Is a Mini Session Right for Us?

Caitie Beth Nelson

Destin + 30A Family and Senior Portrait Photographer

“A mini or a full session — which is best for us?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions that Amy and I receive in our inquiries from folks vacationing in the Destin and 30A areas.  It's a good question with a simple answer.  We just need to take a few things into consideration!

What is your goal?  What do you TRULY hope to receive from this session?  Your initial answer may be, "Well, just a few good pictures."  If that is the case then a mini session may be the answer. Ask yourself: “Do I want a single wrapped canvas for my wall or an entire gallery of photos?”; “Do I want a few portraits of the children for holiday cards or do I want an entire album of photographs to share with family?” If your answer is the latter, you may want to consider a full session.

We then take into consideration how many people are in your family or group, and their ages.  As a rule, groups of 10 or more adults fall into the full or group sessions automatically. 20 minutes isn't enough time for our beach portraits with that many people.  We want to pay special attention to everyone and we just can't rush that.  

Less than 10 people? It’s important to consider the age and temperament of the children in your group.

Amy, my awesome business partner, sums it up best:  “Children under the age of 3 usually require more time. You may feel they will not last long enough for a full session however it is the beginning of the session that is the issue. The majority of young children are beginning to notice their surroundings and will be nervous at a new location and a new strange lady coming into their little bubble only exacerbates their anxiety. You know your child best, some come in all ready to go and are not shy at all while some do need a little warming up period.”​

With all of this in mind (GOAL, group SIZE, & children’s AGE), remember that our mini session is 20 minutes, and classic session is 45 minutes. Amy and I do not limit the amount of photos that we take or deliver. Every single pose and candid portrait that is desirable is hand-edited and included in your gallery with every session! Our goal is to deliver the highest quality gallery and best selection possible to everyone we photograph. To accomplish this we want to help you choose the right session with the optimal amount of time to work everyone in your group through both basic poses, and candids in-between, when possible.  Time permitting, we may even have time add a fun pose or capture even more candid moment at the end.  Twenty minutes passes so fast!  For smaller families with a couple older children, a short mini session can exactly what the kids are hoping for, believe me!  Dads also LOVE mini sessions (Shocking fact, isn't it?!).

Choosing the best beach photographer for you is always important.  We serve clients in the Seaside, Seagrove Beach, Destin, 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach and other surrounding areas. This means we mainly work with people who are not local.  Your vacation time is precious and you need an experienced beach photographer you can trust to make the most of your time here.  Contact us for more information so we can help you plan the perfect beach portrait session for your family. 

Do you think a mini session or full session is right for you? Let us know what you’re considering and why!  We want to give you all the information you need to make the best choice for your wants and group’s needs. Amy and I are are delighted to answer anything and everything! We want to help you you choose which session will achieve the best results for your unique group as a whole and each individual involved. Any other questions? Just reach out and ask!  I'm available for phone calls, too.  Let's chat!