Regular Portrait Session VS Mini Photo Session - dirtroadphotography.com (2024)

Nebraska Family Portrait Photographer

If you’re in the midst of planning a photography session. Whether it’s for your newborn baby, high school senior that’s graduating or just a general family session. You’ve probably heard the term ‘mini session’ mentioned quite a bit. There are a few differences when it comes to a mini photography session vs a custom or regular session. Here’s what you need to know before you decide which shoot is best for you.

This is of course one of the main differences between the two sessions. A regular photography session will last an hour or two while a photographer will usually book several mini sessions in one day since they only last about 20 – 25 minutes at most.

Number of Poses

Secondly, a custom photography session will allow for as many poses as possible within the time booked. While a mini session offers less time so your photographer will use their skills to capture as many candid moments at possible in a shorter period of time.

While your photographer will still try and shoot as many photos as possible during your mini session. You will naturally end up with fewer photos than you would if you had booked a custom session. A custom session generates between 40 – 60 images while a mini session will give you about 10 – 20 total images. There will also usually be minimal retouching of the photos taken at a mini session.

Cost Comparison

You might be on a budget and just need some quick family photos updated and that is a situation where the mini’s are a fantastic way to get a handful of images without making a larger investment. Keep in mind, most of our mini’s are ran only a few times a year and usually include five digital images in the price. The price of mini’s range from about $150 – $200. The price of our regular sessions start around $300 and go up from there depending on the amount you’d like to invest.

Regular Portrait Session VS Mini Photo Session - dirtroadphotography.com (1)
Regular Portrait Session VS Mini Photo Session - dirtroadphotography.com (2)

So which photography session is best for you?

You may be surprised to find that many of our clients actually choose both! Often our clients will opt for the custom session for the entire family at a location of their choice. This gives them more time to play around with poses, backdrops, props and wardrobe changes. While they opt for mini sessions to get a few great photos of the kiddos as a compliment in between the custom sessions when they’re being offered.

Regardless of which you choose, we look forward to working with you!

Regular Portrait Session VS Mini Photo Session - dirtroadphotography.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a mini session and a regular session? ›

The definition of mini session is a short 10-15 minute photo session at a specific date and location for a specified block of time that the photographer chooses. In contrast, a full session is when the client and photographer work together to choose the best date, time and location to create the client's dream look.

What is a mini photo session? ›

A mini session is a smaller version of the photo experience you normally provide to clients. They usually take anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes. Due to a shorter duration, they come with fewer images as deliverables and at a lower price range, compared to your regular photo sessions.

How many photos do you get in a mini session? ›

In a 30-minute photography session, you could get around 20 photos to choose between, whereas from a 1-hour shoot you should expect 40-50 pictures to look through. Also, think about warm-up time!

What is the difference between a portrait and a photo? ›

A portrait is the likeness or representation of someone whether through sculpture, painting, photograph or other artistic media. A picture is a photograph. If a portrait sounds like it has more depth than a picture, it's because it usually does have more depth and tends to offer a story better than a picture does.

What is a regular session? ›

: a session (as of a court) that is designated to happen at fixed intervals or specified times.

What do you wear to a mini session? ›

I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress or two instead. Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement in the images.

How much should a 30 minute photoshoot cost? ›

The standard price starts at $120 for a 30-minute photo shoot. However, this figure is conditional, because most often customers are asked to print pictures to make a family album. Be sure to add to the cost the time spent on post-processing and printing.

What is a portrait photo session? ›

Portrait photography is about capturing the essence, personality, identity and attitude of a person utilizing backgrounds, lighting and posing. While this definition may sound simple, portrait photography can be one of the most challenging forms of photography to master.

How do you price a photo session? ›

Photography session prices should be calculated based on the number of hours, standard photography rates, and the equipment required. Use packages as a basis for pricing, but be flexible. Keep your photographer pricing list current by monitoring your costs.

How much should I charge for a portrait session? ›

Each photographer needs to determine that for themselves. An average portrait photographer, on location, may charge between $150 and $370 per hour. Depending on the circ*mstances some charge even more.

How many photos do you get for a portrait session? ›

Photographers typically deliver between 20 and 50 photos from a one-hour portrait session. This number can vary depending on the number of people and the photographer's style.

Do you tip a photographer for a mini session? ›

Mini sessions are another special case. A photographer usually organizes them as a way to promote themselves. This means they are charging less than their usual fee. A small tip is always welcome to compensate for this.

What qualifies as a portrait? ›

Portraits are artistic representations of people. They can be created in any media, from traditional oil paintings, to photographs, sculpture and even mixed media. Portraits can show part figures, usually showing the sitter's head and shoulders, but they can also depict the whole figure.

Can a photograph be called a portrait? ›

A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. Photograph: A picture produced using a camera.

Is it better to take pictures in portrait mode? ›

With Portrait mode, the camera creates a depth-of-field effect. This lets you capture photos with a sharp focus on the subject and a blurred background.

What does mini session mean in college? ›

Session 2-6 and mini session courses are considered short sessions where students can complete courses in a condensed format.

What are the different sessions in college? ›

A semester system generally consists of two 15-week terms, while a quarter system consists of four 10-week sessions. A quarter system consists of four 10-week sessions in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. The average full-time student takes 3-4 courses per term, or 9-12 credits.

How do you time a mini session? ›

15-minute Mini Sessions, scheduled in 20-minute increments = book 3 every hour! 30-minute Mini Sessions, scheduled in 40-minute increments = book 1.5 every hour. That's half as many! If your goal is to reach as many clients as possible and maximize your profits, a shorter session is the way to go!

How do I prepare for a mini session? ›

Since these sessions go by quickly, it's important to make a plan to have a successful session.
  1. Plan your outfit(s) ...
  2. Rest up! ...
  3. Eat something before you arrive. ...
  4. Bring props (or pups) ...
  5. Arrive early. ...
  6. Have fun!!

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