8 Steps to Rock your Photo Mini Sessions
Hi Everyone! Erin asked me to share a little bit about my Mini Sessions with you all. I’m so excited to be featured on Sixth Bloom today! I have always LOVED Mini Sessions so let me share with you why 🙂
1- FREEDOM! Â They give me the freedom to express my creativity and celebrate the festive fun times throughout the year! I’m typically that person that loves to decorate for any occasion and totally goes overboard with styling parties. I just enjoy it, it becomes therapeutic for me. So why not turn my love of styling and decorating into something that can help bring business in?
2- How do you know if people will book? I will typically put a post on my facebook page asking if clients would be interested in a particular themed mini. If the response is good, then I give the go ahead that I’m going to be offering it. Shortly after, I’ll type out all the details and open up the dates and times for my clients to book!
3-How do I know what to charge? I try to keep my Mini Session prices affordable to everyone. They are usually between $95-$150. Halloween Mini is usually always around $100 because this is just a fun little shoot to dress your kiddos up and capture the memory! Sometimes I have to charge more due to the expenses involved. (Renting/buying props, buying bunnies, live Christmas trees, a dozen real watermelons, etc!) Some families prefer to spend the money every few months on a Mini Session rather than a 1 Hour Shoot. However I’m able to photograph and see my clients is fine with me. Mini Sessions allow me to see 15-25 of my clients all in one day! It truly is such an honor to watch their children grow up. So many of my clients become my friends and I just love that!
4- Pay in Advance I learn a little bit more each time I do them and I try to make the booking process as easy as I can for everyone involved. I do however ask that clients pay in advance since it’s usually a limited number of session spots.
What do I include? I find that 10-15 minutes is enough time to get the amount of images I am looking for. I try to shoot from a few different angles and I give back between 5-10 high resolution images to my clients. I promise them back within 2 weeks and I find emailing them over is the fastest way to get them back.
 
5- Where do I find my inspiration? I typically find my inspiration from Flea Markets and Antique stores! There’s something about mixing the past with the present that just makes me happy. I typically like to go for big things that I can turn into a background, large doors, shutters, fence boards, etc.
 
6- Details Once I get my background, I look for old toy chests, suitcases, window panes, ladders, or just anything that jumps out at me. Another great place to hunt around is the fabric store. I’m all about making banners and flags out of fabric. It’s so easy and it spruces up any shoot! Don’t forget about Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s… those are all places that inspire me as well.
7- Have Fun! I can also tell you that since having my daughter, I’m always trying to think of fun ideas for her pictures. She gives me a little extra push to do Mini’s because I get so excited about photographing her now in front of my setups, too!! 🙂
8 Offer a Variety! You can typically expect Easter, Halloween and Christmas Mini Sessions from me every year, but I also like to add some other ones if I get the opportunity. I usually like to call my style vintage, handcrafted and sweet! My Watermelon Mini’s this past summer were some of my favorites! I am currently working on 3 different themes for this upcoming Spring/Summer. Please make sure to follow my Facebook page for updates on future themes!
sarah says
WOW, Jen your photography is beautiful, fun and creative! A girl after my own heart with the love for vintage, flea markets, Hobby Lobby, HomeGoods, and party details! Great tips for photo mini sessions!
Trish says
I loved this post – especially the amazing photos! Your tips are great. Loved the idea of using props from flea markets and antique stores!
Tiffany says
How awesome are these!?!? I recently decided to take my Girlies Dance Phtos myself simply due to the costs of getting sessions for each of them. These will definitely come in handy in a few months! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Tiffany says
Thanks for such an informative post!! I’d love to have a day of mini sessions…sometime!
Reginia Cordell says
I always stop by your blog and see the amazing captures. I don’t think I’ve commented before but do keep sharing the gift of capturing the beauty of little ones.
Sixth-Bloom says
So great you commented…love hearing feedback and that it’s being of help to others!!
Madison | Wetherills Say I Do says
I just did my first mini sessions this year, but decided to break them up into different days. I really would love to do a styled shoot like this sometime! Great tips!
Sofia's Dream says
These are perfect! I’ve just teamed up with a few local photographers to provide styled shoots for them and i was just brain storming ideas on my own on how to better my side of the business 🙂 Thank you for the tips!
Sarah Miller says
I am currently attending an online college for photography but I have been wanting to start my business. I have been putting it off for a while because I didn’t think I was ready. I want to start building a client list by having my first mini session. The thing I am having trouble with is the pricing. I have my base fee calculated but I don’t know if I should price my minis half of that or what. If I do get some clients interested it will be my VERY FIRST paying clients. I don’t want to over price it but I don’t want to under either. What is the best way to go by this for a first timer?
Sixth-Bloom says
Sarah! Thank you for stopping by and would love to see how I can help you! I do have a pricing guide available in the shop (more to come in the shop very soon!!) This helps you break down your expenses and what you’d like to charge etc. First you need to count your cost and your time…then go from there! This worksheet helps you with all of that and breaking it down!!!! http://www.sixthbloom.com/shop/
Kersey Photography says
oh my gosh! the pink house with the periwinkle steps-I snapped a few of my daughter there for her 10th birthday shoot. LOVE
Kim LaMarca says
I’ve never offered mini sessions before but am so inspired by your post that I’m going for it. Do you have a favorite lense you like to use when shooting minis? Do you use natural light or OCF?
Thanks so much,
Kim