Welcome and thank you for booking a mini session with me!

I am so excited to photograph you and your loved ones at Burnside Farms on April 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th or 21st from 6:30 PM-7:30 PM! Thank you for giving me the honor of capturing your family for you and sharing my art with your family. Mini sessions are short and sweet and run on a limited time frame so it’s important for me to plan ahead. Please make sure you have filled out the mini session client questionnaire that was in your email. If you’ve never done a mini session, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a miniature version of a normal full portrait session. They are quick moving sessions scheduled back to back, at one central location.

On this page, you will find everything you need to know for your upcoming mini session with me. I’ve included some helpful tips to make this process as smooth as possible for you. First and foremost, here is picture of me, so that if we haven’t met before, you know who to look for. You can also show this picture to your young children to prep them if they’re shy. You can tell them that here is the photographer that will be capturing all the fun you have on your family outing together and here she is.

Arrival at Burnside Farms

Burnside Farms is located at 11008 Kettle Run Road, Nokesville, VA, 20181 US. Please make sure to purchase your tickets from Burnside Farms before your session. https://www.burnsidefarms.com/tickets

Please arrive early at least 15 minutes early. Since these are mini sessions, I am photographing families back to back with a short 5 minute break in between. If you are late, I will not be able to extend your time or guarantee that I'll be able to fit you in at the end.

If you have anything in your pockets, leave those items in your car. If you have hair bands or scrunchies on your wrist, remove them. We also don’t want wallets bulging out in pics so bring a bag to stick your wallet in if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it in your car. Also, any additional items you wish to bring with you can go in the bag and easily placed to the side when I’m taking pictures. I'll have some wipes if you need them and a basket to place items in if needed but just make sure you grab your items when you leave.

During the Mini Session

What to Expect. During our time together, I want you and your family to be relaxed and natural so I will tell you what to do as far as poses go. You won’t have to worry about any of that (often playing games, cuddling the kids, things like that). Think of me as your director, I’ll guide you and your family. You don't have to worry about telling your kids to smile or point to the camera. I will be working on getting their attention and getting those smiles. Snacks are nice incentives to have for after the session.

Weather. I will be watching the weather closely and if it looks like it is going to be rainy, too windy or uncooperative in any other way, I will have a make up day for the minis.

After the Mini Session

When our time together is finished, I'll say my goodbyes to your family and be off to greet the next family. Your password protected gallery will be ready within 2- 3 weeks to for you to pick out your photos. You will receive an email with all the info on how to download the images you pick. Once you've downloaded your images, you will receive your images via a link and a print release and can share with family and friends.

Suggestions for What to Wear

Setting: Keep in mind that we will have the backdrop of colorful tulips so try to pick colors that don't clash with the colorful tulips. Light colors, light pastels or neutral colors will look nice with the background of vibrant tulips.

Be Comfortable. The most important tip for what to wear is to be yourself! That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dress your best, but it does mean that you can dress your best in your own style. Dress comfortably as we will be moving around. If you’re not comfortable, that may show in your photos. Also, this is your time to shine, moms! Wear something you feel great in and build the family outfits around yours.

Colors. Coordinate, but don’t match. There are rare occasions where everyone in the same color works, however, generally you want diversity in colors and patterns. When thinking about colors, find a color palette that you love and choose clothing colors that complement each other. Avoid wearing black or white as your main color. Think of them as your “free colors”. Use them sparingly. White, cream, black, and gray can be incorporated into clothing and go with “most” color combinations. They can also be used in larger pieces as anchor colors – such as dad in khaki pants and son in a khaki/cream vest.

Patterns and Textures. When styling your whole family make sure that colors, textures, and prints are visually broken up so that no one color is on the top or the bottom. Patterns, floral prints, small polka dots, stripes, and plaids all look great. A good rule of thumb is to have one or two patterned outfits for every three people included in the session.

Graphics. Try to stay away from graphics and fluorescent and neon colors. When wearing colors like that, faces tend to look those colors too. Graphics and logos tend to go out of style so that will take away from the timeless aspect of your photos.

Layers and Accessories. Layers and accessorizing are great ways to add extra detail and interest to your look. Some examples of layers are jackets, sweaters, vests and blazers. Accessories like necklaces, hats, bowties, headbands, belts, scarves or wraps can add a pop of color. Jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, or simple studs can add a touch of femininity.

Shoes. Remember that you’ll want the shoes to be comfortable as we move around, however, please stay away from character themed shoes, athletic shoes, and bulky shoes.

Makeup. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of make-up, wearing a little bit of color will enhance your features in photos. Put colors on slightly darker than you normally would as the camera has a tough time picking up soft shades. Do what makes you feel most comfortable with your hair.

Final Note

I can’t wait for our mini session together! Hopefully you found this information helpful. If you have any questions or concerns leading up to your session, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. My goal is to serve you the best that I can! This is going to be a fun session, so don’t stress. Relax and enjoy making these memories with your family. You’ll get to treasure these memories forever! See you soon!