Tips For A Successful Mini Session

What are mini sessions? Mini sessions are short photography sessions that typically last between 20 and 30 minutes.  They’re perfect for updated family photos, holiday card photos, baby or child milestones, couple photos, or other announcement photos.

Since these sessions go by quickly, it’s important to make a plan to have a successful session. 

1)    Plan your outfit(s)

Think about coordinating colors and patterns as you plan your/your family’s outfits as overly “matchy” outfits look dated. Also consider the colors in your home when you’re planning your outfits. Chances are you’ll display the photos from your mini session in your home so you’ll want them to fit cohesively and reflect your family’s personality and style.

And because mini sessions are about half the length of a regular photography session, you likely won’t have time for multiple outfit changes. Choose one outfit, or “look,” and wear it to your session. Depending on time and what your photographer allows, bring a second outfit that you can easily change into (i.e. changing takes less than 5 minutes and can be done without the need of a changing room).

2)    Rest up!

Go to bed early so you get a good night’s sleep. Happy, well-rested people means happy, fun, beautiful portraits. And if your little one(s) still take naps, schedule your session around their nap schedule so you have a well rested tot..

3)    Eat something before you arrive

Similar to #2…hangry people do not take happy, fun, beautiful portraits. So eat a good meal before leaving for your mini session. Oh, and brush your teeth so you can be sure you don’t have food stuck between them!

4)    Bring props (or pups)

If you want to use your mini session for a special announcement, don’t forget your props. We don’t have to use your props for your entire session but A) they’ll be fun and B) it’s an easy and quick way to get two different “looks” for your portraits without doing an outfit change.

As for pups, BRING THEM! Just be aware that dogs, like babies, are often on their own schedule and sometimes don’t cooperate. Just know, and accept, that your dog may not to look at the camera, or may give you a kiss without warning. Embrace the moment as I always say!

5)    Arrive early

There’s nothing worse than feeling stressed. There may be traffic, you might get lost, or you might not be able to find a parking spot. Err on the side of caution and give yourself plenty of time to get to your mini session. I find that arriving 10 minutes early gives clients enough time to prep themselves, double check their hair, and relax before their session starts.

6)    Have fun!!

Because that’s what it’s about! We’re here to capture life as it is, at that very moment in time. Honor where your life is and just relax and have fun!

share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I'm a free-spirited love and adventure seeker who aims to inspire joy, compassion, and beauty. I hope to show each person I interact with how remarkable they are and that they have value.  

"

my philosophy

How do we even start to say thank you for all the work and effort you put into our wedding day?

- Josie and Scott

Lauren played such a meaningful role in our wedding, capturing the day in photos that we'll look back on for the rest of our lives. She kept Scott and me calm and sane - Lauren is a miracle worker! She put in 100% effort and gave us her very best, and that means so much to me. Seeing our photographs makes me so excited and so happy that Lauren was with us on this journey.

Lauren made the process so easy and made us feel so comfortable!

- Amy and Luke

We just wanted to say thank you again so much for your amazing work. You were seriously incredible to work with and we loved the locations you suggested for both our engagement shoot and the spots in Stillwater. We were very worried about getting professional photos done since we had never done it before, but you made the process so easy and made us feel so comfortable. Thank you!

Working with Lauren was easy breezy and FUN! She gave us our most treasured photos ever!

- GRACE AND NICK

There was a chunk of time in our wedding planning when we thought we'd go without a professional photographer to save on cost (terrible idea!) but once we met with Lauren, we knew we'd be in good hands. She checked in often and asked questions that got us thinking about other parts of the wedding that we probably would've missed. Lauren captured exactly who we are as a couple!

Lauren's enthusiasm and passion make the photo-taking process so fun – she made me feel like a star!

- Alisa AND Adam

Lauren and her team are so much fun to work with! She made us feel so comfortable on the day of our wedding, providing both silly and helpful cues to help us relax and be ourselves in our photos. Lauren’s background in dance is super helpful in recognizing simple posture changes that make a big difference, too. Oh, and the photos we got are just stunning!

Lauren was pivotal in making our wedding day perfect!

- Emma AND Erik

My husband and I looked FOR MONTHS to find the perfect photographer and after meeting Lauren we knew was the best fit for us. She made our day so much fun and easy. She found little opportunities to make the perfect photo all with a  calm ease that comes from someone who has an artistic eye along with experience in understanding the flow of a wedding.

Not only is Lauren an amazing human being, but she is an awesome photographer!

- Haley AND Erick

I've been in several weddings and have worked with a multitude of photographers and I never felt as confident as I did with Lauren. I love how professional she is. She helped with the timeline way in advance and we stuck to that timeline the day of. She was also able to professionally and firmly keep unruly family members settled and focused and navigated family drama beautifully!

follow along