Mini sessions are super popular, and for good reason! They are an awesome way to have professional photos taken, and allow you to easily book with a photographer during their busy seasons.

(Btw, if you want to know more about what a mini session is and four reasons you should consider booking one, read my post about it here!) 

But have you ever thought about some unique ways you can use your mini session? Here are six ideas for how to use your next mini session: 

Six Ways to Use Your Next Mini Session:

1. Updated family photos. Ok, this one is pretty obvious. But if your crew isn’t into an hour-long session, or your budget doesn’t agree with that right now, a mini session is a great way to get some updated photos of everyone in a short amount of time and at a lower price point than a full family session.

2. Annual or seasonal photos of your kids. So for your little littles, mini sessions are a great way to have professional photos made at milestone months and years. Now if your kid is in school they will get the standard yearbook style photo made every fall, but let’s be honest–those shouldn’t count as a true up to date portrait of your child. Not only do they neglect capturing your kids' unique expressions and true personality, but they are also very much out of your control. As in, the way you sent them off to school isn’t necessarily what will be pictured. Hello disheveled clothes and recess hair! And do you really want that picture as the 8x10 you hang in your hallway? Mini sessions are a great way to have your kids photographed in a beautiful setting with time to capture their true, little, precious selves. Plus you can get updated photos of all of them in one mini session! (unless you’re the Von Trapp family…then it might take two…)

3. Mommy & Me or Daddy & Me photos. Have you thought about using a mini session as a fun mommy/daughter day? You could go and get your nails/hair/makeup done together, have photos taken, and then go out to eat as a super special day! Or as a mom who is almost never in the photos WITH her kids, why not use a mini session to slow down and really appreciate the special bond you have with each of your children and have it documented and preserved? The same goes for dads and kids too!

4. Simple senior photos. Do you have a photo-reluctant senior who really does not want a full senior session? Or maybe they don’t even care if there are any senior photos of them period, but you know that's crazy? A mini session is a great compromise! You will get a few professional photos of your senior to send out with cards and announcements, and they only have to subject themselves to 15 minutes in front of the camera. No outfit changes, no location changes.

5. Couples/Anniversary photos. When was the last time you and your husband had professional  photos taken? Was it possibly at your wedding? And how long have you been married…? While families grow and life gets busy, it can be easy to neglect the importance of  celebrating the love between you and your husband. But this is also such an important thing to capture! You are the center of your family and your relationship is the reason any of it exists. Plus, this is a great excuse for a date night! Get a babysitter, dress up for pictures, and then go out to a nice dinner. You will not regret having beautiful photos of just the two of you where you aren’t in your wedding dress! And think about how much your kids will appreciate having photos of their parents, even in the future.

6. A gift. Sometimes it can be so hard to figure out what to give the person who has everything or come up with something unique. Enter the perfect gift--a mini session! This is great for dads and husbands to give their wives, (pass this post along to them if they need a hint ladies...wink wink) but it could also be a perfect gift for your bestie or a family member. 

So there you have it. My six ways to use a mini session. I hope this gave you some great ideas! I will be offering several sets of minis throughout the year. To see a current list, visit my mini sessions page. 

Is a mini session always the best choice?

Wait, what? Yep, I said it. There is a chance that a full session may be a better option for you and your family.

Read my blog post all about which session is the best choice for you. 

Mini Session vs. Full Session-Which one is right for you?