Branding Photos 101: Mini vs. Full Sessions for First-Time Entrepreneurs

If you’re a business owner or creative looking to elevate your online presence, investing in brand photography is one of most ultimate boss moves you can make. But let’s be real—when it comes to booking a session, it’s not always easy to decide what kind of shoot fits your needs and goals best.

That’s exactly why I offer two main options through Owl’s Iris Photography: the Full Branding Session and the Mini Branding Session. Each is designed with purpose, strategy, and creativity—but they’re built for different kinds of clients at different stages of their journey.

Let’s dive into the details so you can confidently choose the session that aligns with your business goals, schedule, and content needs.

What’s the Difference Between a Full Branding Session and a Mini Branding Session?

Here’s the TL;DR:
A Full Branding Session is a comprehensive, custom experience designed for business owners ready to level up their visuals and marketing.
A Mini Branding Session is a short and sweet solution for those who need a quick refresh, a smaller batch of content, or are dipping their toes into brand photography for the first time.

But of course, the magic is in the details—so let’s compare them side-by-side.

Session Length & Structure

🔹 Full Branding Session:
Expect an average 4-8 hours of personalized shoot time (length depends on what full branding package you choose). This gives us the space to capture a variety of looks, settings, and storytelling moments that reflect your brand vibe and really get into the nuances of it all . It’s perfect for those wanting a gallery of content they can use for months and months to come.

🔸 Mini Branding Session:
We keep things concise with a 20-minute shoot. It’s fast-paced but still intentional—ideal for seasonal updates or quick launches.

Planning & Prep

🔹 Full Session Includes:

A 30-minute Discovery Call
A 60-minute Planning Call
In-depth brand planning guides
A detailed day-of strategy schedule (think timing, shot list, wardrobe changes, posing, and props)
Guided breathing and mindfulness to ease nerves
Locations planning tailored to your brand
Multiple locations encouraged
Option + time to add drone photography and/or videography

🔸 Mini Session Includes:

No calls, but you'll get helpful online resources via email
An abbreviated Mini- Session planning guide
A flexible, client-responsive approach to the day-of shoot
We jump right into our session as soon as the session begins—no warm-up time!
A pre-selected location chosen by me, with a variety of brands in mind.

This means that if you want a highly tailored session with room for deep creative exploration, the Full Session will feel like your best friend. If you prefer a simplified process with minimal planning required, the Mini Session might be your jam. I find that some newer brands find a mini-session more digestible, especially if it's a persons first photoshoot!

Lighting & Styling

🔹 Full Branding Sessions include supplemental lighting so we can shape and craft the light to flatter you and suit your brand mood—whether that's bold and edgy or soft and natural. We have time to be a little creative and test out different lighting patterns to match the vibe.

🔸 Mini Branding Sessions use beautiful natural light available at our chosen location. It's quick, effective, and organic—but doesn’t allow for the same level of light customization or intention.

Tethering Session

🔹 Full Branding Sessions include on-site tethering to an iPad so we can see the photos large in real time. This is SUCH an amazing tool that I bring along and my clients LOVE it. It's an amazing way to see the details of the session, and can really help put any fears or hesitations about your shoot behind you immediately!

🔸 Mini Branding Sessions sadly don't have the time for tethering!

Image Delivery

🔹 Full Session:
You’ll receive a minimum of 30 final images, with a wide range of poses, settings, and brand storylines.

🔸 Mini Session:
You’ll receive 10 thoughtfully selected and edited images that pack a punch for your content needs.

Flexibility & Rescheduling

🔹 Full Sessions offer flexible rescheduling options—because life happens, and your session should work for you, not stress you out.

🔸 Mini Sessions are locked in with no reschedules permitted, to keep the experience streamlined and low-cost for everyone.

Who Each Session is For

✨ Full Branding Session Is Best For:

Entrepreneurs rebranding or launching something new
Business owners who want content for it all: website, social, email, and beyond
Creatives and service providers who want to dive deeper into visual storytelling
Business owners who have a strong email marketing schedule
Anyone wanting variety, flexibility, and a strategic approach to showing up online

✨ Mini Branding Session Is Best For:

Repeat clients (love ya'll!) who need seasonal refreshes and touch ups
Business owners on a budget or on a tight schedule
First-timers curious about brand photography but sure if they are not ready for the full experience
Those who only need a few key images for a new launch, upcoming event, or business update

Which One Should You Choose?

It really comes down to this:

Do you want a customized, spacious, strategic experience? Go for the Full Branding Session.
Want to keep it quick and simple but still walk away with strong images? The Mini Branding Session is for you.

Still unsure? I’m always happy to chat and help you decide what makes sense for where you're at in your business journey.

Ready to Book Your Branding Session?

Whether you choose a Full or Mini Session, one thing’s for sure: you’ll walk away with intentional, beautiful, personality-packed photos that make your business shine.

💛 Let’s make magic together.
Visit www.owlsirisphotography.com to get started, or slide into my DMs on Instagram to chat it out.