Photography Mini Sessions – Ideas to Make Extra Cash – Pretty Photoshop Actions

Photography Mini Sessions – Ideas to Make Extra Money

Themed mini sessions are a great way to attract many clients at once. Mini sessions are short sessions, usually averaging between 15 and 30 minutes. They are usually low-cost sessions so they fit most budgets. The benefit to these is you can set aside one day or a weekend, and book clients back to back all day while remaining at one outdoor location.

Throwing a theme in is a good way to keep all of the sessions coherent based on some basic props or just a specific background. Here are some themed mini sessions ideas that can be used throughout the year. 

Seasonal Mini Sessions

Let the season be your theme! Find a location that shows off all of the beautiful blooming flowers during the spring or the beautiful colors of the leaves during the Fall. These types of sessions rarely require props of any sort. Usually, the background of the area you are using will suffice for props.

Holiday Mini Sessions

Almost any holiday can be used to your advantage when it comes to themed mini sessions. Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July etc., are easy ways to let families get a few professional images to represent their favorite holiday. Let your set-up fit the theme! I have always used props for holiday sessions.

A handmade “kissing booth” makes a great prop for Valentine’s Day mini-session and is perfect for any age. For Halloween consider throwing in a few pumpkins and fall inspired props and have your clients dress their kids in their Halloween costume. These are always a big hit!

When it comes to Christmas mini sessions, renting out a Santa for the day is a great way to bring in clients. It’s a win-win for you and your clients. The children get to have a visit with good ole’ St. Nick, their parents will get adorable memorable photos, and of course, you will benefit financially. Many Christmas tree farms will allow you to do sessions there for free or for a small fee!  Just remember to have fun and capture those lifestyle images as they happen.

Boudoir Minis

If boudoir is on your list of genres you shoot, rent a studio or nice hotel room and schedule your clients back to back. Have your hair and make-up artist on site for the entire day and let them set up in the location you choose. I have found many people have an interest in outdoor boudoir sessions as well. They are unique and fun seeing how as they aren’t what you would consider the norm for boudoir.

Tip: You will definitely need to make sure you have access to a private secluded location for outdoor boudoir mini sessions. Many photographers go as far as bringing a bed to the site.  

Sports Mini Sessions

When basketball, football, or baseball season rolls around, use the sport as a theme! Have your clients wear their favorite team jerseys and have fun with it! Many families take sports very seriously, so this is a great way to let them represent their favorite team and get fun photos that will give them great memories for a lifetime. 

Nature Mini Sessions

Let your surroundings be your theme. Creeks, beaches, fields of flowers (if you live in Texas, dont pass up the opportunity for Bluebonnet mini sessions), etc.. can all make for great themed sessions. No props are needed. Just let your background be your prop!  Just remember to use back button focusing to get the sharpest images possible. 

More Mini Session Ideas

You can create a theme out of almost any concept. Just remember how important posing is, too. Here is a list of some other ideas. 

• Couples
• Best Friends
• Finger Painting
• Super Hero Dress Up
• Maternity
• Father’s Day
• Mother’s Day
• Grandparents
• Pet Photography

The goal of themed mini sessions is to pack in as many clients as time allows using one location. Get creative and have fun with them! The possibilities truly are endless. Stock up on the props you use – and then use them again next year!

Market your next themed sessions months in advance to allow time to fill all of the spots. This will also ensure you have time to fill in any time slots that your clients may cancel. You can truly generate extra income every month with mini sessions and are almost guaranteed to earn many new clients who will look forward to these sessions year after year!

Do you have any questions, comments, or other ideas about Photography Mini Sessions? Leave us a comment below – we would love to hear from you! And please share our tutorial using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!