mini sessions: the scoop
Mini sessions - and what to expect when you book one with me!
Hello, I’m a photographer in Pensacola, Florida who specializes in Family, Lifestyle Newborn and Maternity photography. I travel around the Pensacola area, including Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key and occasionally Fairhope, Alabama areas.
I love a good mini. They are always fun, laid back and super casual for the client who doesn’t want a full 45 min - 1 hour session. I have some clients who prefer a short, 15-20 minutes of time dedicated to pictures together, without the mental stress of a full session. Now I would like to mention that I believe whole heartedly that every family can handle a full session - and I will talk more on that in my next blog post coming next week (it’s all about the mental prep to me and knowing how my process works!). But a mini is good for so many reasons - the biggest to me being that you capture you and “your peoples” faces as often as possible on camera.
My minis are typically booked online by filling out a simple questionnaire, contract and paying the deposit. All that can be completed quickly and easily online without even talking to me (yay for introverts!). For mini sessions you typically get the more posed shots of your family together as there isn’t much time for play & candids when you have a shorter amount of time scheduled for each family. BUT I always try my best to capture a little play as well with the time allowed per family.
One thing to note when choosing your time spot for minis is lighting. The earlier times will most likely have brighter pictures (for outdoor sessions specifically) and as you book a time later in the evening you’ll capture a softer light in photos. Both are beautiful but it needs to noted so that you know what to expect your pictures to look like. There are tricks we often do as your photographer - like place our fams in a shaded area for example so you aren’t standing in such harsh lighting - but you won’t have that soft or colorful lighting of a sunset if you aren’t booked later in the evening. Again - both super beautiful but needs to be known ahead of time so your expectations are met.
Before our session together I love to send out my Prep Guide, which will include all the details of who, when, where, what (all the things) so everyone is on the same page with all the details. My Prep Guide looks a little something like this (cue the video below for reference!)
It’s possible that this Prep Guide is really more for me (hello, my brain never shuts off), but I have had a lot of clients appreciate it as well and it helps me sleep better at night knowing that my clients have all the details about how their session will go with me.
These specific minis were for Mothers’ Day so I will getting them to my families prior to that date, but right now my turn around time is between 2-3 weeks depending on how busy I am scheduled.
That’s my process - simple and easy! If you have any thoughts or details you are interested in knowing more about let me know in the comments so I can add them to my Prep Guide! xoxo
