Business Tips | The Great "Mini Session" Debate

On my quest to blog more of  the things I've learned over the past couple of years, I thought it only fitting to blog about one of the greatest debates between photographers....
Are mini sessions really worth it?
Let me first start by saying that, whether you choose to do mini sessions or choose not to do mini sessions, either way, you're right. It is 100% completely up to you as to how you want to run your business and if you have the energy and will power to make it work. I will also say that mini sessions are not a necessity for a photography business, but there certainly are benefits and perks to holding days of mini sessions.

Along your photography journey, you're going to meet different kinds of photographers. You'll meet those who charge $25 for a mini session, you'll meet those who charge $500 for a mini session, and then you'll meet those who think they are completely "above" mini sessions...like it's some kind of trailer trash that they just can't be seen with.

I like being somewhere in the middle, which means I enjoy doing them efficiently, while still making a profit, and I certainly don't think I'm "above" them. There are plenty of photographers who have 20,000+ facebook followers and yet, they still offer mini sessions -- it's all in what you enjoy doing!
Either way, here are a few tips on how to make mini sessions worth your time.

Set aside one day for mini sessions rather than offering them all year long. You should have at least 4 mini sessions in one day. If you don't have 4 mini sessions that day, scratch it. How do you get at least 4 in one day? Put a call out on facebook and your blog. Market it well in advance (at least a month). Hype it up and tell your clients what you have in store for them. Get them to share share share! Once you have enough interest, send an email out to all of the clients who were interested and have them choose a time (more on that in a second).

One location. That's right, just one. After you have at least 4 clients interested, set up one central location for all 4 of the upcoming mini sessions. Allow your clients to choose what time they want to have their session on the day that you've set aside. Times should be on a first come first serve basis. However, YOU give them a choice of times, not just any ol' time that day. For example, if the sun sets at 4:30 and you have 4 sessions that day, offer a session at 1:30, 2:15, 3:00, and 3:45. This gives you a 15 minute cushion in between each session, saves on gas money (since you won't be running around to 4 different locations), and allows you to only set up and take down one time. What are you setting up, you wonder?....

Spice up the background -- create a theme! Mini session's should offer something that you don't normally offer. They have to be interesting and fun. They can't be "BLAH".

Rustic Country Theme | September 2013

Go with the season, the holiday, or even just a nice vintage set up. Pay attention to details, and make sure there are a lot of them. You don't have to spend a lot of money on a set up either. You can find $5 chairs at thrift stores, and you can find your inner crafty self to make banners or signs. Hook up with a local vendor and swap props for professional photos of their products, or simply search the wonderful world of Etsy (but don't get sucked in...$200 later...). Whatever you do, make sure you let your clients know what the theme is so that they can dress accordingly!

Just because you're offering a mini session, doesn't mean you're supposed to offer a "mini" price. I can see the debacle here if you're already not charging enough for a regular session. Mini sessions are normally 30 minute (or less) sessions, but in order to make it a fabulous experience, you're going to have to offer more, which means more work, hence the theme etc. You're going to be at your sessions long before your clients -- setting up, making sure everything is perfect, and taking a quick breather before that shutter starts clicking. You're spending at least 3 to 8 hours on your mini sessions, depending on how many clients you have and how big your set up is. And that's not even including editing time. If you're only charging $50 for each mini session, then you're only getting paid $150 for several hours worth of work, plus gas money + flash drives + editing time....you've made yourself a whopping $35...maybe?

Offer a set amount of photos. If you are offering a 30 minute session, then you shouldn't be offering 20 photos with each session. I like to offer 10 images, because I know I'll have every bit of 10 images worth per client. This allows you to pick 10 of your favorite images from their session (rather than sifting through 40 photos), edit them in an hour or two, and then send them on their way. If you're drudging through multiple mini sessions and putting out 20+ photos per session, then you're wasting your time. You are not getting paid to spend 24 hours on editing photos, which is why we call them mini sessions. Mini sessions are beneficial to clients and to the photographer. Make wise decisions with your time so that you're making a profit while still offering quality work in a short amount of time. Not to mention, so many of us have our own families to spend time with. Of course, there are those "must have" photos that you might have to plop in as extras, but those don't count ;)

Get excited, and maybe offer some treats :) If you're photographing children, make sure you're not all down and out by the time your fifth session comes along. They.Will.Test.Your.Patience. And no one likes a grumpy photographer when they already feel uncomfortable. It will be helpful if you bring "bribes" along with you -- lollipops, fruit snacks, or cake pops (one of our favs!). Make sure you ask their parents first, just in case they have food allergies. Since you know who your clients will be, it might be helpful to ask before the day of the session so that you have something for everyone! It's also a great experience for everyone, when you can send some goodies home with the kiddos. Kids, generally, don't enjoy photo sessions, unless you're this girl right here....

Vintage Americana Mini Session | July 2013

Vintage Americana Mini Session | July 2013

Valentine Mini Session | 2014

Valentine Mini Session | 2014

Easter Mini Session | 2014

Easter Mini Session | 2014

All in all, do what you feel is best for your business. And have fun with it!! Make sure you're not short changing yourself, because mini sessions can be quite a lot of work. And for the love of all that's good, have an open mind when it comes to mini sessions -- trust me, you are so not "above" it. If nothing else, use mini sessions as an excuse to collect cute things for your home ;) Who says props can't be decor!! Which reminds me, I think I need to make a trip to the antique store soon....for photo props, of course ;)

xoxo