With fall peak season in full swing, I have been thinking a lot about this question that I wish more people would ask. What’s better? A family mini session or a full family session. I don’t get asked that often… and I wish more would.
There are three factors that one must take into consideration when choosing the type of session they book. And if these are not considered, you may walk away not feeling content with the experience of getting your photos taken. Next time you consider booking a family photo session, remember the following:
THE AMOUNT OF TIME
A mini session typically is scheduled for 25 minutes. It is enough time to get those posed family photos of your family. Mini Sessions are geared more toward updating a recent family portrait and a few shots of the kids. Something else to think about is that it is usually not enough time for littles to warm up to me or my camera. So although I make sure to plan for fun, it can take longer for your kids (and dad) to get used to it all, and therefore, we don’t get enough of a variety of shots.
A full family session is about 60-90 minutes long. We shoot 1.5 hours before sunset and it gives us plenty of time to capture all those giggles! If you have little ones and teenagers, an hour session may seem a little bit too long. But I promise this… because we have so much time it will allow for everyone to be comfortable enough to just let loose and have fun! The hour will fly by and before you know it, you will be wondering where the time went.
THE GOAL FOR THE SESSION
When scheduling a photo session, consider your goal for the photos you will get. If you just need a few shots to update a family portrait or for holiday cards, then a mini session is perfect. You will walk away with enough images to do just that. However, if you want to capture memorable interactions, less posed and more candid, then a full family session is for you. If you plan to create a wall display with these images, then a full family session is for you. You will walk away with beautiful shots of your family that you can have printed in a keepsake album to treasure for years to come.
THE AMOUNT OF CHOICES
Usually, mini sessions take place at specific locations and include specific packages. You don’t have much choice of where the session will take place. Mini sessions yield a minimum number of images in your gallery so you don’t have much choice when making your selections. A Full family session is custom and every part is planned to match your vision for the shoot. The location is chosen with your ideas in mind, and it is the best way to capture your moments at your family’s favorite place. And because a full family session yields a minimum of 25 images, you will have so many wonderful options to choose from when deciding what to display on your wall.
