Taking professional family photos is a great way to capture memories and create beautiful keepsakes for years to come. But not all photo sessions are created equal, which is why I don’t offer mini sessions for families outside my annual Christmas and Mother’s Day Minis.
Here are some of the reasons why mini sessions don’t work for me and my clients.
1 I Building Rapport with Kids Takes Time
When it comes to taking pictures of children, rapport is key. It takes time for kids to warm up to a photographer, feel comfortable in front of the camera, and be willing to cooperate. A mini session doesn’t give me enough time to build that trust and rapport with your child.
2 I Candid Shots Need Time Too
It also takes time for kids to relax enough that they forget the camera and just start playing. That’s when I can get those lovely candid shots of them being themselves and having fun. In a mini session, there isn’t enough time for that level of playfulness and comfort with me as the photographer.
3 I Waiting Out Tantrums Needs Time Too
Kids sometimes have tantrums—it happens! And if something like that does happen during a session, it is important that we take our time waiting it out so the little one can calm down before continuing the shoot. This cannot be done in a mini session environment; therefore, this type of shoot is not ideal for getting beautiful family photos of children and toddlers at their best moments.
Conclusion: Achieving Great Photos Takes Time
I understand that people may think offering mini sessions might be a great financial decision, but my diary has always been completely booked out because I never compromise on quality over quantity when it comes to getting those amazing shots you will cherish forever! The reality is that there is only one sunset per day, so we need enough time outdoors to make sure we can capture your family at its best during golden hour light! That’s why my full sessions are the way I go—because I want you to have beautiful photos worth keeping forever!
Grand Cayman Indoor Mini Session
Mini session offer families with children the opportunity to get quick and easy photos taken at a discounted rate.
Twice a year, for Christmas and Mother’s Day, I run very specific mini sessions here in Cayman. I know almost every family attending and the kids know me. So there is less time needed to build rapport. It is also a very staged environment with few margins for error in terms of lighting and composition.
Plus it is themed, so the end result and expectation is a very specific one, e.g. 1 or 2 great family photos for Christmas to share with family abroad. And yes we can achieve that in 15 minutes. But it is no comparison to a the intimacy, beautiful location and lighting and variety we get to a capture in a regular family session.
