Scroll to the bottom of this page for tips and tricks for your next fall mini session
There’s a lot of photography marketing built around the idea that more time automatically means better, more meaningful photographs.
You’ll hear about “intentional” sessions with no time limits, photographers who market themselves as embedding into your family’s life for an afternoon, and the suggestion that a mini session can’t possibly result in real or genuine photographs. But that's not true. A 30-minute session can absolutely capture genuine emotion, expressions, and connection. The length of the session isn’t what makes a photograph meaningful. What makes a photograph meaningful is what it captures.
Your kids laughing is special because they’re laughing. Your daughter scrunching up her nose when she smiles is special because that’s something she does. Your son leaning against you when he’s tired is special because that’s your relationship. Spending four hours photographing those things doesn’t make them more special.
Real Doesn’t Mean Unprompted
There’s also a misconception that a photograph is only “real” if the photographer never directs you. But the camera is already an interruption. You hired a photographer. You showed up at a location. You got everyone dressed. Of course the session is, in some way, staged. And that’s not a bad thing. Staged doesn’t mean fake. It means we created a situation where something real can happen. I might ask everyone to look at each other. I might ask your kids what their funniest laugh sounds like. I might have you walk together, play a game, or pull your child in for a hug. The direction is staged. What happens after the prompt is real.
If asking your kids to show me their funniest laugh turns into genuine giggling, that's the photograph I want. If I ask you to look at each other and you both start laughing because it feels ridiculous, that laughter is real.
You Don't Have to Give Up an Afternoon
This is especially important for family photography. You already have enough demands on your time. Getting everyone dressed, packing snacks, getting out the door and convincing everyone to cooperate is an undertaking in itself. I don't think you need to spend several hours of your day with a photographer to get photographs that feel like your family. A well-planned 30-minute session can give us plenty of time to photograph the things that matter: the way your kids interact with you, the way they play together, the expressions you know so well, and a few portraits of everyone looking at the camera.
And Yes, getting dressed up is part of it. Maybe you wear the outfit you've been saving. Maybe the kids get dressed in something nicer than their everyday clothes. Maybe we meet somewhere beautiful at the best time of day and let the whole thing feel a little special. That's part of the fun. Your everyday life is worth documenting, but that doesn't mean your photographs have to look exactly like your everyday life.
Fall Is a Great Time for Family Photos
The weather is comfortable, the light is beautiful, and Richmond has plenty of locations that give us a great fall backdrop without requiring a complicated production. More importantly, your family has changed since the last time you had photographs taken. Your kids have grown. Their personalities have changed. Maybe someone lost a tooth. Maybe your toddler is suddenly talking nonstop. Maybe your once-shy kid is now running everywhere. Maybe your family simply looks different than it did a year ago. You don't need a huge, elaborate session to document those changes. You just need to gather everyone together, give them a little direction, let them be themselves, and have someone there who knows what to look for. That's what I'm interested in capturing.
Click here to read my Richmond location guide for fall sessions or here for more thoughts on how to approach your next family session
Tips for Making Your Fall Family Mini Session a Success
Come ready to go.
Arrive dressed and prepared so we can use the entire session for photographs. If you have young kids, take care of snacks, bathroom breaks, and last-minute outfit adjustments before you arrive. It's a good idea to move the items in your front pocket to the back pocket or leave them behind. Purses can be ok for carrying extra tissues/bandaids or an emergency lovey, but they can also get in the way.
Don't worry about making your kids behave.
Don't get me wrong, I love it when kids listen to me and to their parents! But they don't have to stand perfectly still, smile on command, or cooperate every second. Kids are allowed to move, play, be silly, and have opinions. That's part of what we're photographing. I'll guide them when needed and work with whatever they're giving us.
Think about what your family actually does together.
If your kids love to run, we'll run. If they're competitive, we can turn something into a game. If your toddler wants to be held, we'll use that. The more the prompts fit your family, the more natural being in front of the camera will feel.
Choose clothes you can move in.
Fall photographs look great when everyone is comfortable. If your child can't run, sit, walk, or play comfortably in their outfit (shoes especially!), they're probably going to spend the whole session fighting it. Choose clothes that look good but still allow them to be themselves.
