Autumn mini sessions in the New forest - Salisbury portrait photograher
Autumn mini sessions are one of my favourite times of year! I get the honour of meeting 20 of you lovely families in a beautiful location over two days and documenting all the ways your family has grown.
I have been lucky enough to see some families go from tiny little tots all the way through to slightly reluctant pre-teens and honestly, it makes a me a little emotional. I rarely see these families through the year so I just get the big yearly jumps. The kids shoot up, teeth fall out and chubby cheeks turn into adorable dimples. What happens slowly, gradually, almost imperceptibly for you seems to happen overnight for me.
You can see articles about how to dress and prepare for mini sessions on my blog, but this one is just showcasing a few of the families from 2024!
Could mini sessions be right for you family? Read on to find out!
1- If you’re looking for a mix of fun and silliness along with those unavoidable ‘look at the camera’ shots…
I work MAGIC in these 15 minute sessions. We run through a carefully planned series of ‘poses’ and prompts to ensure we hit all of the marks in our short time. I know there’s probably someone in your life looking for that traditional ‘everyone looking at me’ pose, so we get that one over and done with so we can have some fun! Young or old, get ready to play. Oh, and I should tell you, I tell really terrible jokes throughout… Get ready to laugh AT me as well as with me, sorry!
2- If your kids have short attention spans (honestly, same!)
There is no time to get bored at a mini session! We keep things constantly moving with silliness, switching people in and out as well as some carefully planned games. If your kids are like mine and would soon lose interest or wander off (or if you are, no judgement!) then these 15 minute sessions are for you.
3- If your time is super limited but you don’t want to miss out on family photos
I know what family life is like, especially as the kids get older. If you’re not at a birthday party you’re at football, karate or swimming lessons. Squeezing in a full hours session plus all the prep and travel time can be a genuine blocker to getting those all important photos. Your kids grow up SO freaking fast. Yes, you have a phone filled with quick snaps but you deserve so much more than that. You deserve wall worthy images that you’ll look at every single day, even with your limited time. That’s where mini sessions come in!
4- If you’re new to professional photography
I didn’t meet a professional photographer (outside of school portraits) until I got engaged! Luckily, that photographer was a lifelong friend who I knew I could trust, but it was still nerve wracking. I had no idea what to expect or how to make the most of them. A 15 minute session is ideal for easing you in (and hopefully winning you over to!) professional photo shoots. I promise, they’re far easier that you’d expect!
5- If you’re new to the photographer
If you’re wanting to found out if a photographer is right for you and your family, a mini session is the ideal way to take them for a test drive! Mini sessions are usually low commitment financially, with the option to upgrade if you love the photos, so there’s very little to lose. You’ll have 15 minutes to find out if you get on, if your children respond to them well and if you like their session style, which is perfect! Then the final test is if you feel a connection to the images themselves. If you do, you’ve found your photographer!
6- If your budget just doesn’t stretch to a full session right now
I get it. Especially during the years of young children, when you’re juggling childcare, part time jobs and everything else possible to keep the family moving forward, money can be a little stretched. You won’t be surprised to hear that I think full sessions are SO worth the money, but that doesn’t mean they’re in everyone’s budget all the time. Don’t let these years go without beautiful photos because you can’t manage a full session. Mini sessions are a wonderful option to fill that gap.
7- If you’re a little bit of a camera-phobe
Oh hello, same! I would like to say that my clients feel just as happy in a one hour session as a 15 minute session (they tell me they do!) but if you’re feeling nervous, 15 minutes is a lot less to be worried about. My sessions are relaxed, fun and leave very little time to feel awkward or uncomfortable. You’re mostly looking at the people you love most in the world rather than a camera. In full sessions we have a little more ‘down’ time while we walk between locations, which allows more space to relax and get to know each other, whereas mini sessions don’t really allow you the time to remember that you’re being photographed at all. Which one is right depends on you and the stage your kids are at!
8- It’s easier to talk your partner or kids into a mini session!
Okay, I know this one, too! You want photos, but your family aren’t so sure. Whether it’s a concern about cost or just not really feeling comfortable in front of the camera, there are always reasons to be reluctant. I can share with you that I’ve never known a spouse or kid I can’t win over, but they won’t know that until they meet me! Sometimes you can convince them to go along with it by ‘compromising’ with a mini session. Hey, if it works!
I run mini session at selected times in the year both in Berkshire and in Wiltshire and the slots usually go just through my mailing list, so get on there if you’re interested! I also run private mini sessions through schools as a fundraiser for the PTA, if you think this might be right for you then pop me a message and we can start planning. I can’t wait to meet you!
Hey! I’m Elise.
I’m a wedding and portrait photographer based in Wiltshire UK.
Looking to book a session? Get in touch below!