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UPDATE: All 2016 outdoor fall session slots have been filled! Looking forward to a great season!
Happy August, friends! This summer has certainly SPED by for us – I’m sure a few of you are feeling the same! I am currently taking some down time to make some last minute summer memories with my family before school and busy season kicks back into gear, but I also need to get some fall details rolling since inquiries have been coming in! This year, I’m doing my fall booking just a little bit differently. This post will contain everything you need to know about my fall availability, the fall season in general and how to book your session. I’m laying ALL the details on the line! If you’re interested in a session during this upcoming fall season, please continue reading!
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Availability:
I have spent the last week setting my session availability and installing a booking calendar that is going to streamline the booking process for me (and you!) Before I link that information below, let me say a few words about my availability in general. Due to our work and activities schedule, I do have very limited weekend bookings this fall, so you’ll see a lot of weekday evening session slots! Most of these are open to either a full or simplicity session (client’s choice) however, towards the end of October and into early November, I do start limiting weekdays to simplicity (half) sessions due to the very early sunset time. Weekend slots (where available) are open to full sessions only. Bear in mind that illness and weather can change our session plans, but I do have backup dates built into my schedule for this reason. That said, if you book a weekend slot and we are forced to reschedule for one of these reasons, it is not guaranteed that your rescheduled date will be another weekend slot due to the small number of those I have available. Even with a set schedule, this season can require a bit of flexibility!
Minis:
I will once again offer two evenings/events of fall mini sessions this year as I have done in the past. These will not be themed and will be open to small families, couples, milestones or maternity sessions for groups of 5 or smaller. Mini sessions have not been added to my booking calendar as of yet since I am still nailing down details, but you can do a preliminary mark on your calendar for the following dates (which as of right now, are looking promising for being my mini session dates this year!) I will open booking for both dates at the same time, likely towards the end of August and I typically make an announcement on my facebook page with a blog post here as well. These will also be booked using my new booking calendar system when the time comes! I will likely have 4 session slots per evening, so if you’re holding out for a mini session – keep in mind the slots could fill very quickly.
Fall Mini session estimated dates:
Friday September 30th (backup date October 7th) Slots will likely span from 5pm-7pm
Monday October 10th (backup date October 17th) Slots will likely span from 4:45-6:45pm
How To Book Your (non-mini) Fall Session:
Now for some booking details! I have created a page (and calendar) dedicated to booking fall outdoor sessions. Click HERE to navigate to this page and make sure to carefully read through the instructions prior to submitting a booking! Once these dates are booked, I will not likely have additional openings to add unless a cancellation occurs. If I do add additional dates, I will again make that announcement via my facebook page! This calendar does NOT reflect my availability for newborn sessions or the studio milestone sessions I will begin booking later this fall. It is purely for outdoor (evening) sessions September through early November! If you are looking for a newborn or studio session, please inquire through the contact tab at the bottom of this webpage.
Please read on for some tips and important info concerning fall sessions!
Fall Session Tips:
Fall Color: I get asked every year when the leaves will turn. Unfortunately I am not an expert on this subject and Kansas LOVES to throw us for a loop in the weather/nature department pretty regularly, but I can certainly make an estimated guess. I typically tell clients to book sessions mid to late October if they wish to have a bit of fall color in their photos. The downside of this is, sometimes late October can be too late – we have had fall seasons where the leaves fell by this time, so it is a bit of a gamble either way! Keep in mind that fall color in general is a very short phase here in Kansas. In my experience, if you have young children, I feel it’s safer to err on the side of booking earlier rather than later as the temperatures can begin to change for the worse by the end of October. Comfortable, happy children tend to photograph better (regardless of the color of the leaves!) Plus, a bit of sunlight (if we’re lucky) can transform green grass and trees into some warm fall colors too! My general advice is to not get too hung up on trying to catch that perfect (fleeting) moment of Kansas fall color, but instead focus on what dates work best for you and your family’s needs. If you book a September or early October session, you can bring those warm, autumn colors into your portraits through your outfit choices! If you need help in that department, I’m always happy to send along some inspiration!
Fall Locations: Because of the larger number of sessions I shoot in the fall (and the increasingly earlier sunset times) I do mostly choose locations within close proximity of my home/studio and will travel less for outside locations. This keeps the season manageable for me and my childcare situation and also provides locations consistent to my style with easy access for families and a calm, safe place for us to capture your images! These locations are about a 20 minute drive north of Manhattan in a semi-rural area. If you have a specific location in mind for your session, please discuss it with me prior to booking!
As one last (yet important) tip, please understand that the fall season is a very busy one for family photographers. I would LOVE to photograph everyone who inquires for a session, but through experience I’ve learned that taking on too much is not good for me, my family or my clients! If you are booking a session with me this fall/winter, please understand that things can get a bit hectic and turnaround times tend to be longer on getting edits back to you. I am a one-employee small business and 150% stubborn about the images I create which means I put a lot of time (and love!) into processing each and every session. If you need your images by a certain date, please book your session 3-4 weeks in advance and keep in mind that turnaround times can creep longer as the season gets fully underway. I am always happy to share a couple preview images to make your wait a little more bearable.
I am looking forward to sharing this upcoming fall with some new and familiar faces! Bring on the cooler weather, cardigans and pumpkin spice lattes! 😉
Want to chat? Please feel free to contact me via the contact tab/form below if you have questions or would like more information before booking! Keep in mind I will be a bit slower to answer emails until my break ends August 18th!