Is a Mini Session Really the Best Choice for Your Portraits?
If you’ve been shopping for photographers, you’ve probably seen some photographers advertising mini-sessions. A mini session is a very short photo session - usually 15-20 minutes - that’s just bare bones: you get in front of the camera, get a handful of photos, and that’s it. These sessions are lower-cost than a traditional photo session, and from that standpoint, they might seem like a great deal. But from one parent to another, I advise caution about mini-sessions. Here’s why.
Why a Mini Session May Not Get You the Portraits You Want
Mini sessions may work well for some circumstances, but particularly for family photography, they do have downsides you’ll want to consider:
With a time crunch, everyone is more stressed and rushed (including you!), so it’s harder to bring out everyone’s personality and your beautiful smiles the way I can if you’re relaxed and don’t have a ticking clock.
For many kids and adults, it takes time to warm up to the camera. In a mini-session, you may just be hitting your stride when the session ends.
Mini-sessions aren’t standardized - the timeframe and experience are very different from one photographer to the next, so you might not know what you’re actually getting (even if a mini-session has worked for you in the past).
The fast pace of these sessions can make future family photography difficult because your kids associate taking photos with a stressful experience, so they might be more resistant to future family portraits.
Why I Rarely Offer Mini Photo Sessions
Every photographer has their own service options and ways of operating, and I think that’s wonderful! Each family can work with a photographer who fits their style. At my Seattle-area photo studio, though, I don’t offer sessions that would be truly a “mini session”, and I only offer them sparsely for headshots, maternity, beauty, and senior portraits.
In my years as a photographer, I’ve found that the connection I have with my clients makes a world of difference in the finished portraits. When I have time to get to know you and your beautiful family, all of us are more comfortable together and your family can open up and show their personalities during the photo shoot. This comfort is the only way to truly capture what makes each of you special.
Quality is important to me, and I want every client to have stunning portraits that feel authentic to who they are as a family - that’s the magic of great photography! My custom photo sessions allow me to make that happen in a way that mini sessions simply don’t.
The Custom Photography You and Your Family Deserve
While budgeting is important, quality family photos are treasured heirlooms that will transport you back to this special time in your life, no matter how many years pass. You and your family deserve quality portraits taken the right way, and I’d be honored to help!
Contact Jaimié Birtel Photography to book your Mercer Island photo session.