Mini Sessions vs. Full Custom Photography Sessions: Which Is Right for Your Family?
If you’ve been searching for an Orlando family photographer, you’ve probably come across two common options: mini sessions and full custom photography sessions. While both result in beautiful, professional portraits, they’re designed for very different needs.
At Kossina Creative Photography, we offer both mini sessions and fully customized portrait experiences for families throughout Orlando, Winter Park, Lake Nona, Avalon Park, Waterford Lakes, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Windermere, Clermont, and Central Florida. Understanding the difference can help you choose the experience that’s right for your family.
What Is a Mini Session?
Mini sessions are exactly what they sound like: a shorter version of our custom photo session experience.
Offered on select dates throughout the year, mini sessions take place with pre-designed sets at our boutique photo studio or at carefully selected locations and are scheduled in 20- to 30-minute appointment slots. Because the creative planning has already been done, we’re able to photograph multiple families back-to-back while still delivering the polished, magazine-quality images we’re known for.
The biggest difference isn’t the quality of your portraits, it’s the level of customization. Rather than designing every aspect of the session around your individual vision, mini sessions feature predetermined backdrop options or a specific location, along with styling that has already been thoughtfully planned by our team. This allows us to offer a streamlined experience while maintaining the same professional standards our clients expect.
Mini sessions are a great choice if you’re looking for:
- Updated family portraits
- Holiday card photos
- Milestone updates
- Quick annual photos
- A smaller investment of time
Many parents, especially dads, love mini sessions because they’re quick, efficient, and still produce stunning, professional portraits without spending hours at a photoshoot. They’re also a wonderful option for families who want to update their portraits each year while still having the opportunity to create heirloom albums, framed prints, canvases, and other artwork from their favorite images.
One thing that doesn’t change is what happens after your session. Every image you select is individually hand-retouched using the same editing process as our full custom sessions, resulting in the polished, magazine-quality portraits our clients know and love. You’ll also enjoy the same guided image selection process and access to our collection of premium print products and wall art. The only thing that’s “mini” is the session itself, not the care, craftsmanship, or final result.
When a Mini Session May Not Be the Best Fit
While mini sessions are wonderful for many families, they aren’t the right fit for everyone.
For children under the age of two, we almost always recommend booking a full custom session instead.
Young toddlers often need extra time to warm up to a new environment, meet the photographer and assistant, and become comfortable in front of the camera. During a mini session, the schedule is much tighter, leaving very little room for snack breaks, cuddles, or simply letting your little one explore and acclimate before we begin photographing.
With a full session, we can work at your child’s pace, making the experience much more enjoyable for everyone and often resulting in natural smiles and more relaxed candid moments.
We also do not recommend mini sessions for families who are looking for a photo session with their extended family. While mini sessions can be a wonderful option for smaller families who are looking for a few updated portraits, extended family sessions typically require more time and flexibility to capture everyone well.
When you have grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, and multiple generations together, there are so many different combinations and relationships that you may want photographed, which is tough to do in just a 20 or 30-minute mini session. A full custom session makes the most of having everyone together so you can leave with a collection of images that feels complete.
What Is a Full Custom Photo Session?
A full custom session is exactly that: completely personalized around your family.
Rather than choosing from pre-designed sets, we’ll work with you to create a session that reflects your style, personality, and vision.
Because every detail is carefully planned, custom sessions are also ideal for families who know they’ll be displaying their portraits prominently in their home. Whether you’re envisioning a large framed canvas above your fireplace, artwork for a gallery wall, or an heirloom album you’ll treasure for generations, we can intentionally style your session to complement your home’s décor and create timeless artwork that feels right at home in your space.
A custom session gives you more flexibility with:
- Personalized styling and wardrobe guidance
- Color palettes that complement your home’s décor
- Custom themes and creative concepts
- Multiple setups or locations
- More time for young children to warm up
- Larger families and extended family portraits
- A greater variety of images for albums and wall art
Whether you’re dreaming of timeless neutral family portraits, a whimsical birthday theme, elegant maternity photos, or a colorful cake smash celebration, a custom session allows us to tailor every detail to your vision. It’s also a wonderful option for families who love displaying portraits throughout their home and want each session to coordinate beautifully with artwork they’ve invested in over the years.
Which Session Is Right for You?
A Mini Session may be the perfect choice if you:
- Simply want updated portraits
- Love the featured seasonal set
- Have older children who photograph well in shorter sessions
- Need photos for holiday cards or yearly updates
- Want stunning portraits without extensive planning
- Want a quick and convenient experience
- Lower price point
A Full Custom Session is likely your best option if you:
- Have children under two years old
- Want a fully personalized experience
- Have a specific color palette or theme in mind
- Want more image variety or multiple outfit changes
- Prefer a more relaxed pace
- Plan to invest in custom wall art or heirloom albums
- More photos in the session to choose from
- Custom date options to choose from
Serving Families Throughout Orlando & Central Florida
Our portrait studio is conveniently located in Avalon Park in East Orlando, making it an easy drive for families from Winter Park, Oviedo, Lake Nona, Waterford Lakes, Winter Springs, Clermont, Windermere, Kissimmee, Sanford, and surrounding Central Florida communities.
Whether you’re interested in a quick seasonal mini session or a fully customized portrait experience, our goal is always the same. We strive to create images you’ll cherish for years to come. From annual portrait updates to statement wall art, heirloom albums, and custom artwork for your home, we’re here to help you preserve your family’s memories in a way that fits both your lifestyle and your vision.
Ready to Book?
If you’re unsure whether a mini session or a full custom session is the best fit, we’re always happy to help you decide.
Contact Kossina Creative Photography to learn about any of our upcoming Orlando mini sessions, or schedule a consultation to begin planning your custom portrait experience. We’ll help you choose the option that best fits your family, your vision, your home, and the memories you want to preserve for generations.
