Mini sessions are such a great way to capture the season of life you are in now! They are 25 minutes long and perfect for an updated family session, anniversary session, couple session, maternity session, or for fun photos with your precious fur baby.  You may be wondering how to have the best mini session ever, and I am here to help you with that! Here are a few of my favorite tips for making yours a successful and joyful experience.

ARRIVE EARLY

Plan on arriving to your mini session at least 10 minutes early!  Arriving early will ensure you have plenty of time to get out of the car, or to walk to the location where we are shooting.  It also allows for a little buffer in case you are running behind on the day.  Mini sessions are booked back to back, so if you arrive late, you may eat into the 25 minutes we have planned to capture some fun memories.  If you think your kids might fall asleep on the way to the session, make sure to leave plenty of time for them to fully wake up before the session begins!

PREP YOUR KIDDOS

Prepare your kids as best as you can for photos!  I will have a few tricks up my sleeves, but I would recommend talking to them about getting their photo taken and getting them excited before the session.  When I am trying to prep my own kids for photos, I normally bring a favorite snack or new toy and let them know they can have it after they smile for the camera. :). Gummy bears work well for us, because they are small and the kids get a gummy bear for a smile!  You know your kids best, so if there is something that works well for your kiddos that you can share with me beforehand (like a favorite song or silly noise) that would be super helpful!

DRESS FOR COMFORT

Dress your family for the season!  If it is going to be a crisp fall day, consider dressing your family in layers!  Everyone is happiest when they feel cozy, so make sure to check the temperature when finalizing your outfit for the day.  A scarf or warm hat can look so cute and can make a big difference in comfort, especially for little ones!

RELAX + ENJOY

Your kids or your significant other will feed off of your energy, so if you are relaxed and enjoying the session, most of the time they will as well!  Think of this as a fun activity where we will have the opportunity to capture the play, laughter, and the joy of the season you are in now.  That is one of the things I love most about mini sessions!

I hope this helps!  If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.  I am so looking forward to capturing beautiful photos of this sweet season you are in now!