Holiday mini sessions 2026
Merry Little Mayhem
Silent Night? Absolutely Not.
HOLIDAY MINIS ARE HERE.
Cue the twinkle lights. Cue the matching outfits. Cue one child absolutely refusing to participate while another suddenly develops the energy of a caffeinated elf loose in the North Pole. These sessions are short, festive, a little chaotic, and designed for exactly that. Snuggles, belly laughs, kids being weird, parents trying to hold it together, and all the wonderfully unhinged little moments that somehow become your favorite photos.
So grab the cute outfits, bribe the children accordingly, and prepare to spread Christmas cheer by smiling loudly for all to hear.
It’s holiday mini season, BABY.
Mini Session Pricing
- Discounted seasonal session pricing
- 20+ beautifully edited digital images (often more!)
- Private online gallery with printing rights
- Fast delivery - within 5 days!
$150
50% retainer due at time of booking to hold your date
check out the vibes
The North Pole Lodge
30 minutes - 10 guests - pet friendly
The Dunnview features exposed brick, huge windows, warm wood tones, vintage holiday details, and enough variety to make every session feel a little different. Think twinkle lights, flocked trees, rich greenery, leather seating, vintage holiday props, an adult-sized cocoa stand, and even a North Pole skate rental setup.
And yes, this studio is pet-friendly, so your four-legged family members can get in on the Christmas card action too. Perfect for families who want something festive and nostalgic without feeling overly staged, overly bright, or aggressively red-and-green-everything.
Snowflakes & Shenanigans
30 minutes - 8 guests
This studio features original hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings, rich dark walls, with warm earth tones, and large south and west-facing windows that bring in plenty of natural light without sacrificing that cozy, cinematic feel. It’s also the only fully wheelchair-accessible studio in the building, with no stairs required.
The space is split into two separate rooms, giving us plenty of variety without ever leaving the studio. The front room features a full-sized vintage-inspired Snowball Stand while the back room takes things moodier with oversized flocked Christmas trees, a leather sofa, warm twinkle lights, and darker styling.
Heritage Holidays
30 minutes - 6 guests
The Lifestyle Studio is basically your standard holiday morning, but prettier and with significantly better lighting. The studio features original hardwood floors, soaring 14-foot ceilings, four large south and west-facing windows, textured walls, and a gorgeous 10-foot pocket door that adds just the right amount of old-home character. Perfect for anyone wanting something warm, timeless, and a little more elevated than traditional holiday minis.
Basically, Hallmark movie energy, except cooler and nobody has to leave their big-city career to save a struggling Christmas tree farm.
This studio is located on the third floor with no elevator access, so please keep that in mind when deciding which holiday set is the best fit for your family.
pinecones & peppermint
30 minutes - 10 guests
Set inside the Ballroom, the largest studio in the building, this 2,000-square-foot space is full of moody light, original hardwood floors, towering 14-foot ceilings, beautifully worn 140-year-old walls, and enough holiday variety to keep things interesting without feeling like a department-store backdrop exploded. There are three different holiday setups to play with, including a leather tufted sofa nestled in front of a glowing evergreen forest, a cozy antique four-post bed, and a candy cane stand.
The Ballroom also has a neutral stage area with rustic walls and a beautifully restored 95-year-old Parlor Grand piano, giving us another option for something more timeless and dramatic. The piano is available for photos, but very much has “look with your eyes, not with your entire toddler body” energy.
It is located on the third floor with no elevator access, so keep that in mind when choosing the best holiday setup for your family.
holidays in the library
30 minutes - 6 guests
The Lincoln Suite feels like the holidays wandered into a dark academia library, poured itself something expensive, and decided to stay awhile. Located just off the main lobby, this studio is made up of four connected spaces, each with its own personality while still feeling beautifully cohesive. Think deep, moody tones, vintage books, rich wood, leather, warm light, and just enough old-world character to make the whole thing feel a little mysterious in the best way.
With four different spaces available within one suite, there’s plenty of room to create variety while keeping the entire gallery rich, warm, and cohesive. Perfect for families, couples, or anyone whose idea of the holidays is a little less bright red pajamas in a white studio and a little more candlelight, leather chairs, evergreen branches, and questionable secrets hidden somewhere behind the bookshelf.
Winter Whimsy
30 minutes - 6 guests
The space blends bright, airy simplicity with darker holiday drama. One side features soft white walls, natural greenery, delicate ribbon details, and a beautifully minimal setup that feels almost like a little editorial moment. The other leans moodier with a deep charcoal backdrop, glowing evergreen trees, oversized wreaths, warm string lights, and a sleek cream sofa that pops beautifully against all those rich tones.
Original wood floors, a vintage ladder, oversized mirror, wreaths, layered evergreens, and those tiny satin bows add just enough texture and nostalgia without making the space feel overly styled. The two sides of the studio means your gallery can have both bright, timeless holiday morning energy and those moodier, cozy holiday-evening moments without ever leaving the room.
FAQ
Are mini sessions just for families?
Of course not mini sessions are a great for couples, children, pets, announcements & more. It’s also a great time to get a few updated photos & that perfect portrait for the holiday cards.
What about our family dog/cat?
Absolutely, pets are family too! Pets are welcome at the North Pole Lodge Session. Just make sure they’re on a leash (my favorite leash & collar choices come from The Foggy Dog!) as at our locations there could be other animals around.
Is 30 minutes enough time to get good photos?
I always assure my clients that 30 minutes is more than enough time to get great shots of their family. I know I can get every shot I need in about 10-15 minutes if everyone is cooperating. This leaves another 15-20 minutes of time to play around and do what needs to be done to get the kids to cooperate!
In almost every mini-session I shoot, clients are pleasantly surprised with how well it goes.
What if we're running behind for the session?
Life happens and I totally understand that, but unfortunately due to this being a mini marathon, time being limited & other clients having scheduled times. If you are more than 5 minutes late, your session will have to be rescheduled for another mini day at the day's location. The registration fee is non-refundable. So please plan to arrive at least 5-10 minutes early.
How many images do I receive?
You’ll receive a private online gallery with printing right to at minimum 20 photos (often more!)
What should we wear?
Best tip... be comfortable in whatever it is you pick! Have a patterned dress that you love to wear? Great, take colors from within the pattern and bring those colors into your family members outfits. Layers and textures look great and accessories are also good for adding little splashes of color. Your family doesn't have to be too matchy-matchy to produce a great photo! Instead, just choose a basic color palette and go from there!
Need a little help and inspiration when planning outfits for your mini-shoot? I have a whole pinterest page of inspiration here!
What if I want a longer session?
You can book back-to-back mini session time slots. If you’re wanting to include extended family members or are just wanting more photos.
What is your cancellation policy?
Mini-sessions retainers are non-refundable. Please make sure before booking that you are available on the date and time you book! If you absolutely cannot make your session and you cancel with at least 24 hours notice, you will receive a credit towards a future session.
Will you help me prepare for the session?
Yes! I have custom resources to help you feel prepared going into the session. Plus, I’ll support you leading up to the session to take all of the guesswork out of the process. I’ll also make sure you know exactly what to expect after the session!
What if my kids are not in the mood?
I have little ones too, so I get it! Sometimes they are just not feeling it. In most cases, it’s fine and I’ll get great photos even if your kid(s) are slowly turning into adorable monsters. I also work to help your child feel comfortable with me. I never want to make a child feel uncomfortable with a camera! I respect their boundaries and sometimes they just need a breather. Want to know the real truth, though? Most of the time when parents are so worried about their kids behaving or looking at the camera, it’s actually the parents that aren’t looking at the camera! I'm guilty of it too! I promise even if things feel a little chaotic at times, the photos will turn out beautifully.
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Ready to Choose Your holidAY Session?