Full Session or Mini Session: Which is best for my family?

If you are having trouble deciding between a full portrait session and a mini session, you’re not alone. “What would work best for my family?? ” I get this question a lot. The answer is going to be different for each family, and may change from year to year as your kids get older and their needs and attention spans change.

I want to begin by debunking a common myth about full family sessions. Some families select a mini session because they are under the notion that their kids can only cooperate for 20 minutes at most. I understand, as I have two kids myself and know the importance of making the most of short attention spans. Mini sessions can be a fantastic option for many families. However, I want to clarify one misconception: some families assume a longer session means 60 minutes of "stand still, pay attention, and smile!" 

That couldn’t be further from the truth....

Full family sessions are meant to be FUN, where your sole focus is to cherish your little family. These sessions allow us to relax and unleash our creativity. If your child feels shy or upset, no problem! We'll get the kids engaged through little games like who can jump the highest, who has the silliest walk, who can make mommy laugh etc. In the end, most children end up not wanting the session to end! You won't feel the pressure of time because it's purely enjoyable. On the other hand, mini sessions, though shorter, often feel more intense as we need to be fully engaged throughout—there's no time for a shy child to warm up or a cranky child to start giggling.  

AND guess what happens when your kids are actually having fun?! The PARENTS do too. The love and happiness on your faces are GENUINE. This results in a collection of images brimming with true joy. I can't imagine a better way to capture and honor your family in their current season. 

I love mini sessions, too, and they absolutely have their place! Many of my long-time clients book a full family shoot and a seasonal mini session, or do multiple mini sessions, or alternate full family session and mini session year to year. Anytime you trust me with your family in front of my camera I am going to do the absolute BEST I can to create the most authentic gallery of images for you.

full session advantages

1. Having more time allows for a more relaxed session. Whether your children are especially energetic or, conversely, particularly shy and need time to adjust to new environments and people, opting for a longer session will be beneficial. It gives us the opportunity to explore the location, play games to release energy, and encourage those genuine smiles.

2. A more diverse gallery. If you’re a lover of all those little in-between moments, a full session is what you’re looking for. We have time to get the standard “look-here-and-smile!” shots that everyone loves for their holiday cards, while also having time to get creative and artistic with your images. You will also be able to walk around your portrait location, so we can move to several different backdrops for a much more diverse final gallery.

3. More images in your gallery. More options to choose from, and you know you are getting every single good image I took that day.

4. You choose the location & date. Maybe there’s a spot that’s incredibly special to your family, or a location that you think is absolutely gorgeous and have been dying to get pictures taken in. You get to choose where your session takes place! You can choose from my curated list of favorite Central Massachusetts locations, or suggest a place that’s best for you. Full sessions also have the option of taking place at golden hour, which takes advantage of the most beautiful golden light of the whole day!

mini session advantages:

1. Price point. A full photo session is a big investment. This lower price point is a more manageable option for families who love to get updated images every year, but don’t necessarily need to have “the works” every single time.

2. Short & Sweet. If you know your kid is a total ham right out of the gate, mini sessions absolutely may be your best bet. (Keeping in mind, mini sessions are scheduled in a tight block and typically book completely up, so we have much less wiggle room when it comes to lateness, cooperation, etc.)

3. Just need a few photos. Mini sessions include 5-10 images. After all, sometimes you don’t need a ton of images. You are just looking for a few photos for your annual holiday card. THIS is the session to take advantage of! You can count on 2-3 different poses in the same background, and your gallery will only include the best of the best images.

4. Option to upgrade: When you receive your proof gallery from your mini session, you will see more than 5-10 images. I know that you will have different favorite images than I do, and I don’t want to be the one deciding which are your top images. I would much rather give you a selection of the very best images from your gallery and let you decide your favorites. If you can’t narrow down your session to your included images, you have the option to upgrade your mini session package to download all of the images shown in your proof gallery for an additional fee.

In conclusion, you know your family and budget best and either option will be worth it! For more information on my family sessions, visit https://www.slpphotography.com/family

Hope to see you soon!

Stephanie Pearson

SLP Photography

A Massachusetts Family Photographer