# Running mini sessions

> Sell photography mini sessions online with CoreHue. Add your dates, split each day into short slots, take payment at booking and let clients claim a spot.

Source: https://help.corehue.co/docs/online-booking/mini-sessions/

Mini sessions let clients choose a slot on specific dates you set. Define the slot length, available times, price and payment requirements for each service.

## How mini sessions are different

A direct booking finds a gap in your week. A mini session works the other way round: you declare the day, chop it into slots, and clients claim one.

Your weekly availability, minimum notice and booking window don't apply. The dates you add are the whole schedule.

## Setting one up

1. Go to **Bookings → Services**, choose **Add service**, name it and pick **Mini sessions**.
2. On **Details**, write what's included and add a cover image that sells the theme.
3. On **Price & slot**, set the price, slot length and how many clients fit in each slot.
4. On **Dates & location**, add each date you're running.
5. On **Booking flow**, turn on payment and anything else you need.
6. Choose **Publish** and share the link.

A mini session service has four tabs: **Details**, **Price & slot**, **Dates & location** and **Booking flow**.

## Price and slot length

| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Price per slot** | What one client pays for one slot |
| **Slot duration** | 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 or 60 minutes. Empty until you pick one, and required to save. |
| **Spots per slot** | How many clients can book the same time, up to 50. Starts at 1. |

**Currency**, **Tax** and **Add-ons** sit on the same tab. Add-ons are a good way to sell extra images or a print package on top of the slot. See [Adding add-ons to a service](/docs/online-booking/add-ons).

Leave **Spots per slot** at 1 unless several families really do share a time, like a themed set where people rotate through.

## Adding your dates

Under **Schedule** on the **Dates & location** tab, choose **Add date** for each day. Each date has:

- **Date**
- **Booking gap**, time kept free between slots on that day
- **Start time** and **End time**, which with the slot length decide how many slots the day holds
- **Location name** and **Address**, so one service can cover a park one weekend and a studio the next

The **Location** section above sets a default you can change per date. Dates save with the rest of the service when you choose **Save**, so a half-finished date blocks the save until you complete it.

Once a date has bookings or active holds, it shows **Has bookings or holds**. Its date, times and booking gap are then fixed so nobody's slot moves under them. You can still change the location details.

## Blocking your other bookings

**Block shared availability** sits at the top of **Schedule** and is on by default. It means a mini session booking also blocks that time for your other services that use shared availability, so nobody books a headshot in the middle of your mini day. Leave it on unless the two can never clash.

## Taking payment

Mini sessions work best paid in full at booking. The client books and pays in one action, and you never chase anyone for a small amount. Turn on **Collect payment** in step **4 Payment** of the **Booking flow** tab and choose **Full payment**.

You can take a deposit instead, though for short, low-priced sessions it usually creates more admin than it saves. See [Pricing, deposits and payment deadlines](/docs/online-booking/pricing-and-deposits).

## What your client sees

The service opens on **Select a date and time**: a row of your dates (hidden when there's only one), then the slots for whichever date they choose. A slot that seats more than one shows how many places are left. Full slots and dates read **Full**.

Under the times they're told their slot is held for 30 minutes once they continue. Choosing **Continue** on **We'll hold this slot for you** starts the timer, then they fill in their details, sign and pay.

Once every slot is gone, the service shows **Sold out** on your booking page and can't be opened.

## After the day

Each slot is a normal booking with its own client, invoice and booking page. Mark them complete as you go and deliver as usual. For lots of small deliveries, a separate gallery per family is usually easier than chapters in one shared gallery.

For a planning checklist, from picking the location to sending galleries, see [Planning a mini session day](/docs/guides/planning-a-mini-session-day).

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I run mini sessions at different locations?

Yes. Each date has its own **Location name** and **Address**, so one service can cover several venues.

### How do I stop a slot from being booked twice?

You don't need to. A full mini session slot stays on the page greyed out and marked **Full**, so nobody can pick it, and a slot being held by someone mid-booking can't be taken by anyone else.

### Can I add another date after publishing?

Yes. Add the date on **Dates & location** and save. The new date appears on the mini session straight away. Clients already partway through booking keep their held slot.

### Do mini sessions use my weekly availability?

No. Mini sessions run only on the dates you add to the service. Your weekly hours, minimum notice and booking window don't apply.