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Mini-Sessions

Mini-sessions are designed for days when you want to run back-to-back sessions on a set schedule. You pick the dates, define your time windows, and CoreHue breaks them into individual slots that clients can book.

This mode is perfect for holiday mini-sessions, school photos, pop-up events, themed portrait days, or any situation where you are offering short sessions in a structured timeframe.

How mini-sessions work​

Unlike self-service mode (where clients browse your general weekly availability), mini-sessions are tied to specific dates you create. You control exactly when sessions are offered, how long each one lasts, and how many people can book each slot.

Slot duration and capacity​

When you create a mini-session service, you set two key numbers.

  • Slot duration. How long each individual session runs. The minimum is 5 minutes. Common choices are 15 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes.
  • Max spots per slot. How many clients can book the same time slot. Set this to 1 if each slot is for a single client or family. Set it higher for group-style events where multiple clients share the same session time.

Adding session dates​

For each day you plan to offer mini-sessions, you add a session date. Each date includes:

  • The date. The calendar day for this set of sessions.
  • Time window. A start time and end time for the day. For example, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. CoreHue uses your slot duration and buffer settings to automatically calculate the individual time slots within this window.
  • Buffer minutes. How many minutes of padding between each slot. This gives you time to reset, transition, or take a quick break between clients. For example, with 20-minute slots and a 10-minute buffer, each booking cycle takes 30 minutes.
  • Location. Each session date can have its own location. This is useful if you shoot at a park on Saturday and a studio on Sunday, for example.
  • Slot count. CoreHue calculates how many slots fit within your time window based on the duration and buffer. You can see this number at a glance when reviewing your session dates.

You can add as many session dates as you need. Each date operates independently with its own time window, buffer, and location.

What the client sees​

When a client clicks on your mini-session service, here is what happens.

  1. Upcoming session dates. The client sees a list of your available session dates. Each date shows the day, time range, location, and how many spots are still open.
  2. Available slots with spot counts. When the client picks a date, they see the individual time slots. Each slot shows the start time and how many spots remain. If a slot has multiple spots (for group events), the client can see exactly how many are left.
  3. Sold out display. When all spots for a slot are taken, that slot shows as "Sold out." The client can still see it in the list, but they cannot book it. This creates a sense of demand and encourages clients to book sooner.
  4. Slot hold. When the client picks a slot, CoreHue holds their spot while they complete the booking form. If they do not finish in time, the spot opens back up.
  5. Booking flow. From here, the client goes through the same steps as self-service: filling in their details, answering questionnaire questions (if attached), handling payment (if enabled), and signing a contract (if attached). Then they confirm.

Multiple spots per slot​

Setting max spots per slot to more than 1 opens up group-style booking. Here is how it works:

  • Each slot starts with your set number of spots.
  • As clients book, the available spot count goes down.
  • Other clients can still see and book the slot as long as there are spots remaining.
  • Once all spots are filled, the slot shows as sold out.

This is great for events like a holiday photo setup where multiple families share a time block, or a workshop where you want several participants per session.

Addons​

Just like self-service, mini-session services can have addons. Clients select them during booking, and the total price updates live. Addon prices are locked in at the moment of booking.

Tips for a smooth mini-session day​

  • Set a reasonable buffer. Even 5 to 10 minutes between slots helps you stay on schedule and avoid running behind.
  • Use location per date. If you shoot at different spots on different days, set the location on each session date so clients know exactly where to go.
  • Feature the service. Mark it as featured so it gets the "Most popular" badge and stands out on your booking page.
  • Attach an intake questionnaire. Ask clients for the names and ages of their children, outfit details, or other session-specific info so you are prepared for each slot.