Mini sessions are a great way to serve more families in a short amount of time.
But only if people actually book them.
If you’ve ever posted about minis and heard crickets, or ended up scrambling to fill your last few spots, chances are it wasn’t about your price or your photos…
It was your marketing timeline and booking setup.
Here’s what actually works to fill your calendar without the chaos:
Start Marketing Early (2–3 Months Ahead)
The families who are most likely to book—the ones who’ve worked with you before or follow your work closely—are planners.
They don’t want to grab the last spot the night before. They want to plan around soccer games, fall schedules, or holiday cards.
Start talking about your minis at least 2 months ahead:
- Tease the date
- Share behind-the-scenes
- Show images from past minis
- Let your email list know first
This gives people time to book early and gets you out of panic-promo mode.
Use Promo Photos That Make It Clear What They’re Booking
If someone sees your post and has to ask “wait, what’s included?”—they probably won’t book.
Make sure your promo photos clearly show:
- What type of location it is
- What kind of shots they’ll get (full family? kids only? holiday focused?)
- What season or purpose they’re meant for (fall minis, spring, back-to-school, etc.)
This helps people picture themselves there—and gives them more confidence to book.
Make Booking Simple
People are busy. If they have to DM you, wait for a reply, or email back and forth to grab a spot, you’ll lose bookings.
Use a booking platform like Session (what I use), where they can:
- View open time slots
- Book their session
- Sign the contract
- Pay—all in one go
Then take that link and put it everywhere.
Your bio, your stories, your pinned posts, your email list.
Make it easy to find, without needing to ask.
Post More Than Once (You’re Not Being Annoying)
Most people need to see something a few times before they act—and the algorithm doesn’t show your post to everyone anyway.
You’re not annoying people by sharing more than once.
Rotate what you say:
- “Now booking”
- Behind-the-scenes
- “Only X spots left”
- What’s included
- A testimonial or repeat client booking again
If it’s important to you, it needs to be repeated. A lot.
Don’t Rely on Social Media Alone
Social is great, but it’s unpredictable. Your email list? It goes straight to people who already want to hear from you.
When I launch minis, I always:
- Email my list first (they often grab the first few spots)
- Send a reminder mid-way through
- Send a last call if there are any spots left
This alone makes a huge difference in how fast sessions fill.
Create a Reason to Book Now
You don’t need gimmicks or pressure tactics. But you do need to be clear that sessions are limited and will book fast.
Try something simple like:
“These usually fill in a few days, so if you’ve been waiting—now’s the time.”
“Only two weekend spots left.”
“Booking will close once all spots are full.”
Sometimes people just need a little nudge—and the reminder that they could miss it if they wait.
Final Thought
Mini sessions work if you plan ahead.
Give people time. Make it easy to book. Use clear photos. Post often. Use your list.
That’s how you fill your calendar early—and serve clients who are excited to be there.
+ COMMENTS
add a comment