Hello all! It’s your Nashville photog back with a blog that isn’t just photos- it’s storytime too!

Nashville Family Photographer | AluraWayne Photography + Film

Anyone who has ever been in front of my camera can probably tell you that I LOVE what I do, and I absolutely love everyone I work with. Have kids? I’m rolling around on the ground with them to get the best shots. Heck, sometimes I’m rolling around on the ground to get good shots from the adults too. I am enthusiastic about giving direction and making it as natural and effortless as possible. I want to give you something beautiful that you’ll treasure for years to come. Sometimes it may feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. Sometimes kids cry and hide, or run completely wild (which I happen to LOVE by the way…give me all the wild, I promise you it photographs well with my style!). I totally understand how there are so many factors that go into moments of stress or unease or nerves…but I promise you, I have so many tools in my metaphorical tool belt that I use to bring the beauty out of absolutely every moment we share together!

This brings me to why I’m giving up the minis. I probably get more requests for minis than any other session this time of year, and I totally get why. It’s easy to think of just showing up to snap some quick photos, get that Christmas card covered, and rinse and repeat every year. Fall is that time of year we all seem to collectively think OH YEAH let’s document the family- I do it too with my own family, even though my favorite time and setting to take photos is late spring through summer! I have shot mini sessions year round though, for all sorts of fun sessions. Milestones, family, whatever it may be- its the easy go-to to book.

Except it isn’t typically easy, and it is rarely ever quick. So I want to go over the most important reasons I feel a mini isn’t in the best interest of my clients anymore. And if you feel different? That’s totally fine! I just want to do the best I can do, and removing this as an option is going to serve my clients SO much better. And myself. And here is why.

Almost every single true mini session feels rushed and we never get totally comfortable in front of the camera. If I actually stick to the mini time frame it flies right by, and it’s just flat out not enough time to capture the style I have worked hard to create. I don’t shoot super posed, super still portraits. That’s just not why you hire me, and never will be. There are plenty of photographers out there who excel at the more stoically posed portraits. I, on the other hand, excel at the more documentary and real life approach. I give tons of direction…even posing prompts! But it’s in a more natural look, a more relaxed vibe. And we have fun. We play. We move around to different spots in the park, sometimes following the lead of kiddos on a mission! We capture hand holding, twirling, snuggles, hugs, giggles, tiny faces hiding in mom and dad’s arms. This is difficult to fully capture in a 20 minute time limit. Not impossible…but absolutely difficult.
Almost every single mini session I shoot runs at least double the time you’ve actually booked. It’s just what starts to happen, because the first 15-20 minutes of most sessions involves warming up and getting ready to get into the good stuff…then who really wants to stop? Sometimes (…okay almost every single time) I get so into the moments that I completely lose track, and that’s all on me!
When I do try to stick to the time frame, it feels like I’m being rude, abrupt, and rushed with y’all. Maybe you don’t get that impression, but sometimes I feel like a gigantic jerk. I have had clients ask right at the 20ish minute mark for more of a particular shot, or can we go over here to get this scene? Or just a few more of this, or that, or I think we missed this one that I wanted, oh this one too… to be perfectly frank, I HATE cutting anyone off. I hate saying that we need to get ready to finish up when I can tell my clients want to keep going or want more. And it happens almost every single time.
Sometimes (albeit not often) I do try to stick to my boundaries and be respectful of my own time and talents but still get pushed to do more and more even when I’m saying our time is coming to a close. Just point blank…I don’t want to put myself in that position anymore. I don’t want to ever say no to requests during sessions! I absolutely want to keep shooting. I want to keep working to get the moments it feels like we didn’t have enough time for…because we probably didn’t have enough time! A mini is rarely enough to capture the fullness of what a family session should be- at least what I feel my own family sessions should be. I have high standards for my work, and I want to be able to give my clients my best. Not my rushed and half done.
I want to invest my entire time with you in making sure we have everything captured that fully encompasses you in that moment of time. And I want to deliver a gallery that I would be thrilled to receive myself of my own family. When I spend a morning or an afternoon or an evening with you, I want to capture everything that I would want to see in my own albums, my own walls, my own memories. Whether it be a pregnancy, a baby’s milestone, or photos you’ll put on a holiday card, they are all something special that you’ll look back on in years to come.

I’m ready to give my best to each and every one of my clients from here on out. I can’t wait to start documenting every single one of my sessions with you by giving my all! It’s what every single client of mine deserves.

To learn more about booking a session with AluraWayne Photography + Film, please click here for more session information.

Mini Sessions: Why I'm saying goodbye.