Are Holiday Mini Sessions Right for Your Family?

The holiday season is almost here—which means it’s time to start thinking about holiday cards, gifts, and capturing those warm, joyful moments with your loved ones. For many photographers it is a time where we offer special Holiday sessions for our Clients to get pictures for their families.

I will be hosting dates in both October and November in my Scotch Plains studio, but before you book one for your family, let’s talk about what a holiday mini session really is—and whether it’s the right fit for your family.

What is a Holiday Mini Session?

A mini session is a 15-minute, fast-paced photo session designed to get you gorgeous holiday portraits with minimal time commitment. My studio set will be styled for the season and you’ll be guided through an experience that keeps things moving—especially helpful for little ones (and grownups!) with short attention spans.

Here’s what’s included:

🕒 15-minute photo session on a festive studio set
💻 Time immediately after to select your favorite images
📸 3 professionally retouched digital files included
💰 $390 per session
🎁 Special pricing on additional files – buy 2, get the 3rd free!
📍 Held at my Scotch Plains, NJ studio
⏰ Strict 40-minute window between sessions—no extensions or delays

These sessions are designed to be quick, fun, and stress-free.

Is a Holiday Mini Session Right for You?

Mini sessions are a great choice if:

✅ You want just a few high-quality images for holiday cards or gifts
✅ Your child or pet adjusts quickly to new environments
✅ You prefer a short, efficient photo experience
✅ You like the idea of a styled holiday set without needing to plan it yourself
✅ You’re looking for a more budget-friendly option than a full session

They’re especially popular with returning clients who know the flow. Or for families who have done minis before and know what to expect.

When a Full Session Might Be Better

Mini sessions are not one-size-fits-all—and that’s okay! If any of the following sounds like your family, a custom full session may be a better fit:

❌ Your child needs time to warm up or may be shy
❌ You want outfit changes, multiple backdrops, or more variety
❌ You’re hoping for extended family photos or larger groupings
❌ You want a slower-paced, more personalized experience

Full sessions allow for more time, flexibility, and customization—all tailored to your family’s needs. If that sounds like a better fit, I’d be happy to help you book a full session instead.

Here are some images that we’ve captured at our Holiday Sessions in recent years…

How to Book Your Holiday Mini

Spots for these limited-edition holiday minis always go fast! To reserve your time, click below:

👉 Book Your Holiday Mini Session

Each session includes 3 retouched digital images, with the option to purchase additional favorites at special pricing—buy 2, get the 3rd free.

Save $50 if you book by August 31st with code “VIPHOLIDAY”!

Not sure if a mini session is the right fit? I’m happy to talk through your options or help you schedule a full, individualized session instead.

Let’s make some holiday magic together!

We had such a fun time this year at our Holiday Mini Sessions! This year’s backdrop for our family holiday photos was a rustic fireplace set with an exposed brick wall and wreath above the mantle. It made for the perfect backdrop for our Christmas set. And we even had our own little Santa show up for the shoot <3.

These sessions are quick 20 minute sessions and include a certain number of digital files. This year’s session included 5 retouched digital files. Families always have the option to add on additional files a la carte.

Oh the controversy!!

In the photography world, there is a lot of controversy around mini sessions LOL! Some people won’t do them at all. And I get it! It really depends on how you are running them and what you are including and the setups you are using. Doing it the “wrong” way can leave photographers burnt out, unappreciated and undervalued. And that’s not fun for anyone!

But mini family holiday photo sessions can be good for families who are looking for fun updated photos of their kids but may not want to have a full family session with print products. Some families DO want a full family session and create beautiful wall art for their home! The good news? I offer a little bit of both and something for everyone :). Oh and I already have next year’s backdrop ready to go! And omg it’s AWESOME!

You do you!

But hey, at the end of the day, we are all individuals and can make our own choices and run our businesses the way that makes the most sense for us. And right now I am really happy with the way I did things this year and I’m looking forward to doing more of the same! Hint, Hint…there will be more fun mini sessions coming up!!! Want to be the first to know? You can sign up for my mini session email list here 👇🏻

This year I also dedicated one of my mini session days to include dogs! And we had some really cute ones show up for their photos! I mean, do I have the best job or what???

Tag Archives: christmas photos