"Is half an hour really enough?"
People ask me this almost every time they see my prices, usually with a bit of suspicion, as if the mini session must be a trick. It isn't. For a lot of families, thirty minutes is not only enough, it's better.
But not for everyone. Here's how I think about it.
The short answer
Thirty minutes is enough for one location, a small family and young children, when you want a handful of really good photographs.
An hour is better for larger families, older kids, anyone who takes a while to relax in front of a camera, or if you want more variety.
Two hours is for when you want two locations, an outfit change, extended family, or a calm, unhurried evening.
Why 30 minutes often works best with small children
Small children have about thirty good minutes in them. Sometimes less.
They arrive curious. Then they get comfortable and start playing, which is when the best photographs happen. Then, somewhere between minute twenty-five and forty, the snacks run out, the shoes come off, someone wants to go home, and the session is over whether we planned it or not.
A short session fits that rhythm. Everyone's still fresh when we finish. Parents don't spend the last twenty minutes bribing a two-year-old, and nobody goes home remembering the photos as the evening that ended in tears.
It also fits the light. Golden hour, the warm, soft hour before sunset when everything looks its best, isn't really an hour at all. The very best of it often lasts 20 to 30 minutes. A mini session can sit right inside it.
- Bigger groups. Every extra person adds a bit of time: getting everyone in the light, the group photo, then the smaller combinations. Grandparents and cousins need an hour at least.
- Older children and teenagers. They take longer to warm up, and they're happy to keep going once they do. You'll get more out of an hour.
- People who find this awkward. If you or your partner tense up in front of a camera, it usually takes ten or fifteen minutes to forget I'm there. In a half-hour session, that's half the time.
- Two locations or outfits. Moving takes time. That's what the two-hour session is for.
- Couples who want range. Close portraits, walking shots and wide landscapes in one evening need room.
What you get with each
| Mini | The Hour | The Long Session | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 30 minutes | 1 hour | 2 hours |
| Locations | One | One | Two, or an outfit change |
| Finished photos | 15–20 | 30–40 | 60–70 |
| Price | $175 | $300 | $550 |
| Best for | Babies, toddlers, small families, a first try | Most families, couples, motherhood | Big families, extended family, two looks |
Everything else is the same in all three: help choosing the location and what to wear, hand editing in colour and black and white, a private gallery, full print release, and delivery in about two weeks.
How mini sessions differ around here
If you've looked at other local photographers, you'll have seen mini sessions offered on set dates: a tree farm in November, a park in October, families booked back to back every 15 or 20 minutes. They're popular and often good value.
Mine work differently. They're thirty minutes, booked one at a time, on a day and at a place that suits you. No queue of families waiting by the cars. For the same money as most 15-minute minis, you get double the time and more photos.
A few ways to make 30 minutes count
- Arrive a few minutes early. Let the kids run around before we start. The first five minutes of nerves happen before the clock does.
- Plan around naps and meals. A rested, fed child is worth more than the perfect sunset.
- Keep the outfits simple. One outfit, chosen in advance, no changes. My what to wear guide makes that easy.
- Pick a close location. A 40-minute drive before a 30-minute session is a lot to ask of a toddler.
- Let me direct. I'll put you in the light and give you something to do. You don't need to plan poses.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a family photo session take? Most family sessions are about an hour. A mini session is 30 minutes, which is plenty for one location and a small family.
Are mini sessions worth it? For small families and young children, usually yes. You get the best part of the evening's light and your children's best mood, for less money.
How many photos do you get from a mini session? With me, 15–20 finished images. Locally, 15-minute minis usually include 8 to 15.
Is a mini session enough for maternity photos? Often, yes. Thirty minutes is comfortable late in pregnancy, and it's plenty for one location and one outfit.
