Directives pour les mini séances familiales - Lisa-Marie Savard Photographie

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Offrant des événements de mini séances depuis plus de 10 ans, j’ai appris ce qui contribue à créer une expérience agréable, mais aussi ce qui peut complètement la compliquer! Vous trouverez dans cet article plusieurs conseils et directives pour vous aider à bien préparer votre prochaine mini séance familiale.

This page complements the other advice articles available on my website, whether this is for a couple/engagement, maternity or family session.

First of all, what is the mini session event and how does it work?

Mini session events are offered only three times per year: in the spring, in the fall and before the holiday season. This special promotion allows more families to enjoy a professional photo session at a lower cost. Outside of these events, I exclusively offer regular photo sessions.

On the day of the event, around a dozen families take turns meeting me in a public park at their scheduled appointment time. It’s a photographic sprint for the clients, but a true marathon for me!

Unlike regular sessions, which can last up to 1.5 hours, mini sessions last only 15 minutes, regardless of how cooperative the participants are. Because of this, we don’t really have time to get to know each other, manage long meltdowns or run overtime like we sometimes can during a regular session. As soon as you arrive, we’ll jump right into the photos to make the most of every minute and capture as many beautiful memories as possible. Once your session is over, I’ll quickly move on to the next family, which is why it’s so important to set ourselves up for a positive experience!

1. Block both the original and back-up dates in your calendar right now

Planning even one outdoor photo session can be tricky with Quebec’s unpredictable weather… so imagine coordinating a dozen sessions in the same day!

For this reason, a potential backup date is chosen as soon as the event launches to serve as our Plan B. This date is included in the contract and mentioned again in my communications.

If weather conditions are not favourable on the original date (extreme heat or cold, strong winds, continuous rain, etc.), all mini sessions will automatically be moved to the backup date without exception. I will make the final decision the day before based on the weather forecast.

It is therefore essential to keep both dates available in your calendar right awayUnfortunately, if someone is no longer available when a postponement is necessary, they will lose their spot in the mini session event.

What happens if it rains on both dates? In over 50 events, this has happened only twice! The chances are therefore very low, although there is unfortunately no such thing as zero risk with outdoor sessions.

In that situation, the event still takes place. I provide clear umbrellas and we can stay under the canopy for additional protection. And if it reassures you, children usually love rainy sessions even more!Playing with umbrellas and jumping in puddles often makes the experience even more fun. We can still create beautiful memoriesand lively, authentic photos.

2. Read all emails and confirm your attendance

Generally speaking, I send three emails to all mini session participants:

A first email after booking containing different resources to help you prepare for your session,
A second email one week before the event with important information about the location,
A third and final email the day before to confirm whether the event will proceed or be postponed depending on the weather.

To help ensure the event runs smoothly and avoid misunderstandings, please take the time to read all emails carefully and reply when requested.

Your response is especially important the day before the event since it confirms your attendance. Unfortunately, no-shows and ghosting have become increasingly common and create a real challenge during mini session days. A simple “Yes, we’ll be there!” only takes a few seconds to send but makes the organization of the event much easier for me.

3. Prepare your child mentally

Preparing children ahead of time is extremely important, especially when they are under five years old.

Talking positively about the session a few weeks before the appointment, explaining what will happen in front of the camera and counting down the sleeps before the big day are all great ways to make the experience feel exciting and reassuring. You can even play “model” together at home!

Of course, some little ones may still feel shy at the beginning of the session, but this preparation helps prevent them from feeling scared of the camera or photographer.

4. Wear the right clothing and avoid visually distracting accessories

Certain types of clothing, such as pieces with thin stripes, logos or very bright colours, do not photograph well and can create unwanted visual effects on camera.

Instead, choose solid-coloured clothing in soft, natural tones. Not only are these colours timeless, but they also create beautiful harmony between everyone’s outfits.

It is also best to remove visually distracting accessories during the session. Wallets, keys and phones in pockets are often very noticeable in photos. Similarly, photochromic glasses turn dark under UV rays and hide your eyes. When distracting items remain visible, I generally assume that clients want them included in the photos. Taking a few seconds before the session to check pockets and accessories can therefore make a big difference.

For more outfit advice, I also invite you to read these detailed articles:

5. Dress appropriately for the weather

As you probably know, Quebec weather is incredibly unpredictable! I’ve seen just about everything during mini session events.

One year, it was 23°C during the fall mini sessions, and 2°C the following year. I’ve also photographed holiday mini sessions on grass at 10°C one year and in the snow at -16°C the next. We never really know what to expect!

Since the goal is to create beautiful memories where everyone feels comfortable and happy, make sure to dress according to the weather. Nothing is more difficult than a child who is shivering or crying because they are cold.

In the spring and fall, plan a light jacket that matches your outfit in case the weather is cooler. If temperatures are mild, you can simply remove it. If the ground is wet, consider waterproof shoes or boots to help keep your feet dry.

For holiday mini sessions at the end of November, choose layered clothing, protect extremities (head, hands and feet) and bring heat packs to stay comfortable despite the cold.

6. Be well rested and well fed

As the name suggests, mini sessions move very quickly! We have only 15 minutes to capture beautiful photos of the entire family, each parent with the children and the children together. Because of this, there is very little room for flexibility.

To make the most of every minute, children should ideally be rested and in a good mood.

Try to avoid planning an overly busy day before your appointment. It’s not the ideal day for a long bike ride or an afternoon at the pool.

Instead, aim for a calm day, a good nap and a meal before the session. When children are rested and have full bellies, the chances of having a positive experience increase tremendously.

7. Bring drinks, snacks and toys

Also consider bringing drinks, snacks or small toys for the children. They can become very helpful tools for preventing meltdowns or lifting spirits, especially on hot days.

You can keep them in your bag and bring them out if needed at the right moment. And if everything goes perfectly during the session, they can become a fun little surprise at the end!

8. Save the location map on your phone

My mini session events are often held in large urban parks. To make things easier, I send an annotated map with detailed explanations about one week before the event.

This map clearly shows the meeting point and the area where the photos will take place.

Even if you already know the park, I highly recommend saving the map on your phone. Since I cannot answer calls while photographing another family, this will be the easiest way to find us.

And between us… trying to give directions over the phone rarely works very well!

9. Arrive early and ready to be photographed

Punctuality is extremely important during mini session days..

Since each session lasts only 15 minutes and they run back-to-back throughout the day, every family must be ready to start at their scheduled time. Make sure to allow enough time for traffic, road construction and parking.

If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, I unfortunately will not be able to delay the following appointments and your session will need to be moved to the very end of the event.

Ideally, try to arrive about 20 minutes before your appointment. This gives you time to park without stress, touch up hair or makeup, gently wake the children if they were sleeping and clean little faces if needed.

You’ll also have time to empty your pockets of distracting items and remove photochromic glasses so that you are completely ready when the session begins.

Arriving early is also a great way to help children get into the right mindset before the session. You can explore the park together, practise your best smiles or even watch me photograph from afar. This helps make the experience feel fun and natural instead of stressful.

Last update: : May 2026

Guidelines for family mini sessions