Mini Sessions
What is a Mini Session, and Who is It For?
Mini sessions are a great way to capture beautiful, high-quality photos in a short and convenient time frame! Unlike full sessions, these are pre-scheduled events held on a specific date, at a set location, and booked back-to-back with other families. I carefully select the location, theme, and timing—often creating unique setups that wouldn’t typically be available for a single session. I.E. if I rent a vintage truck for $700, it only makes sense when I can book multiple families in a row!
Mini sessions are perfect if you love the theme or simply want a quick update for your walls. These sessions are typically 15-20 minutes long, providing just enough time to capture a handful of stunning images of your immediate family.
If a mini session sounds perfect for you, check out the upcoming themes and book your spot before they fill up!
What to Expect
1. Decide if a Mini Session is Right for You
Mini sessions are a great way to capture beautiful, professional photos in a short and convenient time frame, but they aren’t the best fit for everyone. These sessions are not ideal for extended family photos, outfit changes, or little ones who need extra time to warm up to new faces. If you’re looking for a fully personalized experience with flexible scheduling, multiple backdrops, or extra time for your child to get comfortable, a full session may be the better option.
If a mini session sounds like the perfect fit, you can find all available dates and themes on my booking page. Minis are typically released 3-6 weeks before they take place, with a couple of exceptions:
Holiday Minis: Pre-sale runs the last two weeks of July, with a second release in September.
Fall Minis: Released in August.
Both Holiday and Fall Minis sell out every single year, so don’t wait to grab your spot! To stay in the loop, join my newsletter and follow me on Facebook and Instagram for announcements.
2. Booking Your Session
To officially reserve your spot, a signed contract, completed questionnaire, and $100 retainer fee are required.
The questionnaire is more than just paperwork—it’s a way for me to truly get to know your family. The details you share help me connect with you (and specifically your kids) from the very first hello, making everyone feel seen, valued, and comfortable in front of the camera. This connection is what allows me to capture your family's true personality in a way that feels natural and genuine, so I encourage you to take your time filling it out. I promise, this isn’t just busy work—it’s the secret to help create photos that feel like your family.
3. You Session Date
Get ready for a fun, relaxed, and laughter-filled experience! During our time together, you can expect high energy, lots of funny noises, and probably a few happy squeals as I capture your family’s connection.
I’ll guide you into natural, comfortable positions—never stiff or overly posed—making small adjustments as needed to ensure everything looks just right in-camera. From there, I’ll use playful prompts to encourage genuine interactions, allowing your family's true personalities to shine.
I take plenty of photos to make sure we capture the perfect moments—both the beautifully composed shots and the in-between, candid magic that truly tells your story.
4. choose your favorite images
Within three days of your session, you'll receive an email with a link to your online proof gallery. This gallery will include 2-3 fully edited images, giving you a preview of the final look and feel of your photos. The rest of the gallery will feature unedited proofs—straight-from-the-camera images where you’ll focus on composition and expressions rather than final edits.
From here, you’ll select your favorites! The number of photos included in mini sessions vary, but most will include between 5-8 images of your choice. But you’ll also have the option to purchase additional images for full editing. If your proof gallery contains 25 images, you can even choose to upgrade and receive the entire collection.
5. Receive & Enjoy Your Final Gallery
Once you've selected your favorite images (don’t worry, I’ll guide you through this simple process!), I’ll get to work perfecting them. Your fully edited gallery will be delivered within two weeks, ready for you to download and cherish.
If you loved your experience as much as I did, I would truly appreciate a Google or Facebook review—it means the world to my business! And don’t forget to share your experience with friends and family—word-of-mouth referrals help me continue capturing beautiful moments for amazing families like yours.
The final step? Planning your next session! Whether it’s holiday portraits or making family photos an annual tradition, I can’t wait to see your family again and create more unforgettable memories together!
The Details
Pricing
Photography isn’t just about pictures—it’s about preserving the love, laughter, and fleeting moments that make up your story. These are the images you’ll look back on years from now, the ones your children will treasure, the ones that remind you just how beautiful this season of life truly is.
Prices vary depending on the mini session. See all current mini sessions below
What's New on the 'Gram
It might not feel like it yet, but Spring and Summer memories are about to begin.
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Minis are here and I’m so excited to share them with you!
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This year’s lineup includes:
🌿Greenhouse Minis
🌷 Tulip Minis
🎓 Cap, Confetti & Crew Minis
🌼 Wildflower Farm Minis
🌳 Cantigny End of Summer Family Minis
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If you have been waiting to update family photos, celebrate your senior, or capture a little bit of summer magic…this is your sign.
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See bio for booking link.
#napervillephotographer #warrenvillephotographer #familyphotographer #minisession #2026senior
Friendly reminder:
Spring & Summer Mini Sessions go on sale TODAY at 4pm!
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This year’s lineup includes:
🌿 Greenhouse Minis (family or motherhood)
🌷 Tulip Minis
🎓 Cap, Confetti & Crew senior sessions
🌼 Wildflower Farm Minis
🌳 Cantigny Family Minis
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If you’ve been waiting to update family photos, celebrate your senior, or capture a little bit of summer magic… this is your sign.
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⏰ Spots go live at 4pm
Set those reminders — minis tend to disappear quickly!
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I can’t wait to see so many familiar faces (and new ones!) in front of my camera this season.
SO. MUCH. COMING. YOUR. WAY.
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ALL Spring and Summer sessions are being released to the public on Friday at 4:00pm. Yes...I said ALL. This includes graduation pics, family sessions, greenhouse sessions and motherhood sessions! Get ready for it! See you back here on Friday!
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Current and past clients... check your emails (including your spam folder). All Spring/Summer Sessions are open to YOU in 3....2....1.
Something beautiful really is coming. 🌿
Spring Greenhouse Sessions are officially happening on Sunday, April 26th — and this year, you get to choose your story.
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A Full Family Session
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A Motherhood Session
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And when I say motherhood, I don’t just mean moms with babies.
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I mean:
• You and your toddler
• You and your teenager
• You and your grown daughter
• You and YOUR mama (or Three generations together)
• Or simply you — because you deserve to exist in photos too
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These sessions are about connection.
The way your kids lean into you.
The way your mom still holds your hand.
The quiet in-between moments that feel like home.
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Soft light. Fresh greens. Movement. Laughter.
The kind of images that feel like you… just in the prettiest setting.
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Spots go on sale Friday, March 6th at 4:00pm and WILL be limited.
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Set your reminder.
I cannot wait to create something beautiful with you. 🌿
Is it just me, or did January feel like the longest month ever?
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But GOOD NEWS! Over the next 268 days, our sun will be setting after 5:00pm
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I can already feel the warm sun on my skin and picture wildflowers swaying in the breeze. Those golden, joy-filled days are closer than they feel….and they’ll be here before we know it.
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Below is a full gallery from a past family session in the wildflowers, because the magic isn’t just in one image, it’s in the story they tell together.
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For more family sessions or to explore the other types of sessions I offer, you can find them on my UPDATED website.
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#napervillephotographer #warrenvillephotographer #wheatonphotographer #familyphotographer #thewildflowerfarm
You’ve seen my work… but have you seen the heart behind it?
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Five years ago, I built a website with a dream in my heart and a hope that it would one day truly reflect the photographer, and the experience, I wanted to become.
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Today… it finally feels like home.
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Not only does it reflect my heart, my work, and the experience I strive to create for every family; it was also designed with you in mind.
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You can now browse session offerings, explore full galleries, and officially book both sessions and mini sessions directly through the site with ease.
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Simple. Thoughtful. Seamless.
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Thank you for being a part of MY story.
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https://novella-photography.com
email : knovellaphotography@gmail.com
follow me on Facebook and instagram @novella.photos
located in warrenville, il
serving Naperville, warrenville, Wheaton, winfield, aurora, Lombard, downers grove, Lisle, glen ellyn, Woodridge, oak brook, elmhurst, and other surrounding western suburbs of Chicago