years and years for photos. I want it to be accessible for you once or twice a year.
2. Mini sessions are an easy ask for your loved ones
Like I said, it’s a mini session. That means it’s about 15 minutes long, and I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but we can actually cover a lot in 15 minutes and get a great variety of shots.
If you are like me, maybe you love having family photos, but your husband is not as eager. 15 minutes is an easier ask if he’s dreading an hour long shoot.
Or maybe you hate having your photo taken. I know it can feel stressful wondering if the family will cooperate! 15 minutes can feel more manageable than a longer time period. We can do anything for 15 minutes, right?
But with that said, I don’t want it to feel like drudgery.
I actually love to make it fun! I try to use more active poses and prompts instead of just getting you to stand there and smile. My goal is always to get a reaction out of you, to get real emotion. My prompts are less about perfectly following directions and more about interacting with your family and having fun. I really like to have you looking at each other, because those are the times I get to capture real tender moments. Don’t worry, we will get the posed photo too. We’ll get the one for grandma’s wall or your Christmas cards, but I want to focus on emotion and interaction.
I want photos of the way you look at your kids, and the way you adore them. You don’t always get to see that perspective on yourself. Everyone else does. Everyone else sees you doing a great job as a mom! But you don’t always get to see it, and that’s what I want to capture most. I’ll do whatever it takes to get you smiling, laughing, and interacting with your people. Those are the photos you want!
I know family photos can feel intimidating, so its an easier ask for your husband, your kids, and even for you. Just 15 minutes.
3. Mini sessions take the mental load off you
I want mini sessions to feel like an easy “yes.”
I know the work of coordinating a family photo shoot can make it so complicated that you don’t do it. And like I said, if your kids are little like mine, or even if they’re not, they’re still changing so quickly. We want to capture this exact season instead of putting it off!
But planning a session can feel overwhelming.
First, you have to choose a photographer. Then you try to figure out pricing, and for some reason, that can feel like a big hurdle. We photographers aren’t always very forthcoming with our prices. Then you have to find a date that works for both you and the photographer, choose a location, and time of day. There are a lot of decisions involved!
Realistically, with a mini session, you still have the hardest part, which is getting everyone in your house clean, dressed, and ready. I can’t take that part away from you, but I can take the rest off your plate.
I plan the date and the location. If you’re on my waitlist, you can just read an email announcing my next minisessions and decide, “Are we free? No? We’ll catch the next one.” or “Yes, we are? Perfect. Let’s book it.”
I want it to be an easy “yes” so you don’t put it off any longer, and so you don’t miss this exact stage of life you’re in right now with your kids.
So if you’re thinking, “Okay Micaela, I hear you. I don’t want to put it off any longer. I want to book a mini session,” I’ll leave the link below where you can book or join the waitlist.
You can go in, see what dates are available, pick a time slot, and book your session. You pay upon booking so that when the day comes, you can just show up. Arrive ready for photos, and spend 15 minutes relaxing, playing, and having fun with the people you love. A couple of weeks later, I’ll send over your completed gallery, and you can cherish those photos for years to come!
