Spring Mini Sessions are back this year! For those of you who don’t know, I usually offer mini sessions twice a year: in the Spring or Fall. Last year, I only offered fall mini sessions and clients begged for me to offer Spring again. It’s a great opportunity for past clients to refresh their wall spaces with new images of their families or for new clients to book me for my style if they can’t invest in a full session. Mini Sessions are for engagements, anniversaries, maternity, mommy and me, or any other portrait you can think of! Here are a few suggestions to help you prepare for your session.

Arrive Early

Mini Sessions run back to back. Arriving at least 10 minutes earlier can help you prepare for the session and ease into the moment. If you’re doing a family session, these few minutes can help you round the troop and make sure everyone is ready. Make sure that everyone is well rested and fed before your session, as that influences the session as well.

Plan your Outfits

The clothing you choose directly impacts your images, causing to highlight who you and your loved ones or creating the biggest distraction. Because of this, I ask my clients to wear what makes them feel comfortable. If they feel comfortable and beautiful, that confidence will shine through. I also often suggest my clients to use color schemes and tones that work together, and to take inspiration from the location I will utilize as their backdrop. Since I tend to utilize natural light, most likely I will use a natural environment to highlight your family. Nature already points to colors that we can draw inspiration from. Begin planning with the most difficult person to dress and coordinate everyone else accordingly. Your portraits will ultimately hang in your home and I want to make sure I capture your personalities and style in a cohesive, timeless manner.

During the Session

When you work with a professional, you can rest easy knowing that I will get your flattering angles and make even the worst of meltdowns (Yes, they happen 99% of the time) a beautiful photograph. I have tools, experience and a game plan that will make the session a success. Just because a mini session is less time than a full session it doesn’t mean that it is less quality.

Expect to Have Fun

Happy people create the most beautiful portraits! I know that if your session involves kids, you are stressing about their behavior and micro managing them. I’m here to tell you that your only job in my session is to be happy and have fun! Leave the kids to me. Meltdowns may happen but kids always bounce back if you keep the session moving. You’ll be surprised when you see the gallery and all you see is happy, loving faces. Besides, who can be upset when the session is short? These session happen to be dad’s favorites for a reason!

Don’t Wait to Plan Where Your Images Will Go

Having prints or albums made from your session is something that will last for generations to come. My job is to document a milestone in your life, essentially your history. If there are bare walls in your home that crave to be filled with memories, take advantage of this opportunity. Talk with me about possible print options, canvases and frames. I’ll be more than happy to help you with the process!