5 questions to ask yourself before booking your Holiday Mini Session.

It’s almost that time of year again where you have to ask yourself those familiar questions; Am I going to send out holiday cards this year? (Deep Sigh)  What picture would I use?  Do I even have one good one?  How do I get the card made?  Can I do my own photoshop? Most of us are overwhelmed and exhausted before we even begin. Isn’t this supposed to be fun?  Then you hear that your local photographer is doing holiday mini sessions soon.  Should you jump in?

Holiday Mini Sessions are here to solve this problem.  But are they right for your family?  Answer these 5 simple questions below to find out.

But first, what exactly is a holiday mini session? 

Simply put, holiday mini sessions are very short photo shoots offered months before the major holidays.  A mini session is just 20 minutes.  A full session is 60 minutes.

Mini sessions are themed in advance.  For example, the session in this post was staged to be an experience for families and children baking holiday cookies.  Where as a full session is custom built for your needs.  To see other holiday mini sessions offered by Little’s Photography click here.

With a holiday mini session a great result would be 5 to 10 useable images with only a couple of combinations of the family.  In a full session you would have 20 or more great images to choose from with all sorts of combinations of the family.  This is an important distinction because with a full session, you are investing in home decor.  For holiday mini sessions, it’s usually for annual keepsakes, gifts, and cards.  The investment is much smaller (mini) in part because the photographer discounts the price as well.

What are your kids like in a new environment?

In our full sessions we have time to get to know your kids at their pace.  However in a mini session, time is short. Are your children outgoing?  Are they likely to warm up quickly to us and play along with the theme?  Then you can expect to enjoy the results of a mini session.

If, on the other hand, your little one is likely to need more time than we have available, to feel comfortable getting off your lap, you may feel frustrated with the results.

What are your holiday mini sessions photo expectations?

If you are happy to capture your kids just as they are: fun, silly, rambunctious, shy, smiling (or not), then you will likely enjoy the holiday mini session.  If on the other hand, you have a shot list and know exactly what kind of shots you are looking for, you may not be satisfied with the short time frame.  Keep in mind that one of the advantages of a full session is the planning that goes into it and then plenty of time to create those special custom images.

What is your photography budget?

If current life has you on a tighter budget, then a holiday mini session is a great way to satisfy your needs without blowing up your bank account.  If a photographer you love is out of your price range, then a holiday mini session is a great way to try them without getting in over your head.  For more details on Little’s mini session pricing click here.

How punctual are you? 

Holiday mini sessions appointments are usually lined up like the Rockette’s. Punctuality is SUPER important.  If you are the person who is always running late then a holiday mini session might bring too much stress.  Typically it is not an option for photographers to give you extra time because there isn’t any.  Being 10 minutes late to a 20 minute session is a recipe for disappointment.

Does the holiday mini session theme or location match your style?

Holiday mini sessions are themed for a reason.  Photographers have to know what we are going to do with your family the minute you enter the studio.  You get to determine what you are wearing and you can even whisper in our ear what you are hoping for as we begin.  The style and look of the holiday mini session is predetermined.  At Little’s we always have the session in our fully air conditioned, professional studio, a bonus in Florida where “holiday weather” can still be 88 degrees. 

We hope this blog post has helped you decide if holiday mini sessions are right for you.  If you live in the Fort Lauderdale Florida or surrounding areas and would like to learn more about Little’s Photography holiday mini session options just click here.

If you prefer a custom photo session click here to find out how to inquire further.

You can always contact Little’s Photography the old fashioned way by calling  (954) 563-0444