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 from those vacationing in the Destin and 30A areas. 
Let's quickly review the main differences that can help you decide. 

Let's start with why you are here.
WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL GOAL?

 What do you TRULY hope to receive from this session? 
Ask yourself: 

• Do I just need a few great photos? 
• Or do I want a full gallery with variety?

If your goal is one beautiful canvas for the wall, a quick update of the family, or a holiday card, then a mini session is perfect for that. 

If your goal is an album, a wall collage, capturing real moments, or finally getting the whole group together, you will be much happier with a classic or group session. 

We also take into consideration how many people are in your session.
As a general starting place

•   Ten or more people will need a full or group session, depending on the ages. 

Twenty minutes sounds like enough time, until you actually try to:

• Organize everyone
• Adjust poses while accounting for the current weather conditions.
• Make sure everyone is looking their best
• Capturing authentic smiles from children (and the men haha) 

All while racing the setting sun.

We don't want to rush through that. You have planned outfits, bribed the children and husbands; you are placing your investment and trust in this session. You deserve better than a stressful and rushed session. 

Now think about the kids (this part matters more than you think)
If you have children, especially little ones, their age and personality make a big difference. Here is an article I wrote on Helping Your Toddler Prepare for Your Session that delves deeper. 
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Children under the age of 3 often need more time - not less.  

Most parents assume a shorter session will be easier, but the reality is, it takes little ones time to warm up to the idea that they are in a new location with all new sights and sounds, and are asked to smile at the lady with the camera. It can take some time to warm up to the idea, then relax and have fun to give genuine smiles. 

Amy 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.  Others, as I was when I was a child, need a little warming-up period.”​

With all of this in mind (GOAL, group SIZE, & children’s AGE), remember that: 

• mini session is 20 minutes and comes with 15 images of your choice and an opportunity to purchase the whole gallery.
• classic session is 45 minutes and includes all the edited images from the session.

Every session includes :

• A mix of posed and candid moments. We'll guide you through traditional poses first, then move into more relaxed, natural moments as time allows.
• An online gallery of carefully selected, fully edited images. (You can read about our editing process in THESE articles.)
• An opportunity to purchase high-quality prints, canvases, and albums from the online gallery.

A quick note about beach photography. All of our beach sessions in Santa Rosa Beach, Destin, and along 30A take place just before sunset.

That’s when the light is:

• soft
• flattering
• absolutely beautiful

​But it also means:
 Once the sun goes down, we’re out of time.
There’s no extending a mini session once that light is gone, which is why choosing the right session length is so important. 
​Communication makes everything run smoothly. Before your session, we’ll talk through:

• What matters most to you. I want to make sure you are getting just what you came for.
• What you’re hoping to print, so we're sure to get this one in the perfect conditions to print well.
• Any must-have shots, fun ideas, or special edits.
  
• We always prioritize your most important images first—especially if you’re planning to print something large.

What does a typical session look like?
We follow a natural flow to make sure you get variety:

• Full family (close-up and full body)
• Couples
• Individual children
• Siblings together
• Then back to the full group (by now the sun is lower and we can get different lighting for a variety of your most wanted poses)

This gives you a well-rounded gallery with plenty of options.

After your session
Once your session is complete:

• Images are backed up immediately. 
• Carefully culled and hand-edited
• Delivered in an online gallery

From there, you can:

• Download your images
• Order prints
• Get help deciding what works best for your space

We’re happy to walk you through all of it.

So… which session is right for you?

A mini session is great if:

• You want something quick
• You only need a few images
• Your group is small and flexible

A full session is better if:

• You want variety
• You have younger children
• You want a full storytelling gallery

Still not sure?
Tell us:

• How many people are in your group
• Ages of the kids
• What you’re hoping for

…and we’ll help you choose the option that will actually give you the results you want.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about squeezing into a time slot.

It’s about walking away with photos you truly love.

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!  
  Let's chat!
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