As a photographer, one of the most common questions your clients probably ask you is this: “Do you offer mini sessions?”
If your answer is typically no, keep reading for a few reasons why you should offer mini sessions as a photographer.
But before we get there, let’s chat for a minute about mini sessions. They certainly can get a bad rap when you’re chatting with other photographers, and for good reason: some photographers treat mini sessions as their main source of income. This is especially common with new photographers.
However, when offered strategically as part of a larger (and more expensive) offer suite, mini sessions can play a really great role for many photographers.
- Mini sessions are a great way to serve past or existing clients, even if it’s not your favorite way to photograph them. Clients love the ease and flexibility of mini sessions, so why not offer mini sessions as a way to serve loyal clients as a thank-you for trusting you to capture them for a full session experience?
- Mini sessions can also be a great way to bring in new clients by letting them “try you out” for a lower price point. If you take this approach, the idea is to serve these mini session clients really well, so that they get hooked on working with you and want to return to you in the future.
- Mini sessions can be a saving grace for you in the fall if you stack them. Instead of squeezing in 10, 20, or more family sessions in the span of a month or six weeks, consider offering consolidated mini sessions over 1-2 days and taking the rest of the month off!
- Mini sessions are an effective way to perfect your skills. I feel like this benefit is talked about enough, but mini sessions allow you to become proficient at capturing gorgeous images in a shorter span of time. In the long run, this makes you a better photographer altogether (yes, for your longer sessions, too!) because you have more time to be creative and to push yourself creatively.
- Mini sessions can be a money-maker! When structured properly, mini sessions can bring in some serious cash. The key here is to charge a profitable rate for them (hint: not $100!) AND to sell them out.
That’s a wrap on a few reasons why you should offer mini sessions as part of your photography services. Did any of these ideas challenge your thinking or change your mind about offering mini sessions? I’d love to know! Send me a DM on Instagram @sabrinagebhardtphotography, and share how this post resonated with you.
P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about why mini sessions can be profitable for your business, stay tuned: I have something coming soon that’s just for you! Make sure to sign up for my email list to stay in the know.
