As a South Bay photographer, one of the questions I hear most often as fall approaches is:
“Should we book a mini session or a full family photo session?”
The truth is…there isn’t a “better” option.
Both are wonderful experiences. They’re simply designed for different families, different stages of life, and different goals.
If you’re trying to decide which family photo session is the best fit for your family this fall, here’s a little guide to help.
A Mini Session May Be Perfect for Your Family If…
Mini sessions are designed to be quick, simple, and efficient.
My fall mini sessions are just 15 minutes, making them a wonderful option for families who mainly want updated portraits for holiday cards, gifts, or to document another year together.
A mini session may be the right fit if:
- Your kids are a little older and generally warm up quickly.
- You’re mainly looking for a handful of beautiful family portraits.
- You love a streamlined experience.
- You’re excited about one of this year’s featured locations.
In just 15 minutes, we can create beautiful images together. I’ll guide you through the session, keep things moving, and make the most of our time.
A Full Family Photo Session May Be the Better Fit If…
If your dream photos are the ones that tell the story of your family—not just what everyone looked like, but how this season of life felt—a full session gives us the time and space for that.
This is especially true if you have toddlers or young children.
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is:
“There’s no way my toddler will last an hour.”
But honestly… it’s usually quite the opposite.
My sessions aren’t about asking children to smile at the camera for an hour.
We play. We explore. We snuggle. We chase waves. We let kids be kids.
Those first 10 or 15 minutes are often simply about building trust and letting little personalities unfold naturally. Once your child realizes we’re just there to have fun, that’s when the genuine smiles and sweet connections begin.
Those are the moments that become your favorite photographs.
One of the Biggest Differences Is Time
The biggest gift a full session gives us isn’t more photos. It’s more freedom.
Freedom for your children to warm up. Freedom to slow down. Freedom to wander, explore, and embrace all those beautiful in-between moments.
Without feeling rushed, your family naturally settles into being yourselves. And that’s often when the most meaningful images are created.
Beautiful South Bay Locations to Tell Your Story
One of my favorite parts of a full session is helping families choose a location that feels like them.
Whether you envision running barefoot along Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach, exploring the rocky shoreline at RAT Beach, soaking in the dramatic beauty of the Palos Verdes cliffs, wandering beneath the eucalyptus trees near St. Francis Church, or exploring one of the trails tucked throughout Palos Verdes, each location offers its own unique backdrop.
Together, we’ll choose a place that complements your family’s personality and creates a setting where everyone can relax and simply enjoy being together.
So… Which Family Photo Session Is Right for You?
A mini session is perfect when you want beautiful, updated family photos in a short amount of time.
A full session is perfect when you want to slow down, create memories together, and capture the beautiful in-between moments that unfold naturally when no one is rushing.
Neither choice is wrong. It simply comes down to where your family is right now and the kind of memories you’d like to preserve.
Whether we spend 15 minutes together or an hour chasing the sunset, my goal as your South Bay family photographer is always the same: to create timeless images that remind you not just what this season looked like, but how it felt.
If you’re unsure which session is right for you, just reach out! I’d love to learn more about your family and help you decide which session will best capture this season of your lives.
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