It's never been a secret that I'm not a fan of true mini sessions for families. I'm talking about those 15 to 20 minute sessions where everyone shows up, smiles fast, and heads home.
On paper, a mini looks like the convenient choice. In real life, convenient for the calendar isn't always convenient for your family.
I've talked before about why I rarely offer mini sessions. This year, I got a very real reminder at my own family session.
The short answer: Give your family session more time than you think you need, especially with little kids or a pet. Extra time takes the pressure off, and some of the best photos happen after a reset. Here's what that looked like at my own session, from a Seattle family photographer who's also a mom who just learned this lesson (again).
Why a short session can add pressure
Fifteen minutes doesn't mean fifteen minutes of cooperation. It doesn't mean your kids are happy for that entire window, either.
If you, your partner, or your kids are having a harder day, that tiny window fills up with pressure to perform. Everyone feels it. And you can see it in the photos, because they just don't feel as genuine.
As a mom, I beyond understand wanting beautiful photos of your family. But we lose sight of something big: photos are huge emotional triggers. When you look at them years from now, you don't just see the image. You remember how that day felt.
I want you to have photos you're actually in, that you feel confident in, and that look great. BUT... I also want the memory attached to them to be a good one. Not "wow, that was stressful."
My own family session didn't go as planned
I recently had my own family photos done. I was sure this year would be different now that my kids are older. It would be easier, right?
Jokes on me. Again.
We booked a longer session because I wanted to include our family dog, Penny. She's eight now, and her sweet face is turning whiter every year. It's those little changes that remind you how fast time moves.
I have photos of my kids as babies posed with Penny, and it's been incredible watching them grow up with her. I wanted to remember this season of our life too. Penny, of course, stole the show per usual.
What I hadn't planned for was one of my neurodivergent kids getting overstimulated and having a massive meltdown in the middle of the session.
What happened when my child needed a break
Our sweet photographer did her best to help calm things down. We gave our kid the space to go through their emotions without forcing anything.
In the meantime, we kept going with whatever photos we could get without them. I have great images of my other kids. But honestly, in the moment, it was a bummer not to have my whole family together.
It took almost the entire session for my child to get back to what we call baseline and feel ready to be photographed again. If we had booked a mini session, we would have walked away with next to nothing of them.
I was so grateful we had the time to give them space and shift the session to what our family could actually handle that day.
The photo I almost didn't get
When my child was ready, we came back together. And we got a photo that will forever be one of my favorites of us.
That photo would not exist if we'd had 15 minutes.
Does a longer session mean more time posing?
Nope. This is the part most families don't realize. A longer session doesn't mean you're taking photos the whole time.
It's extra time to breathe. Extra time to talk and laugh. Extra time that's just about being together. And it goes by faster than you think.
When to give your family session more time
A full session is usually the better fit if:
You have toddlers or little ones who need time to warm up
Your kids sometimes need a break or a reset
You want to include your dog or other pets
You want different groupings, like grandparents, siblings, or just the kids
You'd rather enjoy the experience than watch the clock
Minis can still work for a quick seasonal update. But when the moments you really want to remember need a little more room, give yourself the time.
Ready to plan your family session?
Might be worth considering. And who knows what photo you'll end up treasuring forever.
If you want the time, flexibility, and support to make the experience feel good for your whole family, reach out here to start planning your session.
