Baby Face Photography Blog » boutique children's studio specializing in maternity, newborn, child and family photography

I have been asked on numerous occasions “Do you offer any Mini Sessions?”. The answer is no, with a little bit yes. No, I don’t offer traditional mini sessions through the studio. I don’t organize 15 minute shoots 20 minutes apart on a single day, market them and try to fill all the spots. That sounds like a nightmare to me. However, I have in the past offered short sessions at reduced pricing on something new I really want to play with
(like the reindeer and Christmas light mini sessions), scheduled them whenever it was convenient for everyone, the kids would be in a good mood, the light outside was perfect, and called it a mini session. That’s winning for everyone. I get to play with my new toys or techniques and you get a couple of really cool shoots at a great rate. That is not how industry standard “mini sessions” work, and they are few and far between. In fact, only twice in 22 years.

There is another type of mini session I tried out last year, that worked out pretty well for me. So well in fact that I have decided to start offering it as a service. I kind of stumbled into the opportunity, as I do with most of the awesome things that happen in my life. A friend of a friend had a photographer cancel on her with short notice for her Mother’s Day Picnic in Rockville. We agreed on the pricing and I required a minimum of 10 prepaid clients signed up at 20-minute intervals for 15-minute sessions. There were 2 package options

1. $50 for 1 high res edited image of the photographers choice from your session, as well as high res unedited images of all captured images.
2. $75 for 3 high res edited images, 1 of the photographers choice, 2 of the clients choice, as well as high res unedited images of all captured images.

Additional edited images were available for $20 each within 7 days of receiving their images and $25 thereafter (editing makes a huge difference, especially outside on a hot day). Edited and unedited images were delivered within one week of the shoot. Selections and payment for additional edits were due within 7 days and delivered 7 days later.

It was a fantastic experience for everyone involved. The moms loved their photos and are having me back again this year. I got to do my favorite thing with zero of the planning/organizing stress. I showed up early to the park, scouted out several spots that would work well in harsh midday light, flexed my creative muscle, instigated some fun, loving moments between awesome moms and their gorgeous kiddos and had a lot of fun capturing some great shots. It was a dream experience and pretty much the only way I will do mini sessions.

I’d love to do something like this for your playgroup, club or organization. Please reach out if you have an idea you’d like to bounce off of me, or are interested in setting something up.

Here are some of the shots I got from last years Mother’s Day Picnic mini’s.