North CityStudio Mini Session Work Flow:10 Tips for a Successful Mini Session Event!

1. Book your studio time ASAP. The North City Studio’s calendar fills up fast - especially in the late fall, winter and early spring. Make sure you’re on our mailing list and following us on social media to be ready to book when the calendar opens. Our calendar is currently open for booking through March (anyone thinking about Valentine minis?).

2. Base the length of your studio reservation on setup time, clean-up time, length of each mini session, and time in-between clients. Don’t forget to figure all these important factors into your mini session event. 

3. Decide on your setup workflow.  We recommend keeping it SIMPLE for mini sessions. Have one or two setups at most. If you plan on using our holiday sets, we suggest using ONE look for each mini session day. We’ve found clients are happy with one holiday setup and one more neutral setup, such as a plain white couch and wall or the blue couch with plants. 

4. ADVERTISE your minis!  We know it is easier to advertise minis with example images. Please reach out to us for general studio photos or holiday set images you can use in your advertising.   If you are hoping to create a unique look, consider renting the studio, doing a model call to get marketing images for your minis. We want you to sell out your minis – remember you need to get the message out at least 7-10 times and across as many client touchpoints as possible – social media, website, newsletter, etc. 

5. Price for profit. There is a lot to consider when pricing your mini sessions. We suggest making sure you are able to break even on your studio rental investment by booking one mini session or less. 

6. (OVER)COMMUNICATE TO YOUR CLIENTS! This is, hands down, the MOST important tip for a successful mini session day. Be sure to address all your clients’ questions in your pre-session communication with your client and even before they book.  Making sure your mini session day runs smoothly and on time will depend on how well you communicate in advance with your clients.  Make sure they know what to expect, what time to arrive, how long their session will be, where to park (where to NOT park), how to enter the building, how to arrive (dressed, ready, etc), what happens if they are late, when they can expect to see their images, and studio rules such as no running or jumping.  We know minis are high energy, fun, and at times chaotic, so communicating these expectations in advance will be sure to help.

7. For a full day of minis, consider bringing some help. Especially if you opted for not having too much downtime between sessions, it will be helpful to have someone who can greet your next family while you are still working with the family before them.   

8. Decide on your shot list workflow and do the same thing for each family.  Example: Family together on set 1, kids only on set 1, each kid alone on set 1, each parent alone with kids, parents alone. Repeat on set 2.  

9. Deliver great images and offer upgrades. Include a set amount of images with mini sessions but offer the chance to buy more/all images for an additional cost. Also include the chance to buy prints, holiday cards and albums.  

10. HAVE FUN! Make minis an experience for your clients. Play music, have small holiday gifts, treats, or goodies out for kids and grown ups. Have print and card samples out for clients to visualize how they will use their images.