Fourth of July Mini Sessions

Tips and Tricks for Fourth of July Mini Sessions

By Paige Cerulli

Fourth of July mini sessions are a fantastic way to kick off summer and capture holiday memories for families. These tips from professional photographers can help ensure your Fourth of July minis are something to celebrate.

Image by: Smith Family Photography

What is a Fourth of July Mini Session?

Fourth of July mini sessions are short photo shoots designed to capture the patriotic spirit of the Fourth. Designed for kids, these prop-heavy shoots feature a styled setup that you can use repeatedly. By scheduling sessions back-to-back, you can quickly complete many shoots in a single day for maximum productivity and profits. Plus, since you don’t have to travel and have minimal overhead, families can enjoy these memorable photos for a small investment.

What to charge for a Fourth of July mini session

The photographers that we spoke to charge between $50 and $225 per child for a mini session. That fee includes anywhere from two to 10 digital images. The photographers also offer clients the option to purchase additional images from their gallery, which can help to increase profits for each session.

Posing tips

Strategically choosing prompts can give you ideas for natural poses. Atlanta, Georgia-based photographer Corey Farrar, owner of Simply Corey Photography, tries to include interactive props in her mini sessions. “It helps to avoid stiff poses and the kids all love to be able to touch and play with the different props for photos,” she says.

Anna Smith, owner of central Texas-based Smith Family Photography, takes a similar approach. “I will ask subjects to wave a flag, which they love to do,” Smith explains.

Images by: Alyssa Michele Photo

These additional posing ideas can help to guide your shoot:

• Sitting on a milk crate, bench, wagon, or similar prop
• Leaning against or sitting in a classic car or truck
• Looking up at a flag or backdrop
• Holding a flag or bunch of themed balloons
• Posing with Fourth of July foods, like a themed cake, berries, or watermelon
• Tossing confetti
• Holding or playing with items like themed glasses or pinwheels

Prop ideas

Finding great Fourth of July props can be as simple as a trip to your local big box store. Central California-based photographer Alyssa Gonzalez of Alyssa Michele Photography chooses props that kids can have fun with. “I have a vintage red truck, American flags, sunglasses, vintage Cokes, necklaces, popsicles, and random festive props,” she says. “The popsicles are a big hit and make cute photos.”

Smith uses flag pennants from Dollar Tree and an old Coca Cola crate, complete with glass bottles. Farrar centers her shoots around a Volkswagen bus, and adds details like flags and watermelons.

Some ideas for Fourth of July props include:

• American flags in multiple sizes
• Flag backdrops and garlands
• Flag glasses
• Fourth of July confetti
• Holiday-themed foods like popsicles or cakes
• Distinctly American vehicles, like vintage cars and trucks
• Streamers, pinwheels, and balloons
• Bandannas and hats

What’s the best time of year for a Fourth of July mini session?

While Fourth of July minis celebrate the holiday, be sure to schedule these sessions in advance to give yourself time to edit photos and upload galleries. Plan to market the sessions in advance, too. Smith shares her mini sessions on her social media pages, and also asks her local Chamber of Commerce to promote the sessions. Similarly, Farrar markets her mini sessions through her newsletter, social media accounts, and a private Facebook group for her clients.

Image by: Simply Corey Photography

What should the subjects wear?

For a Fourth of July session, you can’t miss with clothing in patriotic reds, whites, and blues. Smith sends her clients a tip sheet to help them prepare their outfits, and encourages Fourth of July-themed clothes for these mini sessions.

Suggest clients choose clothes that not only fit the theme, but that kids will be comfortable in. Summer attire, including shorts, T-shirts, and dresses can be ideal if you’re shooting outside in the heat. If you plan to use props that could get messy, like popsicles, be sure to encourage parents to bring a change of clothes.

Tips for a successful Fourth of July mini

Fourth of July minis are a great way to celebrate the holiday, so think of the shoots as a celebration, themselves. “Get a photo from all angles and make it fun,” recommends Gonzalez. If you’re using props like streamers and balloons, experiment with shooting through the props at different angles to add variety and style to the shoot.

Be sure to adapt your shooting to what works best for the subject, too. “With little ones, it’s important to get low and have parents or siblings stand right by me to get the subjects to look in my direction instead of everywhere else,” says Smith. “Have fun and be patient,” she recommends.

Farrar looks for that essential connection with the subject in her photos. “It’s important to connect with your subject,” she says, “and to be quick!”

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Written By Paige Cerulli | Photographers Smith Family Photography | Alyssa Michele Photo | Simply Corey Photography