5 simple hacks you can implement to help your next family mini sessions run super smoothly and be more profitable too!
I absolutely love offering family mini sessions because they are such a win for both you and your clients! It gives you the opportunity to work with a ton of cute families, and clients always love mini sessions because they are an easy and affordable way to get some updated family photos. Plus the fast paced, back-to-back nature of mini sessions means the sky is the limit for how profitable they can be for you and your business. But the key to hosting smooth and profitable mini sessions for your business is building a streamlined system and sticking to it.
As an experienced family photographer, I’ve really been working to build up my mini session offerings over the past couple years. In 2024 alone I booked over 100 mini sessions (I still cannot even believe it), and my mini dates are now almost always fully booked within 24 hours of going live! Through a LOT of trial and error, I have been able to create a seamless process for planning and hosting successful mini sessions.
I’ve taken everything I’ve learned for creating a sustainable system for mini sessions in my own business and summarized it for you below. Keep reading for 5 simple tips that will help you run smooth and profitable family mini sessions!
How to run smooth and profitable family mini sessions:
1. Offer predetermined dates and book your sessions back to back
This is my number one tip for creating mini sessions that are profitable and worth your time. Instead of offering minis on demand, choose 1-2 specific dates and open up a handful of times for your clients to book on those pre-set dates.
Once you have your dates selected, choose one location for the day and schedule multiple 15-20 minute sessions back to back. If you’re nervous about not having enough time, you can always add in a 5-10 minute buffer zone between each session.
Scheduling your mini sessions like this creates urgency (which will help with bookings) and allows you to be efficient with your time and maximize your earnings in a single day or weekend. Make sure to be clear about the session length and stick to the timeline to avoid falling behind schedule!
2. Require full payment or a non-refundable retainer up front to secure a spot
A mom reaches out sounding super interested in booking a family mini session so you block out the time and send over your contract and invoice only for her to ghost you. Don’t worry, it’s happened to all of us.
To protect your time and energy and help you actually book out your minis faster, I recommend always requiring either full payment or a non-refundable retainer in order for a client to secure their spot. This way you’re not blocking out session times for clients who haven’t fully committed (or having to hound them to pay you), and you can keep times available for those that are actually ready to book a mini session.
3. Prepare a shot list to use for each session
With family mini sessions being so short and fast-paced (and chaotic when you add kids into the mix), having a prepared shots list is the key to staying efficient and on schedule. I always plan a few go-to poses and combinations—like full family, siblings, and individual child portraits—for every session. This really helps streamline the sessions and avoid wasting precious time deciding on what poses you want to use. It will also help ensure you’re staying consistent across all sessions. If you like, you can always leave a few minutes open at the end of each mini session for getting any specific shots the family wants too!
4. Have a backup plan for bad weather
Outdoor mini sessions are always so fun and beautiful, but it can be hard planning around unpredictable weather (a snowstorm in October on the exact date you’ve been planning your minis? If you’re a fellow Midwest photographer you already know how it is). Always have a backup plan in place when planning your outdoor family mini sessions! Whether that’s an alternative indoor location or even just a designated rain date. Make sure to communicate this backup plan clearly to your clients in advance so that they feel reassured and know what to expect if plans have to change.
5. Bring an assistant to help you if needed
This can be especially helpful if you’re going to be working with a lot of families with young kids. Having an extra set of hands to help wrangle kids, keep you on schedule, and manage gear can be a game changer and free you up to focus on getting all those great shots. They can even grab some great BTS content for you to use! Consider asking your partner or fellow photographer bestie to help you out for the day (you can offer to switch and help them in return when they have their minis!).
Need additional support planning your minis? I got you!
I hope you found these simple but game-changing hacks for how to run smooth and profitable family mini sessions helpful!
Mini sessions don’t have to be stressful or chaotic. With the right systems in place, they can actually be super fun (and dare I say, even easy?). If you’re still feeling unsure or have any questions about planning your own family mini sessions, I’d love to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m always happy to chat and cheer you on!
Want more photography business tips and inspiration for family sessions? Make sure you’re following me over on Instagram! It’s always a party and I’d love to connect with you over there!
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