Why you need a brand mini session

As a brand photographer, I am passionate about entrepreneurs getting in front of the camera for many reasons with one being: to elevate your brand. Your industry may feel oversaturated but there’s one thing in your business that sets you apart from the rest…and that’s YOU, my friend. And how will people know who you are? Through brand photos to use across your platforms!

So for those not in “Photography Land,” a “mini session” refers to a shorter photography session, usually ranging somewhere around 15-20 minutes. The date, times, and location are typically pre-determined by the photographer and often sessions are booked back-to-back with other clients to make up a “mini session day.”

A mini session might not be the best fit for every business owner but here’s a few reasons why it might be for you:

1. You headshots are over a year old: While my recommendation is updating headshots at least twice/year, that may not be feasible for everyone. However, if your headshots are over a year old it’s time for some new ones! I mean, a lot can change in a year, am I right? Not only are people ever-evolving so are businesses and updated headshots are a great way to reflect that.
2. You are just starting out: If you’re just starting out, you may not be fully sure of all your brand elements and committing to a full brand shoot experience may feel like something to come later once you nail down your vision for your new brand. However, having photos of yourself when you’re just starting out is absolutely pivotal because it helps your potential new clients connect to you and start to learn the heart of your new business.
3. Your photo budget is limited right now: Professional brand photos are an investment. And while having them does help you to scale and grow your business (cue a good return on your investment), there are a lot of expenses that go along with running a business and so you may not have the budget right now. But, because mini sessions are a lower price than a full session, it can be the perfect fit to get you those key brand images you need to refresh your presence on your website, social media platforms, email signatures, and so much more for a fraction of the cost!
4. You need images ASAP: Do you have a launch coming up soon? Or a new idea you want to share with your audience but need an image that helps get their attention and connect with you? This is probably no news to you but an image of YOU is just what you need! Mini sessions offer an opportunity for a variety of poses (& I personally love paying with different compositions) so you’ll be left with options to choose the perfect photo for just what you’re needing it for…and soon!
5. You want something easy and planned for you: Business owners are typically busy people and so sometimes you just want to check something off your “to-do” list and have it be as simple as possible. Mini sessions hit the mark on that because the location is already chosen for you! And as long as the location chosen fits the aesthetic of your business then it’s a no-brainer. Or, if you’re planning on doing a full brand session at some point but want to add more variety to your brand images, doing both a mini session and a full brand session in two different locations is a genius way to accomplish just that!

In my opinion, a brand mini session is not better or worse than a full mini session – just different! There are pros and cons to each and those are going to vary from business-to-business. But, if you find yourself relating to any of the above 5 reasons, this may just be your sign that the time is now!

If you’re interested in wanting to be on the waitlist for when the next Marissa Elise Photography brand mini session day is available, join HERE! Or, if you’re thinking a full session might be a better fit, read all about what to expect in this blog post 🙂