How I have made Mini Sessions something I love

Mini Session Boulder Colorado with Kim Graves Photography

I have to admit something, I am warming up to minis. For most of my career, I have been afull session photographer at heart.

My favorite sessions are the ones where we meander along a trail at sunset. We walk, we talk, kids explore, parents laugh, and I quietly click away while the whole experience unfolds naturally. Those sessions feel carefree, relaxed and before you know it, the time together becomes a memory in itself.

That is the kind of photography experience I fell in love with.

So for a long time, I wasn’t sure how I felt about mini sessions.

But over the years, through requests from my families and conversations with colleagues (good photographer friends who love minis and have opened my eyes), I decided to invest more time into them and really explore what they could be for us.

In fact, I’ve discovered a few things that I genuinely love about mini sessions and I have found a way to create something more from them!

They Make Professional Photography More Accessible

Everyone loves minis, because mini sessions allow families to update their photos without the larger time or financial commitment of a full session.

Life is busy. Kids have sports, activities and packed schedules (these kiddos are busier than parents!). Sometimes families just want a few beautiful images to capture this season of life with as little time commitment as possible.

Mini sessions can do this.

I Get to Meet New Families

One of my favorite parts of offering mini sessions is that I get to meet so many new families.

For many people, minis are a way to “try me out” as their photographer. It’s a wonderful introduction and over the years many of those families have come back for full sessions, milestone sessions and senior portraits. Some of these families just stick with the mini session release dates.

It’s a lovely way for us to get to know each other.

I’ve Started Turning Minis Into an Experience

What I realized along the way is that if I was going to offer mini sessions, I wanted them to feel intentional and special. I needed to make them mine.

I didn’t want to create mini sessions in a crowded public park with photographers lined up everywhere and families being rushed through like an assembly line. That just isn’t me. It does not feel intentional enough.

Instead, I’ve started designing my mini sessions to feel more like a bite sized luxury experience.

I choose locations that are special. These locations are normally venues for large scale events (weddings and private parties). These locations offer gardens, flowers, ponds and yes, of course, flatiron views. No crowds, a little privacy for our ten minutes. And I want you to walk away with something extra, a bouquet, a small gift.

Even though the session time is shorter, I still want my families to feel relaxed and cared for. I want mini sessions to feel like a warm hug.

Just because you are choosing a mini session doesn’t mean it should feel like a discount service or a clearance-rack experience.

Since I have started adding these experiences mini sessions felt right.

Mini Sessions are a VIP experience

I like to keep mini sessions for families that truly want this luxury experience, so I have a VIP list that I announce mini schedules to. I do not offer minis online to the public. This is a cultivated event that I want to deliver to those who want the experience.

If you’ve been thinking about updating your family photos but don’t have time for a full session and still want the luxury experience you want to be on the mini waitlist.