This is the time of year when I get a lot of requests from potential clients for “just one quick photo for their holiday card.” I’m going to let you in on a secret - I’m not a fan of mini sessions. Yes, sometimes I cave in to peer pressure and offer them, but I try to avoid doing them except for very isolated occasions. (Like when Santa stopped by my studio a few weeks ago, because I wanted to give as many clients as possible the chance to hang out with Mr. Jolly himself!)
The real reason why I try to avoid scheduling mini sessions, especially around the holidays, is because I don’t want my clients to miss out on opportunities to unplug and temporarily forget about all of life’s distractions, and to just exist in photographs - and moments - with their loved ones. My photoshoots give them a chance to do that, so I want the experience to last longer than 10 minutes. My portrait sessions typically last between 45 and 90 minutes in length. During this time, I explore the chosen venue with my clients, as I try my best to capture them being themselves. Sometimes those interactions happen naturally, sometimes they require some prompting. I always have tricks up my sleeve to bring out the best (and most authentic) expressions and interactions in my clients. And being able to capture that amount of incredible, real moments during a full session outweighs the convenience of a rushed mini session, 100% of the time. During a mini session, parents often feel rushed and stressed, kids often feel rushed and stressed, heck… even the pets feel rushed and stressed - and all of that makes me feel sad. All of that anxiety gets thrown out the window when we have extra time to relax and to just “be.” I want you to look back on your photos with fond memories of the time we spent creating them together.
Another advantage of scheduling one session per morning and one per evening is that all of my clients are scheduled during the best light of the day - not just the lucky one who happens to snag that mini session timeslot on that given day. (You’ll see what I mean when you get to the images I’m sharing!)
My photoshoots don’t just involve asking my clients to stand (or sit) and smile at the camera in unison. They are so much more than that. As a very busy wife, mother of three, recent Ph.D. graduate, business owner, and consultant, I know how hard it is to find a date and time when everyone is available. And on top of that, trying to perfectly coordinate outfits provides a completely different set of challenges and stressors (for most of us, at least). So, it is my hope and ultimate goal to capitalize on the valuable time you have chiseled out of your schedule to spend with me, and to provide you with the best photographs - and memories - that I am able to during our time together.
So, if you are looking for a photographer who will “take just one photo for your holiday card” at a super-discounted price, that’s not me. I value my time, and I value yours, and I schedule (and price) myself accordingly. If you are looking for a photographer who will take the time to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera, and who will provide you with not just images, but also memories of time spent laughing and smiling and hugging and playing together, then I’m your girl.
In conclusion, I will leave you with the original reason for this post - some images from one of my recent “non-mini” sessions with the Pridie Family. Their session took place at a friend’s private property in Oley, and it was the perfect spot for them to stretch their legs, open up their arms, and chase that Golden Hour sun. Thank you, Pridie Family, for giving me the honor of freezing time for your family on that chilly afternoon! And, thank you to all of my clients (like these) who continue to trust me and my artistic vision. I am so grateful for you. These sessions fill my heart so much more than you know. I hope to see even more of you in front of my camera next year! (P.S. If this was a mini-session, about 3/4 of these images would not have been possible due to the time restriction placed on the session. I can’t decide which images I would eliminate - can you??)
