Preparing For Your Mini Session
I’m so happy you’ve decided to shoot with me! If you’ve never done a mini-session before, you’re in for a wild ride! They are fast, fun, and you’ll leave feeling excited to see the images I’ve captured. To get the most out of the session, I’ve put together a few tips and tricks to help you prepare.
ARRIVE EARLY
Since I only offer mini sessions once or twice a year, the day will be filled to capacity. To keep everything moving seamlessly, we MUST start and end on time. That means showing up 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time is imperative. When you arrive you’ll find my assistant nearby where I’ll be shooting. They will help keep everything moving so please go to them first!
Prepare the kids
A session with me is FUN and although I may act a little silly, your kids will leave laughing and full of smiles. I think it’s a great idea to let your children know about the session. Ask them if they want do anything in particular (“a shot of me on Daddy’s shoulders!”). And don’t forget that a small bribe/incentive for good behavior can go a long way. The best thing to do is frame the experience in a positive/fun way.
Food & Sleep are important
There’s nothing quite like trying to photograph a tired and/or hangry toddler. Try your best to have everyone fed and rested — and always have snacks on hand just in case they need a quick refuel!
Plan Ahead
I’m always asked about what to wear to the shoot. This is totally a subjective thing but I prefer to compliment color tones over matching. There are TONS of helpful examples online (Pinterest is a great resource) to find complimentary color tones. Here’s one: https://www.pinterest.com/jamiesolorio/color-schemes-for-photography/
Schedule getting dressed
I don’t want you to feel flustered/stressed starting the session, so avoid waiting until the last minute to get the kids dressed. Plan some time before the shoot to leisurely get them into their outfits (just avoid them eating anything that could stain!).
Backup Outfits
Sometimes messes are inevitable so bring an extra set of clothes for each kid (and maybe for Dad too).
Have fun
15 minutes is not a lot time to shoot, but we can still get some amazing images that you’ll cherish forever. If things aren’t going exactly as you planned in your head, please don’t stress. I’ve had many parents reach out after their sessions worried we got nothing good only to be surprised at how many great moments were captured. And if 15 minutes seems like it may be too short for what you want, we can always upgrade to a full session which will allow us to pick a more convenient day, time and location.
Here are a few images we captured during last years mini-sessions:
