Mini Sessions vs. Regular Sessions — What's the Difference?

This is one of the most common questions I get — and it's a good one, because the answer actually matters for what you'll walk away with. Here's an honest breakdown of both so you can figure out which one is the right fit for you.

Mini Sessions

Mini sessions are 20-minute sessions that happen once a year, in the fall. I choose the date and location, and I book multiple clients on the same day in back-to-back slots. The price is $275 and includes 15 finished images that you select.

They work really well when:

• You want a quick seasonal update — holiday card photos, a current family photo, that kind of thing
• You have a smaller family or a senior who just needs announcement photos
• The investment for a full session isn't in the budget right now
• You're comfortable with one location and a focused, efficient session

The tradeoff is real: 20 minutes goes fast. We're not going to get multiple outfit changes, multiple locations, or a lot of time to relax and play around. What you get is clean, beautiful portraits — just a more focused version of what a full session produces.

Regular Sessions

Regular sessions are 1–2 hours, scheduled based on your availability, at locations that work for you. The starting price is $475 and includes 20 finished images you select, with options to add more.

A regular session is a better fit when:

• You want multiple looks, multiple locations, or room to really settle in
• You're a senior who wants a session that reflects your actual personality — not just a quick portrait
• You have a larger family, or little kids who need time to warm up
• You want images that are going to go on walls, in albums, or that you'll still love in ten years
• You want the pre-session conversation, the planning, the full experience
• You have a specific location in mind — with a regular session, you pick where we shoot; mini sessions use the location I've chosen for that date
• You have a specific theme or idea in mind — a styled setup, props, or a look that needs time to prepare and actually pull off

A full session gives you room to bring a vision to life — like this little tea party setup, which wouldn't have been possible in 20 minutes.

With a longer session there's time to get comfortable. The candid moments — the real laughs, the genuine connections — tend to show up after the first 20 minutes. That's when the best images happen.

Which One Is Right for You?

If you're on the fence, here's the simplest way to think about it: mini sessions are great for what they are, but they have real limits. If you already know you want more than one location, more than one outfit, or more than 15 images — a regular session is the right call.

If you just want something current and beautiful and you're flexible about timing, a mini session delivers real value at a lower investment.

Mini session dates are announced to my newsletter list first — if that's what you're interested in, signing up is the best way to make sure you hear about it when spots open.