I get inquires every year for holiday mini sessions right as the weather turns cooler, but it’s just not something I’ve offered or even been interested in offering. So much of what I love about this business is the relationship building component, getting to see families and couples, and even pets, year after year. Sometimes I see families for outdoor sessions, sometimes I shoot their daily lives in their homes, sometimes events or important milestones. A mini session with me would never be truly ‘mini’. I just love to shoot too much – I would leave feeling like there were images left behind or out.

But I have the perfect compromise. Because I recognize that sometimes you just want something extra – the holiday card photo where everyone is freezing and you don’t want to be outside for the full time. Enter what I like to call the holiday shortie session. Not quite a mini session, but definitely not a full session. It’s the perfect balance for me, and for my clients. These shortie sessions are 30 minutes in length (instead of the traditional 10-20 minutes of a mini session), have no limit on the number of images returned (I mean, this family is getting well over 50 images), and give me the freedom to shoot how I love. The only catch? These sessions are exclusively available to past clients. I like to think of it like an ‘add on’ for those families who have already had a session during the year, or just a chance for past clients to get an updated family photo in time for the holidays.

And for this family, a family I’ve seen every year for several years now, it was the perfect fit for their newest little family member. We met for their session on their property where they’re building the home of their dreams (and are going to have a lifestyle session after they move in… right, Owens?!) and it couldn’t have felt any more ‘right’ than it did. The boys were thrilled to run around and show me their new backyard and David and Michal make parenting three boys look as natural and relaxing as ever. Michal requested just one photo where everyone looked happy, so she’s getting 50+ times that, naturally, because they are.

To the Owens family, thank you for trusting me with these memories year after year. It means so much when families come back and seeing the home you are building together feels like I now know the secret password to the clubhouse. I’m excited for all the things 2020 has in store for you and cannot wait to see you next year. Happy holidays!

casey and her camera is an Indianapolis family photographer specializing in couple, lifestyle, and family photography for Indianapolis, Indiana and the surrounding areas.