Milwaukee Family Session: Should I do a mini or full session?

Sometimes it seems that whenever I see someone looking to book a Milwaukee family session, I ONLY see requests for mini sessions. They’re especially common in the fall, and if you’re in any family Facebook groups, you know exactly what I mean. “Looking for photographers available for mini sessions!” or “Who still has minis available?” I definitely understand why mini sessions are so popular for a milwaukee family session, and I offer them myself! However, I definitely do not think they are for everyone. There are many times when I would actually recommend a full session.

Both have their place, but it’s important to know the difference and which one will meet your needs.

So, how do you know what is right for you?! I’ll highlight a few main differences between mini sessions and full sessions, and I’ll give my recommendation for when I would choose one vs. another for your Milwaukee family session.

Mini Sessions – What are they?

Mini Sessions are short 10-15 minute sessions that are scheduled back to back at the same location. Because of their short duration, mini sessions are best for updated family photos that capture smiling shots of your family looking at the camera.

During a mini session we focus on:

• A few classic family portraits
• Kids smiling and looking at the camera
• Quick individual shots of the children
• A small gallery of polished images

What mini sessions are not designed for is storytelling or lots of candid moments.

When a session is only a few minutes long, there isn’t time for kids to warm up, explore, play games, or let moments naturally unfold. We move quickly so that every family receives a few great portraits within the limited time.

Mini sessions are great if:

• Need a quick update for holiday cards
• Want a few new photos of the kids each year
• Prefer a shorter, more structured experience
• Love the specific location or seasonal setup

They’re simple, fun and quick! They are great if you prioritize a handful of smiling photos over the storytelling images. If your kids know me well, it may be easier to capture some candids.

Mini sessions are also a great option for your Milwaukee family session if you have one child, or if your child doesn’t need much time to warm up. When you have many children, I tend to suggest a full session. Many parents really want all the combinations (each kid + mom, each kid + dad, etc). This is not always possible with many children during a mini session as the emphasis is on the family photos with a handful of other combinations.

Full Sessions

Full sessions are where the magic of storytelling really happens!

Instead of rushing through a few poses, we have time to slow down and let your family simply be together. We also plan more on the front end. This ensures we capture your family the way that you want it to be captured. We can plan specific locations or make sure to capture certain personality traits or features of your children.

Full sessions are longer in length (up to 60 minutes, but I stay until we get what we need to capture your family’s story!)

Kids can explore. We can play games. Parents can cuddle their babies. We can walk, laugh, and interact in a way that feels natural and relaxed without rushing to make sure that people are smiling at the camera.

In my opinion, full sessions are when when the most meaningful photographs tend to happen.

During a full session we have time for:

• Natural, candid moments
• Movement and play through guided prompts rather than through me trying to grab attention
• Snuggles and connection
• A variety of locations and backdrops
• Kids warming up and being themselves
• A full story of your family in this season

These sessions are less about perfect smiles and more about capturing what your family actually feels like.

If you love photos that feel joyful, connected, and true to your life, a full session gives us the time and space to create those kinds of images.

Full sessions are a great fit if you:

• Love candid, storytelling photographs
• Have young kids who need time to warm up or have a larger family with more interactions to capture
• Want a relaxed, unhurried experience
• Want a larger gallery with more variety

If you’re not sure which is the right fit, I’m always happy to help you decide. Send me a message and we can chat! You can also email me at hello@abbyparkphotography.com

In the meantime, check out more of my family work HERE!