your mini session
what your session includes
A (20) minute session
12-15 fully processed, ready to print digital images, in both color and black & white
A private client site where your digital images can be viewed, downloaded and stored
what your session doesn't include
Prints or products, which can be added on after your session. Please see below for pricing.
these sessions are great for
Children, families & high school seniors... babies must be 6 mo. + and/or sitting independently.
Due to the condensed time frame and amount of images, these sessions are great for families looking for a smaller amount of variety. If you are looking for a large amount of variety, outfit changes, or a lifestyle/unposed type session, please consider a classic session!
LOCATION - Mini session locations vary depending on the season and are always within 30 minutes of Albany, NY. Here are some visuals of some of our most frequently used favorite spots!
WHAT TO WEAR - We know figuring out what to wear is one of the most stressful parts of booking a session, and we have to say, it is important. The right outfit elevates an image from so so, to one that looks timeless, coordinated and intentional. Wardrobe is very dependent on the location of your session. What works at home doesn't necessarily work in a rustic location or a modern, architectural spot. We'll provide you with specific guidance based on where your session will be help. In the meantime, check out our Pinterest board for tons of ideas and tips.
ARRIVAL - Our mini sessions are booked back to back. It is important that you arrive a few minutes prior to your scheduled time so that we can spend the full amount of allotted time with your family. Late arrivals will receive the remaining time in their session, and arrivals more than 15 minutes late will forfeit their session and deposit (exception made for emergencies!).
ILLNESS - If your child is sick or otherwise under the weather (like a rough teething period), please let us know so that we can reschedule. They will most likely be unhappy and will definitely not look like themselves, so in order to achieve those beautiful images, rescheduling is crucial. We understand the desire to "power through" at times due to scheduling constraints, but it is very important that we reschedule if your little ones aren't feeling their best.
WEATHER - Sunshine is a key ingredient in the bright, crisp images that we are known for. This isn't to say that every day we are shooting outdoors needs to be a perfect ten, but there are some weather conditions that are not conducive to shooting outdoors - rain, high winds, bitter cold, etc. If we are planning to shoot outdoors, we will make the call on weather (if the forecast is looking iffy) the night before or the morning of your session. Please trust our judgement when it comes to determining if the weather is suitable for outdoor portraits. Mini sessions will be rescheduled to a specific rain date. If you are unable to make the raindate, your deposit may be refunded or applied to a future session, at your discretion.
While mini sessions are short and sweet, you’ll be amazed at how quickly and efficiently we work! Here are some things you can expect with each age group.
babies
6-12 months is a wonderful time to incorporate sweet outfits (or keep it simple with just a pair of bloomers!) and fun items such as wooden toys and books. If we are shooting in an unfamiliar place, they may be very enamored by the new sights and sounds. Its helpful to bring a neutral blanket along when shooting outdoors, as many babies don’t love the feeling of grass or will try be distracted by putting things in their mouths. If baby is going through a stranger anxiety phase, we’ll ask mom or dad to stand behind us to help elicit smiles.
toddlers
Be prepared for an active session! Toddlers between 1-3 are often much more interested in being on the go than sitting still... and that is ok! We adapt by capturing them in motion, or containing them on chairs, benches, etc. Even if you aren’t planning on any family images, its helpful to come prepared to be partially in some images,, as we may need to use mom and dad as a prop or “containment device”. Bribery for after the session isn't a bad thing by any means, but please avoid any snacks or candy during the session (chewing pictures or M&M stained teeth aren't ideal!). Bringing along your child’s favorite toy, lovey, a wagon, or bubbles are great ways to keep them still and occupied. Its not uncommon for the session to feel chaotic, especially when there are siblings involved, but rest assured that we shoot quickly and can capture even those brief glances and smiles.
kids
Each age group comes with its own wonderful aspects and challenges. We will gauge your child and take some time to get to know them, and then let mom and dad know if its best for them to stick close or to stay out of the child’s sight. Shy kids operate best with mom and dad close by, while elementary age kids to preteens often warm up best and give more natural smiles when mom and dad aren’t watching. Avoid threatening or asking your child to sit still and behave, give their real smile, etc. Most of the time it is best to let us interact with them naturally and how we feel is best (unless we ask you to step in). For kids who are old enough to follow commands, we usually employ some posing and positioning to ensure that the light and backgrounds are ideal.
MOST IMPORTANTLY... every little one is different, and we ask that you think honestly about your child and their personality to ensure our best chances of success. Mini sessions are a wonderful option for short attention spans, and for getting just the right amount of images to capture various milestones. With that said, children who are very shy, slow to warm up, exceptionally active, etc., are typically not great candidates for these sessions. Many parents with little ones that fit this description feel a classic session would be way too long, and go with a mini session instead. Contrary to that belief, classic sessions are not a solid hour of shooting time. Many times, a large chunk of the session is spent getting your child warmed up, acclimated, and ready to be captured at their best. Classic sessions also involve advanced planning re: time, location, etc. to ensure what is best for your little one. In order to avoid an unsuccessful session (and an invariable reshoot!), we appreciate you thinking about these points in advance. We're always happy to answer any questions and point you in the right direction!
after your session
A great deal of the work we do takes place after your session. We select the best of the best images and by doing so, ensure that every image you receive is a perfect 10, usable image... no throwaway shots with blinks, funny expressions or poor technical execution. We understand the desire to see all of the images from your session, but we feel strongly that a big part of our job is narrowing down the best images so that you don't have to sift through hundreds of outtakes. Any images that are not shown in your gallery are not retained, but trust us when we say, we wouldn't leave any fantastic images on the table! Our clean, classic editing process keeps your images looked polished while also looking realistic and timeless. All images are provided in both color and black & white. Your high resolution JPEG images will be ready to download within 2 weeks of your session date. Each client receives their own client site in which they (and any family or friends that you wish to grant access to) can instantly download their digital images and printing guide.
a word about digital images
In this day and age, many clients look for the ability to purchase digital images from their photographer. We believe that owning the digital images from your session is a wonderful and valuable option, and this is why we are pleased to include them in all of our session offerings.
Digital images are an extremely economical option for creating small prints, multiple copies of prints, cards and photo gifts. It is important to keep in mind that when purchasing digital images, you are assuming the responsibility for the outcome of the finished product. Please be sure that you are willing to take the steps to ensure that your images are printed correctly (i.e. using a high quality lab, not a drugstore). Also, do keep in mind that like the hundreds of snapshots you have taken yourself, professional digital images often end up sitting dormant on your hard drive. We hate to see that happen, so it is important that you take the time to print and enjoy your images to the fullest! By offering digital images to our clients, we are granting the ability for the client to reproduce the images countless times and retain all of the images from their session.
Our digital images include both the color and black and white version, are high resolution JPEG files and come with unlimited printing rights (up to size 16x20). Each image is fully processed and edited with a fine tooth comb... not only for color/tonality correction, but also for skim blemishes, scratches, bruises, under eye circles, background clutter, stray hairs... the list goes on and on. We’re happy to accommodate image editing requests such a touch of digital “nip tuck” to make mom and dad look and feel their best. Clients also receive our comprehensive printing and usage guide, complete with our list of recommended vendors.
Looking for some heirloom quality, larger prints for your walls? Or perhaps you'd like to use your digital images more for archival purposes and don't have an interest in printing on your own. Our beautiful wall portraits, available as custom framed prints or fine art canvas, are perfect for such purposes. If you are looking for such products, we highly recommend going through our professional lab to ensure the highest level of quality.
the fine print
As custom photographers, we strive to be as flexible and accommodating as possible with our clients. However, there are some policies that we have in place to ensure that all of our clients receive our full attention, and the very best customer service. Please take a moment to read through them thoroughly. Thank you!
copyright
Like any other artist, the format and quality in which our work is presented is important to us. We retain exclusive ownership and rights to all images. Images may not be edited, altered or reproduced without explicit permission. Digital images are for personal use only. Commercial or editorial usage, sale, or entering images into contests or publications is expressly forbidden without written our permission.
deposit
Your non-refundable deposit is due upon booking. Your time slot is not reserved until this time. Should you need to reschedule, your deposit will be held and applied to a future session if 24 hours advance notice is given (exception given for illness or emergencies). No show appointments forfeit their deposit. Should we need to cancel your session due to unforeseen circumstances, your deposit will be held or refunded at your discretion.
images
You will receive 12-15 fully processed JPEG images from your session. If we capture more images and feel they are worthy of including in your gallery, you will have the option to review these images and add them on for an additional fee. These are high resolution images, though the exact final size will vary based on cropping. Images that are not selected for proofing are purged and not available for viewing. Due to the nature of on-location sessions, we cannot guarantee certain images and use our artistic judgement to select the images presented.
payment
The remaining balance of your session (50%) is due upon receipt of your images. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.
prints
Prints may be ordered up to (1) year from the date of your session, and you may do so via your client site. Due to the custom nature of these products, please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of wall portraits. Orders may be shipped or hand delivered, depending on the size and fragility of your products.
refunds
Once the balance of your session is paid and your digital images are accessible for download, your order is non-refundable. Due to the custom nature of this work and the digital download system, no refunds will be given. Print orders are considered non-refundable once payment is received. Rest assured that all prints and products must adhere to our strict quality standards before being delivered.
rescheduling
Please notify us to reschedule if your child is sick or otherwise not themselves (teething, etc.) as soon as possible. If you opt not to reschedule, are unable to reshoot a failed session due to knowingly sick children. Rescheduling/cancelling less than 24 hours in advance for reasons other than illness or emergency will forfeit your deposit. For outdoor sessions, we will make every effort to make the forecast determination as soon as possible, but sometimes we are unable to do so until a few hours before your session. We do not recommend hair or makeup appointments the day of your session for this reason. Thank you for trusting in our judgment regarding optimal weather conditions. We will make every effort to reschedule you as soon as possible for weather/illness cancellations, but dates are subject to availability.
reshoots
If we were unable to accomplish all of our goals of the session, a mini follow up session will be scheduled at the photographer’s discretion. If you are unhappy with the images from your session as a whole, you will be given the option for a reshoot or a full refund of your deposit. Please note that all images from your session will be purged and unavailable for ordering.
ready to book?
Please contact us to discuss upcoming dates and locations. Dates that do not appear on the calendar below are sold out. Not seeing a date that works for you? Contact us to be added to our wait list for last minute/future openings!
