Do you offer mini sessions?

“Photographers start this profession because they want to create art. If you start taking jobs just for the money then your passion will die. So many of my friends in this space have burned out because they lost sight of their why. Don’t do that.”

This was an invaluable piece of advice I received from my brother in one of our many conversations about photography. Something I believe is essential for every small business owner is finding their “why”. 

Why did you start this business?

I believe my why has three separate pillars. 1) I discovered a deep craving within myself for a creative outlet, 2) I found a way to truly connect with people in a unique way, and 3) I realized I had a talent and I didn’t want it to go to waste. You’ll find that nearly all my talking points will find their roots in one of these three things. 

At the end of the day, my profession isn’t about financial freedom or independence within my schedule. Those are really fantastic aspects, but without the pillars of creativity, connection, and talent I would burn out. 

I’m sharing this today in order to give you some insight into one of my most frequently asked questions: Do you offer mini sessions?

The answer is no. 

Mini sessions are promoted within the portrait world of photography as one of the best things you can do for your business. And it is. You find more exposure to clients with lower rates, you’re able to make the most out of one day of shooting, and you create content for yourself that can last months. Instead of booking one client for a single day and charging them your premium cost, you make the package more affordable, offer less, and book several clients in the time it would take to shoot one. Clients are often so grateful to find these deals. It makes those yearly photos affordable for them and they only have to keep their family looking nice for 30 minutes (give or take)... I can hear a huge breath of relief from the mothers who have to wrangle a whole family.

It’s not a surprise to me that people have asked if I offer these deals, or that other photographers have pushed me to do it. So why don’t I offer mini sessions?

Because they are a threat to my why. 

This was one of those decisions I really had to struggle with. Within my community were people that I could greatly benefit by offering them mini sessions. I wanted to do that for them, and it was a difficult choice to say no. 

My sessions begin at 1 hour minimum. I realized that anything less than that begins the breakdown of my pillars

Creativity: If I began to limit myself to 15 minute sessions it would severely affect the amount of creativity I could put into them. In fact, many mini sessions are designed with uniformity in mind. I love the fact that not a single one of my sessions is a carbon copy. Each is as unique as the people in them. 

Connection: Connection isn’t impossible within a mini session, but it is rushed. Instead of being able to focus on one client for the day you find yourself interacting with many. At some point the ability to build a relationship with every one of them becomes impossible. Connection is one of my favorite things about my business. I love building relationships with my clients and making sure I have the time to talk to them and get to know them during our sessions. My tagline for my business is Vera Icon which means True Image. The fact that my portraits are a reflection of somebody’s true nature is not lost on me. I want to connect with that person and as a result make them feel more comfortable so that their true light can shine through their portraits.

Talent: Allowing my talent to shine is largely dependent on the other two aspects of my why. The more I feed my creativity and connection to my clients, the more I’m able to put my talent to work. You could say that the ability to lean into creativity and connection is a large part of my talent. Therefore, if I limit those two things, I dampen my talent as well.

Idealistic? Yes, it is. I have high expectations for myself and my work. I find great joy in challenging myself and it allows me to grow as a photographer and business owner. I can honestly say that it also helps me deliver the best possible products to my clients. 

Let me finish on this note. I know many amazing photographers who offer mini sessions. Perhaps their why is different from mine. Or maybe some of their reasons do overlap with mine but they find mini sessions don’t impede them. I have great respect for their photography and small business savvy. Many clients would prefer what they offer and I think that’s awesome! Not every photographer is going to be every client's cup of tea. That’s the beauty of people. We are all completely unique and as such have different ways in which to be authentic to who God made us to be. 

God bless!