Bringing Heart Into Family Mini Sessions with Brooke Schultz

Photographers will learn how to structure family mini sessions around a repeatable story rather than a checklist of poses, so the work stays fresh and meaningful even in 20 minutes. They will also learn why family photography deserves higher pricing and how to communicate that value to clients without feeling awkward about it.

Brooke Schultz, a Utah based family photographer and educator, talks through her "elements of family story" method, why she avoids the burnout that comes from reusing poses, and how her own experience of motherhood and grief shaped the way she photographs families. The conversation covers mini session strategy, pricing, energetic leadership on set, and how to handle moments when a shoot does not go to plan.

About Brooke Schultz

Brooke Schultz is a Utah based family photographer, educator, and writer who publishes a magazine and is writing a musical. She started as a wedding photographer in 2014 before moving into candid, in-home family photography, and she teaches her approach through her course, Love Soaked Family Photography.

Key takeaways

1. Build sessions around story, not poses

Brooke moves through what she calls elements of family story in every session, whether it is 20 minutes or two hours. Starting with reusable poses leads to burnout, but orienting around ideas like whole family, big emotional happiness together keeps the work endlessly inspiring, even after eight years of shooting the same elements.

2. Lower the bar for what a mini session can achieve

You will not capture every shot you have ever dreamed of in 20 minutes, so decide on the one most important thing to get and knock it out fast. Brooke shoots her Christmas card style shot in under a minute, then spends the rest of the session chasing variety instead of repeating the same emotion.

3. Match your mini session marketing to the business you want long term

The way you style and advertise a mini session attracts a specific type of client who will expect the same thing again next year. Decide what vibe you want to keep offering before you set up a themed or done-up session, because clients tend to return wanting more of the same.

4. Show up with energetic leadership, not just hope

Instead of hoping a session goes well, walk in with the confidence that you know exactly where you are taking the family. Clients will follow whatever energy the photographer brings, so leading with clarity and belief changes the entire feel of the shoot.

5. Communicate the value that is already there

Family photographs are priceless because they are often the only tangible record people have of the people they love most. Rather than trying to add value through extras, Brooke recommends telling clients directly why these images matter, such as noting that these are the photos someone would run into a burning house to grab.

6. Raise prices in one significant jump, not small annual increases

Brooke avoids raising prices a little every year, comparing it to the slow irritation of a salon doing the same. She recommends one meaningful price increase when business demands it, then using packages and minimum purchase requirements to build in flexibility for different seasons.

7. Treat problems in a shoot as opportunities

Kids melting down or a reluctant dad are not session killers, they are impermanent moments that can turn into the most honest images. Brooke reminds herself that a photograph only needs a fraction of a second of truth, so she can restart the energy of a shoot at any point.

Favourite moments

"Family photographers should be the highest paid artists in the entire world."

Brooke Schultz

"I think a lot of photographers get really quickly burnt out and bored with mini sessions, because they're reusing poses instead of ideas."

Brooke Schultz

"People are not buying the photos, they're buying how you and the photos make them feel."

Brooke Schultz

"We're all kaleidoscopes, and we get to kind of hold up that lens to other people to see those so many facets of themselves."

Brooke Schultz

"Everything in a family shoot is impermanent. It doesn't last. And that's the best thing about a family session."

Brooke Schultz

"Stop looking left and right, stop looking to other people for what you should be doing, and start looking to your future."

Brooke Schultz

Listen to the full episode

Watch the episode above, or listen to Bringing Heart Into Family Mini Sessions with Brooke Schultz on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I make mini sessions feel meaningful and not rushed?

Brooke Schultz suggests building sessions around a repeatable story structure, such as her elements of family story, rather than trying to recreate a full session checklist in a shorter window. Lower your expectations of what you can capture, get your most important shot first, then focus the rest of the time on variety.

How much should family photographers charge for mini sessions?

Brooke argues family photographers are often underpriced given how priceless these images become to clients over time. She recommends against small yearly increases and instead suggests one significant price jump when your business demands it, paired with flexible packages.

How do you handle kids or parents who do not want to cooperate during a shoot?

Brooke treats problems like meltdowns or a reluctant parent as impermanent and even useful, since a photo only needs a fraction of a second to feel real. She also adjusts logistics, such as moving a shoot indoors if a field is too distracting for kids.

What should I include when marketing mini sessions to attract the right clients?

Brooke points out that the styling and vibe of your marketing, such as a dressed up Santa set versus a nostalgic film based tree farm session, will attract a specific type of client who will expect the same experience again next year. She recommends aligning your mini session offering with the direction you actually want your business to go.

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