Should You Book a Single, Petite, or Mini Session?
Options are nice to have, but sometimes options can be overwhelming. I am here to clear up any confusion or uncertainty around which session you should book that best accommodates your photo needs!
Now I think it is important to note: not all photographers offer various session types or even the same variety of session types - which is where, as a client, things can get confusing! And that is totally understandable. Though it can be overwhelming trying to consume all of the different session options when deciding between photographers, most photographers will have session information available on their website and social media accounts. Before inquiring, I would encourage clients to take a moment to browse through the photographer's website to get a better understand of what is offered and available. For example; on my website, I have pages available to all of my Mini & Petite sessions where I show the offerings included in each one and provide a specific booking page for each available session -- to try and make it as streamlined as possible for new or returning clients. In addition to that, I have a page where I walk through the experience and booking of the full single sessions. Photographers will often organize their session offerings to what best accommodates their average client and fits their business model.
Alrighty -- now let's chat through the three session offerings that I offer through Alicia Nicole Photos. Lets identify and breakdown the three options:
1) The Single Session
2) The Petite Session
3) The Mini Session
The Single Session
The Single Session is my most frequently booked session offering and one that new clients will inquire about most often. This session is my fully customizable session type giving the clients influence over where we shoot (location), date, and timing whether that be sunrise or sunset. This full session gives clients a full hour of shooting time with the exception of newborns (which I require we schedule out about two hours in order to give us enough time!). For my single sessions, I offer three different package types that clients can choose from based on their needs - and this includes my Family Collective Photography Membership.
The Single Session is best for:
- those who are looking for a full and diverse gallery,
- those who may need some time to warm up to the camera,
- newborn clients
- who want to customize their session from location, date, and time
The Petite Session
My second most popular session type: the Petite Session! This session type is a shortened session that is set at a location, on a pre-set date and time. I typically offer two Petite Sessions back-to-back in which the sessions last for 30 minutes each. It is truly amazing how much we can still get done in a 30 minute time period. It's a great way to experience Alicia Nicole Photos but at a fraction of the price!
The Petite Session is best for:
- those who are flexible on dates, time, and location & willing to pick from what is already planned,
- those who are ok with a slightly smaller gallery but rest assured it will still be packed with diverse shots to give you a full gallery feel,
- those who are comfortable in front of the camera (ie: families who do photos every year, a maternity couple who is familiar with being posed, etc),
- those who want to prioritize a shortened session
- those who are looking for budget-friendly option!
The Mini Session
Last but certainly not least are my Mini Sessions! Mini sessions are fun, often themed, and a great way to get a couple of updated photos. So far in my business, I have found my clientele prefers single sessions and petites to the minis, but I love to keep a couple of mini sessions on the calendar for the clients who do love a good mini! Similar to the Petite Sessions, the Mini Sessions occur on a set date, at a set time, and on a set location. Minis are often themed to the season like Christmas Minis in the fall and Rose Garden Minis in the spring. The Minis are 15 minutes in length and the galleries offer up to 10 photos. While we can accomplish a fair amount in just 15 minutes, my minis really are designed to be a quick grab & go option to the full experience of the single or petite sessions. The quality of your gallery and experience will still be of the highest level like you would experience in any other session type!
The Mini Session is best for:
- those who need to prioritize a shortened session,
- those who are looking for just a handful of refreshed photos,
- those who want to participate in themed shoots,
- those who are looking for a budget-friendly option,
- those who are flexible on dates, time, and location & willing to pick from what is already planned
Now that we've discussed the differences in the three session types... here are a few questions I would recommend to help you best decide what is right for you & yours:
- What is the longevity of your investment? ie: Do you take family photos annually? If so- maybe a petite or mini session would best suit your needs in order to mind the budget while still getting refreshed photos each year!
- What is the nature of your photo needs? ie: If you're inquiring about a maternity session, I would recommend the single session as this is a unique and passing season therefore a worthy investment in capturing a full gallery and having the ability to fully customize the session.
- What is most important to you when booking a photographer? ie: Is it ease of planning, is it the number of photos you'll receive, or having a say in the details like location? Understanding what is most important when considering a photographer will help guide you towards the session type that best fits your needs.
Though it may seem like we photographers are all establishing different session types and styles of doing business just to make it confusing for clients - I promise, we're not! Speaking as a whole for photographers, I have found what best suits my business needs AND my client's needs and then prioritized that when establishing my offerings. I make all of my session offerings with you, the client, in mind and focus on the question of how I can best serve all of my clients while delivering a luxury experience and the highest quality gallery.
I hope this breakdown helps!! As always, I'm here to answer any questions - don't hesitate to reach out!
Hugs,
Alicia
