July 17, 2025
I love looking at photos from my childhood. There are boxes and albums full of them. Many were taken with my mom’s old Canon AE-1, the same one I tote around with me today. Most of them make me smile, some make me laugh, and a handful make me cringe, but in the best way. I love seeing me and my brother at every age, whether that be cute or awkward (sometimes both). There are hundreds of memories in those boxes. The houses we lived in, the places we visited, the people we loved.
This experience is not unique to me. Many of us are fortunate enough to share this ritual, to have these memories saved and stored for us. On one of the first trips to visit my husband’s family when we were newly dating, I asked his mom to show me their family photos. I wanted a peek into what was special to them, their places and people. For an afternoon, I was a tourist in their family history.
Even writing this post has me itching to make a visit to my mom’s house to rifle through those photos. And there is one photo in particular I know I’ll be looking for, and it isn’t of me at all. It’s of my mom and brother, sitting in the grass on a farm. He’s around four years old, sitting in her lap. Her long hair is in a French braid—a style I haven’t seen her wear in over 20 years, but one that defined so much of my childhood. She’s not looking at the camera and her expression is a little hard to read. I wonder what she’s thinking about. But she looks relaxed, contemplative. Like herself. Like me. It’s my favorite photo of her.
While we did print our photos back then (we had to if we wanted to see them), people didn’t really do lifestyle family sessions. But now we have high-res cameras in our pockets and thousands of images on our phones, most of which will never be printed. It’s made us realize how deeply meaningful a lifestyle photo session can be. Family photography has evolved in answer to the nostalgia we feel for these moments, even as they are currently happening. I would give anything to have a gallery of images like that from my childhood; of our home, our life, my mom when she was my age.
That’s what I want for my clients. Photos that feel honest. Warm. Rooted in who you are. The kind that only grow more special as the years pass. The kind your children will one day realize was a gift, even if they don’t know it yet. And to all the moms: you should be in them. Because when your children are older, they’ll be looking for you in these photos.
Before we get into all of it, a quick note about why I’m writing this post: this is the season when many people start thinking about family photos, and with that, mini sessions. We’re thinking about the start of school, cozy fall traditions, and how to get a few good family photos (and check the holiday card box) while the weather’s still lovely. I’m offering minis, and I know they’re popular for a reason. But I’m also a big believer in the full session, and I want to explain why. This post isn’t anti-mini. It’s pro–full session. Because in most cases, I think the full session is the better choice. It’s the better experience, the better gallery, and the better investment.
First, let’s talk about the elephant in the room… the economy. Budgets are tighter, expenses are up, and it makes complete sense to be more cautious about where you spend your money. I feel it too.
It’s natural to consider a mini session when you want to capture your family but need to be mindful. Minis are shorter, less expensive, and easier to commit to. And in some cases, they’re absolutely the right fit.
You might want a mini if:
- You just had a full session recently (within the last 6–9 months) but want a quick update for the season.
- There’s a specific location or backdrop you’re really excited about that’s offered with minis.
- You know what you can spend right now, and a mini is what fits. It’s still an act of care to prioritize even one photo session in a budget-conscious season.
But there are also times when I gently encourage families to pause and consider whether a mini is truly the right fit. To think about what the want for from their session, beyond convenience. To reflect on what their family photos could really look like when there’s space for more than just a few quick smiles. Some of the most common reasons people gravitate toward minis are also the reasons I think a full session might serve you better:
“We just need one good Christmas card photo.”
I totally get it. But here’s the thing: six weeks later, that photo gets pulled off the fridge. What about everything else—the way they lean into you, the funny faces, the tiny details your kids will grow out of but you want to remember forever? With a full session, you can have the best of both worlds: a gallery full of meaningful photos you’ll love for years and the holiday card while you’re at it.
“My kids won’t last more than 15 minutes.”
You’d be surprised. Most kids need those first 15 minutes just to warm up. In my experience, the best photos happen when there’s room to breathe, explore, and play. And when kids have time to settle in, it takes the pressure off parents too. You’re not begging for smiles in a tiny window or stressing that every second counts.
“Full sessions are too expensive.”
It’s true that full sessions are a bigger up-front cost. But value isn’t just about price, especially when you consider what you are getting in return. A full session doesn’t just give you more photos, it gives you more of your family. More context, more connection, more of the real-life stuff you’ll want to hold onto. And when you think about what you’ll treasure 5, 10, 20 years from now, a full session will give you the full story. In a season when every dollar counts, let it count toward something that only grows in meaning over time.
“We don’t have time for a full session.”
You’re already coordinating schedules, planning outfits, and getting out the door. That work is the same whether it’s for 15 minutes or an hour. Full sessions often feel easier; especially when we do them at home or somewhere familiar where everyone is more relaxed. You’re not racing the clock or squeezing into a schedule packed with other families. It’s just you, your people, and space to settle into it all.
If you’re picturing a full session as more effort or stress, I want to challenge that. I handle the prep with you. I’m here for planning, wardrobe guidance, location ideas, and as a built-in buffer for whatever the day brings. I get to know your family ahead of time, and when we meet, I’m fully focused on you. By the time we’re halfway in, family photos don’t feel that hard after all. Fun, even. That’s when the magic happens.
And one of the biggest reasons I advocate for full sessions? The full gallery. I deliver all the good stuff. With full sessions, I deliver all-inclusive galleries because I don’t want you to have to choose which parts of your story to keep. When parents have to choose favorites, they often pick the safe shots, the smiling ones. But it’s the in-betweens, the artistic frames, the subtle expressions that you may long for years later.
Minis have a time and place, in many cases they are a fantastic option. But if you want photos that live longer than your holiday card and just get better with time, then a full session is the way to get there.
And in this economy? That kind of value matters more than ever. If you’re going to spend your time and money, it should be on something that grows in meaning with every passing year. Something your family will come back to again and again.
If you’re not sure what’s best for you this season, I’m happy to help you figure that out. You don’t get this season back. But you can keep it. And at the end of the day, mini or full session, if you’re taking the time to get family photos done this year, then I want to applaud you because these things do matter.
TL;DR: Should you book a full session or a mini?
- Mini sessions are short, sweet, and can be a great fit when you’ve recently had a full session, love a specific location, or want something budget-friendly.
- Full sessions offer more time, more flexibility, and more connection. There’s less pressure, and they give you a gallery that tells the full story and includes all the good stuff (no choosing favorites).
- My preference? In most cases, a full session will serve you best. And it’s the better investment when you consider everything that comes with it.
- I offer both, and there’s no wrong choice. But if you’re hoping for photos that grow more meaningful over the years, I’ll always gently point you toward the full session.
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