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MICHELLE LAUREN PHOTOGRAPHY

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Michelle Lauren Photography, Santa Barbara, Ca

Tips for Mini Sessions with Michelle Lauren Photography

September 20, 2025

My goal is to capture your family’s personalities and to have fun with these quick sessions.

Session Times: *You will have 20 minutes for your session. So if you get there late, you can only shoot with what's left of your 20 minutes, so please show up early to have enough time to park. Call if you can’t find your location.

A few pointers to help make your session go smoothly...

1) Make sure your child gets a nap in before the shoot if they still take one and give them time to wake up before their shoot (try to avoid activities that will make them exhausted... beach, hikes, lots of sun etc).

2) Try to show up at least 10-15 minutes before your start time so you have enough time to park and your child can also relax and warm up to the location and not be rushed.

3) Make sure your child is fed (not sugar) right before the shoot (this is the MOST important)

4) The session does not include photoshop, so have your kiddos all cleaned up. Clean face and clean outfit. (I recommend keeping them out of their photo outfits until right before we start).

5) If they are young and have a favorite toy or something that makes them happy, please bring that along.

6) If you have a friend or family member with you, sometimes that helps with keeping the kiddos happy while we shoot. But of course it’s not necessary. I do my best to keep them happy and smiling the whole time.

7) DON’T STRESS!!! Your kids will pick up on your stress throughout the day and it will make them anxious before the shoot. Be ready to play and snuggle with your kids and that will make for the best photos.

Wondering what to wear? Pick a color palette and start with one person. Then build outfits around that. Avoid bulky items and loud patterns such as large stripes or large polka dots. Make sure items are clean and wrinkle free. Most importantly is you must feel good in your outfit.

Enjoy!

Hayley and Natalie →

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 805.448.2534   michelle@michellelauren.com