TAYNEE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

Utah Wedding and Family Photographer

utah family photographer

Who are Mini Sessions right for? Utah Family

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utah mini session

Have you been wondering if a mini session is right for you?? 

The number one question I get asked as a family photographer in Utah  is do you offer Mini sessions. I have great news, I do offer them a few times a year, and you are in luck that I am now booking for Utah and California. On my last post I have written out what dates and where! 

If you have little kids, want just a handful of images, then a mini session is for you. If you are hoping for a more elongated experience and candid adventure then I would recommend doing a full session. 

utah mini session
utah mini session

Who is a mini session best for? 

Now that I have moved to Utah and typically only do mini sessions in California, this outlines who this session would be best for:

  • Families with children who are older school aged and cooperative 
  • Maternity session who is pregnant with their first child 
  • Families who have no preference on a location 
  • Any clients who have already shot with me and know my style
  • A small family with children who are not shy and will cooperate
  • Milestone photos
California Mini
utah mini
mini session

I hope to see you soon!

Mini Session 2022 | Utah and California

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Hey friends! Thank you to everyone who has reached out for photos this fall. I am so grateful to all of you for supporting me, my family, and my small business! 

 Details for Utah and Bay Area Mini Sessions!
Utah
Salt Flats – $315
September 24th – 5:20pm-7:20pm
Bonneville Salt Flats
Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery
Reserve your spot

 
Jordan Pines – $275
October 8th – 4:40pm-6:40pm
Jordan Pines (Big Cottonwood Canyon)
Fall colors
Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery
Reserve your spot
Bay Area, CA
Natural Bridges State Beach – $399
Friday, October 21st – 4:20pm-6:20pm
Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz
Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery
Reserve your spot
 
CA Filoli Garden – $399
Sunday, October 23rd – 10am-12pm
Entrance fee per person into Filoli is not included. Purchase your entry ticket and spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the gardens with your family.Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery
Reserve your spot


*There will also be availability for 2 full sessions. Saturday night October 22nd and Sunday October 23rd at sunrise.
 Reminders for booking:-Make sure you book under your correct time-zone.
-Mini Sessions are FCFS.
-Bookings are available for the dates on the calendar. If you want a different date/full session, please email me.
-Your session time will not be reserved or held until payment has been received.
-Details and other instructions will be emailed 1 week before the shoot to those who have booked.
-Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery
Book Now!

Derek & Jacqueline Maternity | Albion Basin

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Every summer the mountains of Little Cottonwood Canyon Albion Basin bloom with stunning wildflowers. They are breathtaking and only last for a few short weeks. I was so excited when Jacqueline wanted to do her maternity session at this beautiful location.

Maternity sessions are one of my favorite type of sessions and something I highly recommend people do. This season of your life is one that will go by quickly and capturing this time in your life truly is something you will never regret.

Often times women can feel drastically one way or the other. Sometimes they can feel like they are huge and look so different and someone love the body shift and change that is happening. If you fall in the category of not loving your body, focus on the memory of what you are celebrating.

When deciding what to wear for your session think about the season, the location, and what the mood will be. For something soft and romantic think flowey and lightly colored. For a more upbeat look, think of some brighter jewel tones and a pop of color! Both are beautiful and it truly is just up to you!

How to prepare for your photo session

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Sometimes the hardest part can be finding someone and committing and hiring them! At this point, you have now found me, and I am so excited to show you how to prepare for your photo session and then photograph your session! Now let’s get down to business! I’m going to walk you step by step through the entire process. This really is such an exciting time for you but also can feel stressful and overwhelming, so I want to help take this off your shoulders.

Here we go!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Nervousness: I know you are thinking that you are worried will everyones outfits look okay, will you look okay that day, will everyone be smiling and doing what they are supposed to do?? This is where I say trust the process and ME! I have done this so many times and I know exactly how to get the people in your session engaged and involved. The more we let our family feel our nerves, the more they will be nervous and potentially act out. I will help get their attention and keep them on track and make sure I get beautiful images while I am at it.

In general, try your best to treat it like any other time. That is the best way for me to get candid shots of your family. The more relaxed you are and the more you can be yourselves, the more you’ll love the photos. I will mix up posing and prompts, so don’t feel like you have to come with any of those ideas. I will be your idea factory that day so you can relax!

Fun: Do your very best to treat this as a fun activity. If we go into something stressed, others can feel it, so remember to have fun and just really lean into the session!

WHAT TO DO AHEAD OF TIME

Choose a location: I have a list of spots I love, but also am open to hearing if there is a spot you want! I am always open to doing the shoot at your home also if that is something important to you!

Pick a date: Do you want a fall session or summer session? Do you want to make sure you can have enough time to send cards/invitations out at a certain time. This will all be critical information to decide on, so that you have plenty of time to get the images back from me to use.

Pick a time: As a photographer, I will always recommend doing it at a time that is best for the light! Keep in mind how much time you will need to get everyone ready, get them to the location, and then give us at least an hour for your session!

Communicate: I will give you a beautiful session, but if there is something you are hoping for, please tell me so that I can make sure we achieve that for you!

Prep your outfits: Don’t wait til the day of your shoot to pick your looks! Start thinking now of coordinating outfits, get them ordered and planned, and then get them prepped for the session by ironing them or steaming them ahead of time!

Prep yourself and family: Make sure to get hair cuts a few days in advance and start practicing how you will do your hair or book an appointment to get your hair and makeup done! It’s a fun way to treat yourself also!

WHAT TO WEAR

What to wear and how to coordinate: The most important thing is to feel comfortable and happy in what you are wearing. If you feel beautiful it will shine through. Also think classic styling so that in years to come you love them just as much!

Be yourself: Don’t dress totally out of your normal style, find a style you love and know you will look back in and feel confident and happy!

Color: I always love more jewel tones or softer neutrals for your session! This is huge that everyone is in a similar color wheel so that everyone can coordinate color wise!

How to coordinate: Don’t match too closely so that it will all balance the photos. Go for complimentary colors, patterns so that it all flows nicely!

I have a whole post here dedicated to what to wear! Make sure to check that out!

This whole process can feel overwhelming but I promise you once you are there it will be amazing! I can’t wait to get to meet you and photograph your session!

Alejandra maternity session | Salt Lake City

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I might be biased, but this maternity session was absolutely perfect.

It was their first baby, first time together as they enter into these roles of parenthood. I was so happy I as able ot capture these last moments with each other before their whole lives changed! It truly was total perfection.

This gorgeous mama was such a joy to work with. She trusted me with making sure we got beautiful images for her keepsake and they both were such good sports at the maternity session.

I truly am so glad I was able to photograph these two as they entered into parenthood for their maternity session!

What is the best season for family photos?

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Moving from California to Utah, having four seasons has absolutely been a change for me! This last year I have really started to gain some perspective on what seasons I love to shoot in and would be best for family photos. At the end of the day, any season will work, it’s more about the pros and cons to each season and what you prefer.

Living in Utah we get four full seasons. I love that we do because it truly offers a lot of variety. The first thing you need ot decide is what scenery would you like. My favorite is spring time with all of the flowers in bloom. Anytime from April to October are prime months for photos in Utah. This makes it easy because really you could have spring, summer, or fall photos.

PROS FOR SPRING FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY- This is my FAVORITE!

  1. Warm weather
    -the kids will be happy it’s not to hot or to cold
  2. Blooming Flowers
    -This is my favorite time of year for pictures because the flowers truly can make for a stunning backdrop.
  3. Light colors and pastels are so beautiful in images.

CONS OF SPRING FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

  1. Bad Weather – It rains quite a bit from March-May sometimes even snows, so you need to stay flexible and ready to reschedule.
  2. Busy Photographers – this is when our season begins so we are focusing on engagements, bridals, families, it can get really busy.
  3. Hard to dress for- Bringing kids to this type of shoot, you want to be sure you plan for layers because if it is a breezy day the kids for sure will get cold.

PROS OF SUMMER FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

  1. You can start later and have the most BEAUTIFUL sunsets at the end of your session during the summer season
  2. Weather is hot, but that means you can dress in sundresses and linens
  3. Beautiful locations! The hills will be so green and that makes for some beautiful shots.

CONS OF SPRING FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

  1. HOT- Now I also called this a pro but it can be a con if it is way to hot! This is important to keep in mind what time you book at and where. If you book in the mountains it will be a little easier because the temps are a little lower.
  2. Scheduling issues.  
    – People travel a lot so it can be hard to find a time for a photographer to book you and have it work for everyone
fall family photography

PROS OF FALL FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

  1. Awesome temperatures – This is the best time to get some images while keeping everyone cool
  2. Beautiful fall foliage – Utah has the most amazing leaves, trees, and fall season. It’s also a great chance to get some more themed photos like at a pumpkin patch.

CONS OF FALL FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

  1. Turn around time -This is the BUSIEST time of the year as people are getting photos for Christmas cards and with these great temps. You should expect a longer wait time.
  2. Locations Crowded- A few of the main spots I love I know get so busy in the fall so you should plan to have multiple families and photographers at most locations .
  3. Busy timing – This is when school starts back up, holidays are coming, so things are crazy in scheduling world. This is important to notate if you also have kids in sports because your photographer might not be able to be super flexible.

PROS OF WINTER FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

  1. Open Schedules –This is probably the easiest time to book! Things are super mellow for most photographers this season and slow so it makes it easy for you to get in on your time frame.
  2. Chance of snow- I can’t even tell you how many shoots have had it start to snow during the shoot! It makes for some magical photos!
  3. Beautiful color tones – Majority of outdoor spots will be dead and be more neutral which can be great for images you will be putting in your home so that they work anywhere.

CONS OF WINTER FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

  1. It’s COLD! – I have been at shoots before that have been so freezing and that can be incredibly hard. You sometimes will have red hands, noses, other body parts from being so cold. It also typically goes a lot faster because of that.
  2. Limited on looks- you can go without coats but you will for sure be cold! This is something to keep in mind as you plan outfits and if you have kids in your shoot.

I hope this helps you! Which is your favorite season for family photos? Have you done each season? Would you want to try each season??

Ready to schedule your family photo session? Don’t wait! Send me a message here!