2025 AUSTIN spring
MINI-SESSIONS will be released in early march
See you in the Spring!
be the first to know about 2025 mini-sessions >
It's almost mini-session season! Mini-Sessions are 20 minutes long and your chance to take updated anniversary or family photos. And they're AMAZING for kids with short attention spans!
They're my favorite way to serve more people and give them the same great experience with a smaller investment.
20 minute photography session
30+ high-resolution digital photos
an online gallery
printing rights
$350+ (depending on location)
Each Session Includes
who are mini-sessions for?
Couples
High School or College Seniors
Headshots
Maternity
Family (6 or fewer people)
Rain make-up dates are one week later, at the same location and time. Please be sure you can attend both dates.
Sessions at Alight Collab indoor studio will not be rescheduled, because this location is fully indoors. Sessions at The Sekrit Theater will likely not be rescheduled unless there is a strong chance of rain. Because this season is so busy, reschedules won’t be allowed for any reason other than rain. The dates and times are not flexible, and mini-sessions are not offered at other times.
rain make-up dates
Read this page and review the rain policy. Then, click the button on this page to book your session easily online! A $75 retainer will save your spot.
review
date & location options
1
While booking online, you'll fill out a short questionnaire that will help me get to know you. I'll also send you the Mini-Session Style Guide with more details about how to prepare, outfit tips, and how to use your online gallery.
planning your session
2
If you have kids, it's so important to help your whole family feel as happy & prepared as possible. Go for a walk, give them a great snack, promise ice cream afterward... whatever works!
morning-of prep
3
This is the fun part! We'll walk around the location, stopping at the most scenic spots. We'll move quickly to have a lot of variety.
your
mini-session!
4
A couple days later, I'll send you some preview photos! Your full gallery will be ready 1 week after your mini-session. All 30+ photos will be edited and ready to download!
gallery delivery
5
Choose a date and location, and you’ll pay online
Easy scheduling
30+ photos delivered in an online gallery, ready to download. This is a much larger gallery than industry standard.
Lots of photos
Download all 30+ photos
Print your photos on your own, as many times as you want
No proofs or print orders
A mix of candid & posed photos
Fun, lighthearted prompts to create movement
Fast paced shooting – arrive early and be ready!
True-to-life editing style
your experience: what to expect
Look through photos from last year's event!
location & outfit inspiration?
see photos from last year >
The only mini-sessions I offer are during the scheduled events listed above. I’m primarily a wedding and senior photographer, and in order to best serve my existing clients, I only work with families during scheduled mini-session events.
Can we schedule a mini-session outside of these dates?
The advantages to mini-sessions are the lower cost and ease of booking. I photograph mini-sessions back-to-back, and the times are not flexible. We can only reschedule if rain affects us. For outdoor locations, be sure to check the rain date and know that you can attend both dates.
Are the dates flexible? Can we reschedule?
A mini-session may NOT be right for you if: 1. You're not local to the Austin area. 2. You have a tight schedule and are not available on the backup rain date. 3. You want a longer session with more than 30 photos in your gallery. 4. You feel the need for perfect weather. (I promise we don't need it!)
Is a mini-session
right for me?
Your mini-session includes high-resolution digital files, not physical prints. Don't worry about proofs – You can download all the photos in your gallery and print them as many times as you’d like!
Does the session include prints?
Can I print photos on my own?
Your full gallery of edited photos will be ready 7 days after your mini-session.
When will we receive our photo gallery?
If it looks like rain will be a problem during the time scheduled, we’ll reschedule for the predetermined rain-delay date. I like to wait until the day before to make the final call, because it can be hard to tell what time of day the rain will come. Sessions at The Sekrit Theater will only be rescheduled for heavy rain, because it is mostly covered.
What if rain is in
the forecast?
I will not bring any props. You're welcome to bring something, but I encourage you to keep it simple. The focus of your photos should be you. A neutral colored blanket can be helpful when sitting on the ground.
Will any props be provided?
I'll send you a Welcome Guide, which includes lots of outfit tips. For mini-sessions with multiple people, limit patterns and look for colors that coordinate but don't "match" exactly. Neutrals look great in the Fall.
What should we wear?
Yes! You're welcome to bring your dogs to outdoor locations. Alight Collab Studio is the only location that doesn't allow dogs. Just let me know before your session. If you'd also like to take some photos without your dog, you may want to bring any extra adult with you to watch over them.
Can we bring our dogs?
I don't generally allow proposals during mini-sessions, because they take more time and planning. If you're interested in proposal photography, I'd be happy to talk with you! You can also read more here.
Can I propose during a mini-session?
Because mini-sessions are only 20 minutes, you will not have time for an outfit change.
How many outfits can we wear?
Yes! When booking your mini-session online, you'll have the option to select an "add-on" of 10 extra edited photos in your gallery. This must be selected when booking, not later.
Can we add extra photos to our gallery?
Yes! I use a secure online system to take payments with a credit card or direct bank transfer. A $75 retainer is due when signing your agreement. The remaining amount is due 1 week before your mini-session.
Do you accept
credit cards?
common questions
20 minute photography session
30+ high-resolution digital photos
an online gallery
printing rights
2025 spring mini-sessions are $350+ and include:
join the newsletter >
Carisa, 2019-23 mini-sessions
"Lauren has been photographing my family every fall since 2019 and the photos are consistently amazing. She's adapted to every situation we throw at her. Three year old who is NOT feeling it? She made grumpy look cute. Four year old and a six month old? Somehow she got them both looking, SMILING even, at the camera. Five and one year olds who constantly want to explore and be in the move? Fantastic and fun action shots. Plus she's a joy to work with! Our mini shoots seriously feel like hanging out with a friend. On top of all that, the photos are always delivered on time (or even early) and her online gallery site is a breeze to work with."
Allysa, 2023 mini-session
"Lauren is AMAZING! She is so personable and positive. She made my boyfriend and I feel so comfortable during our mini session shoot and we had the BEST time. She really took the time to structure our photoshoot based on how we wanted the photos to look and she gave the most helpful, cheerful, and clear cues to help us get there! We were laughing and having fun the entire shoot. We received the photos earlier than expected and they were absolutely STUNNING - exactly what we wanted. Such an amazing, smooth, and fun photoshoot. Lauren - you are awesome!! 🙂"
Katie, 2018-23 mini-sessions
"We had the best experience with our family mini session. Lauren was so good with the kids and gave us beautiful photos. We highly recommend her!"
christy, Fall 2020 mini-session
"Lauren was so sweet, professional and wonderful to work with. The images turned out beautifully!"
jennifer, spring 2018 mini-session
"We absolutely love all of our family photos that Lauren took during our mini-session. Lauren quickly responded and answered all of my questions. What I really loved was the website she uses to manage her business. It took care of everything from payments, email reminders, to previewing photos and downloading/ordering prints. The entire process so easy! We will definitely be booking Lauren again for our next photo session. If you are looking for a great photographer.....Contact Lauren!"
Jacqueline, Fall 2017 mini-session
"Thank you so much Lauren! Super responsive on email, very professional layout for payment schedules and very quick turnaround on final products. Absolutely fantastic to work with start to finish even when we had to change dates and times. Lauren was so accommodating and so patient with all our changes... mini sessions for babies are the best things ever created. It's not easy to photograph a cranky baby but she made the experience great." We will definitely work together again. Thank you!!"
RACHEL, Fall 2018 mini-session
"Lauren was incredible and so easy to work with! Our first pictures as a family turned out so beautifully. I am so so so happy. The entire experience was easy and when Lauren makes a promise to get your pictures by a certain day; she delivers."
stephanie, Fall 2020-21 mini-session
"Lauren was professional, warm, quick, and the turn around time! Holy smokes - it was so fast. We loved the photos and the quality. I’d recommend her in heartbeat, and would love to have her photography my family again in the future."
Only two mini-session events are held per year, and these are the ONLY days of the year that I photograph families. Spots fill up fast!
Don't miss out!
...a Texan, a traveler, and a dog mom, living with my husband in Austin. Aside from photography, my greatest passion is being focused on giving my clients the best possible experience, from the moment you hit “send” on my contact form, to the first time you open your photo gallery.
photographer
meet your
about lauren >
