Tips for timing, choosing a location, outfits, managing kids and more!

Mini Sessions Are Back—


Just in Time for Fall Magic 🍂

Last year, mini sessions were $375—but this year, I’m offering them at $300. Not because they’re worth less, but because I want more of you to be able to say yes. I know the world feels a little tight right now, and if I can help you still capture this season with your people—without the stress—I will.

This is about legacy. And documenting your family should feel possible—even when the world feels uncertain.


- Rach

$300

special 2025 offer

Spots are limited. Reserve yours today!

what's

This isn’t just another quick photo op—



A way to remember your people right now, before the holiday rush. After 14 years with many of you, I promise to make this easy, warm, and true to who you are.

included

it's a
pause button.

  • At least 30–40 fully edited, high-res images
  • Online gallery + download access
  • Full printing rights

These sessions are perfect for families, couples, individuals, and fur babies 🐾

25-minute photo sessions to capture your crew just as they are—snuggly, silly, beautiful, and fully yours. This year, it’s all about honoring your legacy.

shoot

concepts

* Heirloom black and White (think flowy backdrops, linens, minimal props) 


*Holiday Neutrals


*Colorpop minis 
 

* European Nostalgia (timeless textures + tones, still outdoors - but more unique backdrop/location options for variety) 

NOW OFFERING 

Reschedule Backup Dates are 11/8 & 11/16! 

Dates : 10/18 + 11/15

Dates : 10/18, 10/19, 10/22, 10/24, 11/9

Dates : 10/18 + 10/26

Dates : 10/18 + 11/15

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OUTDOOR SESSIONS | European Nostalgia (timeless textures + tones)

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HEIRLOOM & studio session examples

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COLOR POP CONCEPT

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outdoor session examples

the mini session experience

It can also be helpful to pack a few treats and bribes for younger children. Favorite toys, special snacks and the promise of ice cream afterwards work wonders. 

We’re incredibly patient with kids and that we have a few tricks up our sleeve to help get even the smallest ones to cooperate. 

we're all for some bribery ;) 

03

The best thing you can do for your kids is to go with the flow and stay positive. The more you relax and have fun with things, the more likely your little one (or big one,) is to get on board. 

relax and be present 

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that your experience of our children is different from what others experience. For example, if you’re at the grocery store with your three year old son and he starts yelling, you probably think he’s irritating other customers more than he is. Most likely, those other customers just see a cute (slightly loud,) three year old. 

The same holds true for photo sessions. Your child is in a new element and a stranger is holding a big camera in front of their face. They’re likely not going to entirely be themselves. They may show off more than usual or your extrovert may suddenly become shy. 

02

01

Preparing your kiddos

We’re so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait for our time together during your session. It’s normal to be a little anxious about your session. You're a busy family with quite a few things on your plate. However - I'd love for us all to go into this year with more intention than ever. Placing importance on connection and lasting imagery.
So here's a few tips...

preparing for your shoot

a note about

Rest assured, it’s all okay. 

Sunset & Bedtimes

In the warmer months, sunset sessions often fall during the witching hour. They may even fall during or after bedtime. 
As much as we love a consistent bedtime routine, in order to capture the best light during "golden hour", we're like going to need to throw off your schedule a bit.
If our session takes place close to dinnertime, we recommend feeding kids (and yourselves!) before we begin shooting. 

If your little one is going to be going to bed later, consider pushing their nap a bit that day, letting them sleep longer or packing pj's so that you can quickly tuck them into bed as soon as you get home.

We know that some family members just happen to be furry and we love when families choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location. 

We recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and having a friend take them home. We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have someone available to hold him or her in between shots. 

If you’re going to bring a pet, we recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot. 

Managing

furry ones

on to the next

When picking outfits we recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if Dad is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, the Mom may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.

A good rule of thumb: pick 3 or so colors and spread them throughout the family. Don't be afraid to mix a few subtle patterns or textures (such as linen). 

And always keep the location in mind. If we're shooting in a green field, light green dresses might blend in too much with the surroundings. 

Choosing Outfits

for everyone

Heels lengthen legs but if your heels aren’t comfortable for walking or we'll be in grass, bring an extra pair of shoes to slip into in between shots.

We love the way larger patterns and textures (like linen) photograph - just be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.

Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. We love bright, neon dresses, but we don’t love the neon reflection they add to your complexion. 

Wardrobe Tips

for the ladies

on to the next

Statement jewelry is a great way to add color or pattern to a simple dress. Lace and tulle look amazing in photographs.

And dresses with sleeves are a great way to help slim arms. Depending on your location, you might want to consider a fit and flare or a flowy dress.

They look great in walking and photos with movement. Choose an outfit you feel comfortable in, but don’t be afraid to dress up!

Accessories

for the ladies

on to the next

Rent the Runway
ASOS
Morning Lavender
J. Crew
Anthropologie
Free People
Jessakae
Petal & Pup
Pink Blush (Maternity) 
H&M 
Vici Dolls
Virginia Dare Dress Co.
Baltic Born Clothing 
Madewell
Kate + Grace Boutique

Favorite Shops

Able
Zara
Mango
Nothing Fits But
Sezane
Hill House Home
Reformation
Rachel Pally
Nuuly
Christy Dawn
Rylee & Cru
Clad & Cloth
Ivy City
Shopbop
Everlane

for the ladies

shop my PRIME favorites

on to the next

We think it’s so important that you look and feel your best for your photos. Investing in professional hair and makeup can go a long way towards creating photos you love for years. 

Professionally done hair & makeup last longer than typical hair & makeup. They also tend to hold up better in humidity and wind.

If you go this route, we recommend staying a bit “classic”. Now probably isn’t the best time to try out that new contouring technique you saw on TikTok. 

If you’re planning to do any spray tans or waxing, schedule those for a few days before the session to give your skin time to recover. 

Hair & Makeup

for the ladies

on to the next

You can’t go wrong with crisp button up. Or consider layering a blazer or sweater with jeans with this look. Bowties are always a good idea.

Be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.

Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months.

Wardrobe

for the gents

on to the next

Wardrobe

for the gents

on to the next

Rent the Runway
ASOS
 Suit Supply
J. Crew
Zara
Leather & Cotton
Jack Threads
Frank & Oak
Nordstrom 
Cuts 
H&M
Urban Outfitters
Madewell
Lululemon

Everlane
Banana Republic
Mango
Reiss
Alex Mill
Untuckit
Amazon - GoodThreads
Bonobos
Abercrombie
Rag & Bone

shop my PRIME favorites

Kate Quinn
Zara Kids
Quincy Mae
Rylee & Cru
Noralee
Target - Cat & Jack, Art Class, Q by Quincy Mae
H&M Kids
Crew Cuts by J Crew
Roolee
Alice & Ames

Favorite Shops

Smallable
Fin and Vance
Little & Co.
Briar Baby
Jaime Kay
Childhoods Clothing
Spearmint Love
Gap
Old Navy
Boden
Hanna Andersson

for the kids

shop my PRIME favorites

on to the next

When it comes to posing for your session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! We’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If we tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because we know it’s going to make everyone laugh - and that’s the photo we’re actually looking for. 

Throughout your session, we’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. We want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together! 

"What do I do with
 my hands"?

"What do I do
 with my hands"?

POSING

Yes, you are welcome to print the images on your own. If you do this, we recommend making sure that the printer does not color correct the images (many automatically do this.) We also recommend looking for a high quality printer. You’ll receive full printing rights. You’ll also have access to a print shop directly through your gallery for beautiful, stress-free prints. 

A:

Can I print the images on my own?

q:

While we don’t guarantee an exact number of images, we will make sure we capture your family thoroughly. Most families should expect to receive at least 25 edited images following their session. 

A:

How many images will I receive?

q:

We guarantee that your images will remain in an online gallery for at least a year. While your galleries may stay up longer than that, we cannot guarantee it. Once your galleries have been delivered, we highly recommend downloading all high resolution images to several devices. Consider investing in a portable, waterproof external hard drive.

A:

How long will I have access to the images?

q:

Turnaround times for fall minis are
2-3 weeks
, with a for sure deadline of 12/5 for final delivery of galleries & products. 

A:

When will I receive my images?

q:

Frequently

asked

Questions

You are absolutely welcome to share images on social media. To ensure that our work is properly represented, we ask that you refrain from any edits. We also appreciate image credits and tags as they help us to continue to grow as a business. 

A:

Can I share the images on social media? 

q:

By default, the creators of images always own the rights to the images. However we’ll give you a release to use, print and share your images. The only thing you won’t be able to do is sell your image as a stock photo. We won’t do this either without your written permission. 

A:

Do I own the rights to the images?

q:

We do light retouching on all of our images. This means that if there are any glaring objects that should be removed (such as a bump from the tumble your toddler took that morning,) we’ll remove it. Larger edits (such as removing tan lines,) require more time and would require us to add additional editing hours to your collection.  

A:

Will you retouch our images? 

q:

As soon as possible after your session is complete, we’ll back up your images and begin the editing process. 2-3 weeks later - with a for sure deadline of 12/5 for final delivery of galleries & products. , you can expect to receive your edited, digital images between 3 and 4 weeks after your session. 

Your Images

When to Expect

We’re big believers that images aren’t meant to solely exist in a digital space. One day, most likely, Instagram will be gone, your phone will be replaced and images that you can physically hold in your hand will be the best way to remember those precious moments we captured. 

Think about this fact: fifteen years ago, if we had delivered you digital images, they would have been on a floppy disk. With the fast updates to technology, you would have no way to access those images today. Even the online galleries we deliver will eventually fade away. 

But prints? Those last. I bet your family still has images from your grandparents (maybe even great grandparents.) And that was likely from a time period when cameras were expensive and prints were harder to come by. 

Bring Your Images to Life with 

prints

🎁 Early-Bird Bonus: Pre-purchase your holiday cards before your session and receive 10% off — plus a free premium paper upgrade for the first 10 clients! Pricing is reflected in the session booking form. 

pre-made christmas cards

Our framed and matted prints are the perfect way to fill your walls with memories. With a variety of frames to choose from, we’ll help you select the perfect image pairings for your space. 


Prints & Wall Art

Details for ordering will be delivered with your gallery

Easy to hang and easy to change out. Canvases are one of our favorite ways to decorate a space. They also work great on little easels placed around the home. 

Canvases

We know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your portrait session. However if there is something we missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email us. 


hello@rachelmeagan.com

Thank you!

I can’t wait to photograph your people this fall—just like we’ve done over the years. Let’s keep building your story.