The best themed mini session ideas

There is something a little bit magical about planning out your mini session ideas.

It’s the time when it is not only completely ok to let your artistic side go wild and create the photo backdrops of your dreams – your clients expect it!

One of the key components of a successful mini session campaign is setting yourself apart from the masses and giving your clients something to get excited about. Themed mini sessions are the perfect way to do it.

Some poorly planned mini sessions can just become a cheaper version of a photographer’s full session and offer no advantage to the photographer. 

Don’t diminish your brand by just offering your regular work at a discounted price! Want to learn more about how to run a successful mini-session event? Check out my ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MINI SESSIONS blog post.

The joy of themed mini sessions is they can act as both a way to get new clients and a great additional shoot for your current ones without taking away from your higher paying full sessions.

Luckily for you, the options for themed mini sessions are virtually limitless. 

Here are some mini session ideas for you to consider:

• Holidays: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Cinco De Mayo, Mother’s and Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Halloween
• Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall
• Events: Back to school, graduation, first communion, confirmation, circus, local celebrations, fairs, festivals, carnivals, etc.
• Activities: baking and decorating cookies, painting, crafting, gardening, campfires, glitter blowing, picnics or snowball fights!
• Sports themes: football, baseball, rodeo, lacrosse, volleyball, track or softball!
• Fantasy or whimsical themes: superheroes, unicorns, mermaids, construction or cowboys
• Movie themes: Frozen, Moana, Spiderman, Toy Story, Captain America or the Secret Life of Pets!
• Historical themes: Old West, Roarin’ 20s, 1950s, retro pinups or 80s rockers!
• Food themes: ice cream, watermelon, tacos, spaghetti or donuts!
• Family themes: siblings, mommy and me, daddy and me, little girl in mommy’s wedding dress.
• Pets: humans don’t have to be the star of the show!  Offer mini-sessions for four-legged friends!
• Snow Day Mini Sessions
• You are My Sweetheart – Valentine’s Day Mini Sessions
• March Mini Madness
• Easter Mini Sessions (egg hunts, dying easter eggs, chocolate anything, flowers, spring, the list could go on and on)
• Summer Fun
• Beach Baby
• Red, White and Blue Minis
• Gone Fishing Minis
• Catching Fireflies Mini Sessions
• Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere
• Coffee Date
• Pumpkin Patch Minis
• Fall Leaves Mini Sessions
• Holiday/Christmas Minis

As you can see, no matter your photography and client style, there is a wide assortment of mini session ideas that should work for you.

Have an idea that you didn’t see on the list? Leave me a comment so I can add it to my list!

Finding that sweet spot of being both unique and exciting to your clients creates a sense of urgency that will equal more bookings. 

If there was ever a shoot you should have fun with – mini sessions are it!

Want to learn more about how to run a successful mini-session event? Check out my ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MINI SESSIONS blog post.