True or false: Photography mini sessions are cheaper than full sessions.

A quick scroll on social media and one would think that this statement is true with all the discounted mini sessions offered out there. Can photography mini sessions be cheaper than regular sessions…and be more profitable at the same time?

With how I run photography mini sessions, it is a resounding yes!

[Read: What is Lifestyle Family Photography and How Do You Shoot It?]

For reference, in 2020 (during a global pandemic, lest we forget), I made $37,000 in one weekend from mini sessions. This year, I made over $40,000 in sitting fees alone from one weekend of mini sessions. The sessions themselves haven’t even occurred yet, so this number will only increase once you factor in product and print sales. 

Photography mini sessions are the most lucrative product I offer. How do I do it?

For starters, it’s not how I’m seeing many other photographers do it! 

Contrary to popular belief, photography mini sessions do not mean discounted sessions. This is the number one mistake I see photographers make with mini sessions. Would a florist discount their flowers on Valentine’s Day? Absolutely not. In fact, they often double or triple their rates. The demand is high and supply is limited, so a smart business person would charge accordingly.

[Read: 9 Family Portrait Poses in 15 Minutes: Fast Flow for Mini Sessions]

Similarly, the fall season is the busiest season for family portraits. I know because I have photographed over 100 families in a month during the fall season. Though demand increases during this time, our time is still finite. Photography mini sessions allow me to service all my families in an efficient and effective manner, while maximizing profits.

Here are three common mistakes photographers make with photography mini sessions, along with what you should do instead.

[Read: Caroline Tran’s Posing Pick Up Points for Family Portrait Photography—Free Webinar]

Mistake #1: Photography mini sessions compete with your regular sessions.

Many photographers offer mini sessions that aren’t that different from their full sessions, thus undermining their full sessions in the process. Why pay for a full session when you can get a similar session at a cheaper price?

Solution:

Make sure your photography mini sessions are distinctly different from your full sessions.

I keep my mini sessions distinct by offering exclusively designed sets that are available during the mini session event only. For example, Magic Paper Studios, a company I co-founded, created a holiday set that is offered only during the holidays.

This makes it an entirely different shoot that won’t compete with or prevent a family from booking a regular session. Many families will book both these holiday shoots and regular shoots.

I’ve made limited sets available this season for photographers who want to also offer these sessions, by the way!

Mistake #2: Photography mini sessions are too long.

Most mini sessions I see aren’t really “mini” sessions.

Solution:

Make your mini sessions no longer than 15 minutes. This allows you to maximize the number of sessions you can fit in a day, and it also helps you differentiate your mini session from your regular sessions.

Keeping my shoots short and efficient allows me to schedule up to 23 families a day. This year, I serviced nearly 60 families in one weekend! By consolidating these family sessions into one weekend, rather than letting them consume my entire month, I was able to also book two weddings, eight (non-mini) portrait sessions and four commercial shoots for that month. 

Mistake #3: Photography mini sessions are priced too low.

Mini sessions do not mean discounted sessions! Mini sessions, when done correctly, should allow you to service the high demand of this season, while making more per session. Mini sessions simply mean shorter sessions but they are actually, in fact, more expensive. It’s the result of shopping during peak season!

Solution:

Shorten your sessions without compromising profit. Your mini session, though perhaps cheaper than a full session on paper, actually adds up to more than a full session if you compare it time for time.

My photography mini sessions make more money per hour than my regular sessions do. For example, my regular studio sessions start at $1,000. My mini sessions start at $600. While $600 is less than $1000, I book three mini sessions per hour, making me $1,800 an hour. It’s a win-win for all during these marathon events. 

Want to learn more? Catch my FREE CRASH COURSE on holiday mini sessions.

Caroline Tran, named 2021 Creator of the Year by Rangefinder, is a Los Angeles-based, internationally published photographer and educator who has been helping other photographers work smarter, not harder. Her mini sessions consistently generate 5-figures a day. Learn more about her Holiday Mini Sessions system.