TIPS FOR FUN SETS AND A SUCCESSFUL “MINI” PHOTO SESSION

1. 1. Create a cute set. After several trips the craft store we ended up using the hanging hearts from the stationary store on 72nd Street – just a few doors up. We have been trying to frequent other local businesses and this store had been hard hit by Hurricane Sandy.  $15 later,  we had several sets of hanging hearts ready to tape to a backdrop. I’m glad we bought extra sets since we tangled a few in the first shoot…and they became completely unusable.You can also repurpose any props you already had as well:  chalkboards with mom’s handwriting, wagons, and little red chairs. Get the kids to dress up in tutus or red suspenders and you are all set.

1. 1. Try ideas that might fail. We had seen images on Pinterest where kids were blowing snow (fake snow, lets hope!) from their hands and thought…. “hey! That would be so cute with paper hearts!” We are always looking for really affordable unique ways to create an incredible image. Well, paper hearts weren’t a complete fail— but, it wasn’t exactly cute either. Our six year olds couldn’t open their eyes or smile and blow at the same time. With a 4 year old, we ended up just throwing the hearts in the air when she pretended to blow. And there was a BIG mess to clean up after each blow (even more difficult to clean up then our cake smash sessions). 

1. Figure out dates but don’t offer more then you can shoot. Mini shoots are something special for us. We want to have them be something different. Of course, we also don’t want it to be our norm. 20 minutes doesn’t allow much warm up time, & only allows for one backdrop and one closeup color. But, how many heart photos do parents really want? They want one or two cute Valentine’s photos and that is what we try and offer.Typically we only bring out our inner kitsch when it’s Halloween or with the chicks for Easter. But this Valentine’s, we found a quick way to offer something our families had already been asking for. Since we have been photographing kids for almost 10 years, we have lots of available sets. Each year we try and add something new and leave a few favorites from years past to choose from. The best idea we had is allowing parents to pre-select their favorite set for that year. Then we offer exactly what the parent’s want without overshooting a “mini session”. Check out the form we created for these pre-chosen backdrops.