Fall Mini Sessions

with Christina Marie Photography & Lana Hamilton Photography

DAY OF YOUR SESSION | Sessions are scheduled in 10 minute increments. These are meant to be quick and fun!

It is best to feed your kids an early dinner or snack if possible. We find that hungry kids are usually grumpier during photos and we want everyone to have as much fun as possible! Try not to stress throughout the day leading up to you session. We know its easier said then done, but less stress will make the session run smoother.

WHERE TO MEET | You will receive location information in your confirmation which will be sent 1-3 days prior. We request that you are a few minutes early.

PAYMENT | Payment information will be in your confirmation which will be sent 1-3 days prior.

WHAT TO EXPECT | Expect to have fun, be prepared to play. Tickles, walks, fart jokes are all what make a family session fun. We will always start with everyone looking photos, and then from there, especially mom and dad, we want you to look at your beautiful children, hug them, feel their hair, embrace them. Or look at your spouse, kiss them, hug them, dip them, spin them! Emotion is created through movement!! Also, you did book a mini session, so be prepared for your session to move quickly.

WHAT TO WEAR | Outfit selection plays a HUGE role in how your photos turn out and can really be the icing on the cake!  Certain colors, materials, and textures will work wonders in photos. Don't hesitate to create a flat lay of your outfits and send them our way - from here we can give you recommendations on what does and does not work. We like to recommend earth tones, rich tones or neutrals. So instead of bright green think olive green, instead of yellow think mustard,, you get the gist. These tones photograph so beautifully. We highly recommend steering clear of bright colors, neons, and anything with logos. We want the attention to be on YOU, not your clothing. However with that said we want your clothing to compliment your style and personality. You never wear a dress? Who cares! Go all out and let yourself feel beautiful!! It's also ok to mix and match patterns and textures as long as they coordinate! This also goes for layering. And let's not forget about shoes!!! Think about what goes on your feet. When in doubt go bare foot.

CLIENT CLOSET | We have a client closet with a variety of dresses for women xs-xl. You are welcome to come to our studio and try them on. Dresses are free for you to wear during your session.

THE LITTLE DETAILS | We like to get close during your session (if and when we can) to capture the tiny details. Hand placement is important so make sure your fingernails are manicured/clean or how you like them to be photographed (Men included). Also if your kids eat a snack on the way, that is totally fine, just make sure faces are clean from food and boogies are wiped from noses for the session. Speaking of snacks, if you bring a snack or treat for bribery (which is totally fine!) please stay away from anything messy or staining. Things like baby crackers are mushy, skittles are staining, etc.

HAIR & MAKE UP | Ladies: it is best to wear your hair down. Loose curls and chunky braids are amazing for photos! Littles: it is best to wear hair down and natural or braided. Sweet and simple and natural is best. Avoid big bows. Professional makeup really does wonders in photos! This does not necessarily mean a lot of makeup. Good makeup artists will know how to highlight your natural beauty in a way that phtoographs beautifully. We are happy to recommend a good makeup artist if you would like to pamper yourself before your session!

SESSIONS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN | We want your experience as a family to be enjoyable for everyone. At the beginning of your session we will take a few posed traditional photos where everyone is looking at the camera. We will be lightly posing and prompting you in ways that allow us to create and capture interactions of you and your children. Some of our favorite photos are the ones that are candid and capture their true personalities. So that is what we try to focus on during family sessions. We will be "playing" more than posing and it might feel chaotic at certain times and that is perfectly ok!

In our personal experience, kids generally do amazing. They are outside getting fresh air playing with mom and dad! We only really need a few smiles from them. If they don't smile throughout the entire session can you blame them? Although we all want the perfect family photo with everyone smiling, sometimes the perfect family photos are the ones where no-one is looking at all. Also keep in mind that lots of kids are shy. If they don't want to look and smile, don't force them. We have limited time, so lets capture what we can in the time we have.

If your children get wild or excited please don't sweat it too much. I think you would be surprised with the beautiful photos we can capture in the midst of the chaos.

AFTER YOUR SESSION | Your photos will be edited and uploaded to an online gallery within 3 weeks of your session date. You will be able to view, share and download your online gallery. Your gallery comes with two download options. Always download the HIGH RESOLUTION files for printing. The other options is low resolution file for web - this download is perfect for sharing photos on any social media platform (do not print these files). We recommend supporting local and printing at Unforgettable Memories.