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I'm the gal behind the lens, and the founder of paige elizabeth photography. 

If I'm not working you can usually find me exploring new towns, eating sushi, or cuddling with my pup and cat. Explore my blog to learn more about me, my couples, and even learn a thing or two!

Hey, there! I'm Paige.

Top 12 Tips to Running Mini Sessions

Photographers, this is for you! I got a lot of DM’s after I chatted a bit about my mini session this past weekend, and specifically about how I am typically in a good amount of physical pain/discomfort the day following a mini session. This is pretty understandable for us photogs. We’re not only on our feet all day, but we’re constantly moving. Bending, squatting, laying down, moving things around, lifting things, running back and forth. All. Day. Long. Not to mention we’re holding and moving around with a (in some cases, depending on your gear) pretty heavy camera in our hands the whole time!
The first time I ran mini sessions, I made a LOT of mistakes. I jumped in head first and was so excited, I missed planning for some things that, had I thought about it better ahead of time, would have honestly seemed like common sense. But I learn best by doing and those mistakes allowed me to see what I needed to change for my future mini sessions! Fast forward to today and I am confident in my mini session planning and have implemented some strategies that not only help the day run smoother, but help me to recover and feel back on my feet even faster! I know I’m not the only one who has struggled with mini sessions or who felt like they walked into a brick wall the day after, so I wanted to share some of my secrets with you! Here’s my Top 12 Tips for Running Mini Sessions:
Day Before:
1. Prep 1-2 Days Before: Prepping ahead of time is crucial to setting yourself up for success. Not only does it lower stress and give you peace of mind, but it gives you plenty of time to run out and get anything you may need! It’s also important to remember you’re not just prepping your gear. Use this time to prep anything else you have planned. Special set ups, wait stations for your clients, snacks, etc. If you have an assistant scheduled to help you, ensure they know the plan and are locked in. Make sure any other vendors you have on site that day know all the logistics as well! Last but not least, is your day scheduled and planned out? Do you know your timeline? Ensuring you do all of these things 1-2 days prior, allows you to get a full nights rest and feel confident you are ready to rock these sessions!
2. Gear Backup: Ensuring your gear is prepped and ready to go is something you should always be doing before your sessions. But do you also have backup plans in place in case something fails? Make sure you have plenty of fully charged batteries and clear + formatted memory cards ready to go. Additionally, it never hurts to make sure you have your backup camera handy just in case something goes wrong. Knowing you have these already prepped, and in an easy-to-access location, makes your day run so smooth. Let me tell you from experience, fumbling around looking for a charged battery or trying to find an empty memory card is NOT what you want to be doing during a mini session where time is so crucial!
3. Hydrate + Fuel: As photographers, we are often so worried about our gear and client experience, that we forget to take care of ourselves. YOU are a key element here! Make sure you’re prepping your body by drinking plenty of water the day before, and eating right. No crazy junk food today. Give yourself the fuel it needs to help you have energy all day with a good balance of proteins and carbs.
4. Scheduling Cut Off Time: Set a date/time your clients have until to book your mini sessions. For example, you launch your sessions on a Monday, and tell your clients they have two weeks to the day to book them. Why do this? For one, it creates FOMO and a sense of urgency for your clients to hurry up and book you before you sell out, or before the cut off date. Giving them a strict deadline (and sticking to it!) also sets the tone and reminder that you are running a business and not a hobby. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having photography as a hobby, and if that’s your jam, awesome! But the majority of photographers who run mini sessions are doing this as a source of income, and it can be hard for the public to remember that when it comes to small business owners. Set your tone and stick to it. Also, it allows you to know exactly what to expect and to prep accordingly. You deserve the peace of mind of knowing whats coming!
5. Rest Up: Go. To. Sleep. Seriously y’all, the night before mini sessions is not the night to be up late doing last minute prep, or going out and partying. Stay home, watch a good movie or read a book, and turn in early. I promise your body will thank you for letting it get a full and good nights rest before it has to show up for you in all kinds of ways the next day!
Day Of:
1. Hydrate + Fuel: This is the #1 tip on a mini day because it is so easy to forget. It is also the NUMBER ONE thing that has changed how my body feels the day of and the day after! Making sure you have water and food on hand and available throughout the day (and then making sure to actually consume it!) has truly made my body feel so much better. When I used to forget to eat or drink during the day, my muscles would cramp easier and longer, and the next day I would literally feel like I’d had 10 shots of tequila the night before. Ugh. Remembering to take care of myself allows me to feel better, serve my clients better (because I feel good) and be ready to get right back to work the next day!
2. Buffer Session Times and/or Schedule Lunch: Y’all. I can not being to tell you how happy I was when I started doing this for my mini sessions. The first couple times I ran minis, they were 30 minute sessions, scheduled every 30 minutes, all. day. long. I was exhausted beyond belief, and it didn’t allow me any time to take care of myself! Now I schedule in (depending on the type of sessions) 5-15 minutes between my sessions and a lunch break for myself! Yes, this means I take on less sessions during the day, but to me it is so worth it. I’d rather work smarter and not harder. So if it means that I take 1-2 less sessions than I would without those buffer times, but I end up feeling great and not loosing a day of work after because I’m stuck in bed feeling like crap..then it is SO worth it to me! It allows me to utilize that time to take care of myself, and bonus, it’s a buffer in case someone runs late or you end up over shooting by a few minutes.
3. Have Help: Having an assistant to help you out not only makes your day run smoother, but allows for a better client experience. Instead of leaving your clients waiting or not knowing where they should go/what they should do while they wait, your assistant can greet them and help them settle in as well as answer any questions. They also can help you out if you need someone to hold your reflector, or move a piece of furniture, or keep the snack table stocked. Now I’m going to be honest, I do not pay to have an assistant on mini days. I typically have a loving friend or family member who is willing to help me out, or have someone who has previously offered to assist me. It’s a great opportunity for someone who is brand new to the photography world to see how mini sessions work (which can be super intimidating!) and learn from someone more experienced. It’s a win-win. You get free help and get to know you’re helping educate a fellow tog, and they get the experience that so few photogs are willing to give by letting them see the BTS of how they run the show! We all started somewhere, remember?
4. Dress Appropriate: Ugh, I learned this one the hard way. I wore uncomfortable jeans and a nice jacket with boots for my first minis because I thought my clients cared if I “looked nice” more than how good their pictures were. Let me tell y’all – they do not care what you wear! They care how they are treated, and the quality of the product they paid for. Your comfort when you are doing so much physical activity is key! I am always wearing leggings and some sort of comfortable sweater/top when I shoot minis now it is a game changer. If I’m not doing something like boudoir where I’ll have to be climbing on a bed, then I am also wearing very supportive tennis shoes!
5. Stretch: Stretch those muscles, baby! Use your buffer or lunch time to do a few stretches and absolutely do a good 10-30 minutes of stretching at the end of the night. Adding in a foam roller is a great idea too. Once I started doing this I noticed a huge difference in how my body reacted the next day!
Day After:
1. Don’t Over-Exert Yourself: Seems logical, but I think as entrepreneurs this is easier said than done for most of us. I generally will not schedule meetings or shoots the day after a mini session so I can rest. I use this time instead to catch up on emails, office work, and of course – edit!
2. Exercise: Please 👏 Go 👏 Do 👏 This 👏. Nothing fancy here. I’m not saying go to the gym and do a full 2 hour cardio + weights workout. But do some form of exercise the day after to get the blood flowing to your muscles! I typically will do about a half hour walk followed by some stretching. It’s not exactly what I feel like doing, but boy does my body thank me after.
I hope this list helps you ROCK your mini sessions, and ensure you are feeling great during and after! I hear so many photographers complain about mini sessions because let’s be honest y’all, they aren’t easy. It’s hard being on your game all day, plus you’re bouncing through completely different clients all day long. But I can tell you that my mindset towards minis completely changed after I implemented all these practices. I really enjoy doing them now and always end up having a blast!
What do you think? Will you start incorporating these practices into your minis? Let me know what you think of these tips in the comments – and tell me what your favorite one is!
You got this!
Xo,
Paige
Photos of me taken on my camera by Nikki at Every Wave Photo. Edits are by me. Thanks Nikki for these fun shots!

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- michelle + sean

From the moment we met Paige and Sarah I knew it would be a lifelong bond! They are the kindest most genuine humans you will probably ever meet. Not only do I cherish our relationship, but it makes for incredible photos because you can be completely comfortable and your authentic self when in their hands. I have a medical condition and Paige was my #1 support (next to my husband) during our engagement shoot and entire wedding day. She takes magical photos, and on top of that acts similar to a bridesmaid - helps with your train, has snacks if you feel a crash coming LOL! I never felt stress and if I did it was short lived because she truly had our backs! Additionally, we are a “covid couple” who postponed 2x and she met that challenge with the utmost compassion, understanding, and flexibility. Paige Elizabeth Photography will be the best decision you make. Don’t walk - RUN to book! She has this incredible ability to capture the candid moments and your day exactly how it happened so the memories are stored forever. They blow any expectation of photography out of the water, and will become you and your family/friends for life to capture all the important moments.

"The best decision you make"

- emily

Paige is the absolute best photographer you could have! We took our engagement photos with her and was blown away how at ease she made us feel and how amazing the photos turned out. When she sent us our sneak peak photos from our wedding, our mouths dropped. They were better than we could have ever imagined! I still have family members talking about how much they loved her. She is also not afraid to kick everyone off a deck to get some night time pictures if they are in the way hahaha! She is truly the best. BOOK HER!

"Better than we could have ever imagined!"

- Sam + Ryan

Paige is the best! We met first when we booked her for our 2019 wedding and engagement. She was our first vendor booked and obviously our favorite. We just knew we HAD to work with her. She is incredibly understanding, warm, and always smiling. She does her best to feel like family and make your shoot full of ease. She completely understands when people feel “awkward in front of the camera”. We’ve continued to use her through the years, taking anniversary shots, mini sessions, and most recently family photos as our family grew. We have loved watching her succeed over the years and having her document our successes as well :) book her!

"Book her!"

- Sydney + andrew



"I WAS NOT READY! 

Paige, these are absolutely everything and have helped us relive the most special day. You not only captured all of the sweetest moments but somehow all of the FUNNIEST and most memorable moments that we are all still laughing about. Have no idea how you were so many places seemingly at once but we are forever grateful. 

Thank you for making us feel so comfortable and celebrated throughout the entire process. We'll be looking at these photos forever. I only wish we could do it all together again!"

"I was not ready!"

- Mackenzie

Paige has been such a gift to our family over the past 3 years since we started booking her as our photographer. From family sessions, to boudoir and maternity- Paige has always nailed our vision. I have GLADLY recommended her to friends for their weddings and beyond, and everyone has been thrilled with Paige’s work. Not only is she an amazing photographer, but an awesome person. I felt like we were fast friends which made me even more comfortable in front of the camera. If you’re looking for a photographer, look no further!!

"such a gift"

- text from makenna

"..THANK YOU is an understatement. You made our wedding, you captured EVERYTHING, and to think that you were a one woman show blows my mind. You were everywhere and captured every single detail. I knew when we booked with you that we wouldn't regret it, we are so pleased with everything. We are so happy and can't wait to share all the pictures with our whole family. I can't wait to TRY to pick our favorites and display them all over our house. Just know that you will be in our lives for a while, hopefully capturing our kiddos one day!...Thank you for being you and for sharing your talent with us! We are overwhelmed with all that you have given to us!"

"THANK YOU!"

- texts from rachel 

"OMFG"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME"
"These are INSANE"
"Holy shit I'm dying"
"OMMMGGGG"
"I'm legit obsessed this is amazing!!!!"
"Holy f**K I cna't stop staring at them" 
"You are insane"
"WE ARE DYING OVER HERE"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME"

- Megan

Absolutely amazing to work with!!
I've followed paige for years,admiring her work and was lucky enough to work with her this past summer for what was just a couples shoot, turning into a surprise engagement shoot. Paige and her sister were such a joy and SO easy to work with! Paige makes you feel so comfortable infront of the camera. She truly feels like a friend and we are so lucky to have her shoot our wedding in 2024. Her work is beautiful so please do yourself a favor and book with paige Elizabeth 

"Truly feels like a friend"

- Morgan

I first met Paige in 2019, she came with our wedding photographer as a second shooter. She made not only myself, but my husband and our wedding party feel instantly comfortable and like we had known each other for years. Paige then did our maternity pictures in 2020. Not only is all of her work incredible, but the smile that she has when she is behind the camera is so bright that you cannot help but myself when you are having your picture taken by her. She is great at making poses not seem staged and the way that she communicates with you while she is taking your pictures is so calming. Paige is so talented and the passion that she has for her work is truly inspiring!

"Instantly Comfortable"

- Brittany

PAIGE PAIGE PAIGE! I'm crying! These are gorgeous! Thank you so much for these - we always love your work. Can't wait to schedule our next session with you! 

"Can't wait to schedule our next session.."

- Lindsey + emmit

Thank you thank you thank you. You are honestly incredible. You are the best third wheel ever!

"Best third wheel ever!"

- makenna + andrew

Paige, you are INCREDIBLE! You have such a gift, you are so good at what you do. Thank you for these pictures. I can not stop drooling over them. I can’t wait to share them! Thank you so much!! 

"INCREDIBLE"

- Melissa + max

So completely blown away, I can't wait to share more!" 

"Completely blown away"

- samantha + ryan

"These are the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen in my life. You are a wizard (yes the HP kind) with a camera - it was meant to be in your sweet perfect hands. Thank you so much for yesterday and for everything. We are so so lucky to get to have you and your talents capture the best day of Ryan’s and I’s lives"

"You Are a Wizard"

- HALEY + BRANDON

"OH MY GOD PAIGE YOU F*@%KING KILLED IT...Thank you so much for capturing everything. We are so grateful for you!"

"OH MY GOD"

- Krista, 2020 PEP Senior rep

"Paige is one of the kindest people I've ever met! When it comes to senior pictures, I'm so glad I chose her. She was quick with our photos, always gave us sneak peeks, and hyped us up during our whole shoot! Wish I could be a PEP Senior Rep forever!" 

"I'm so glad I chose her"

- Kelsey + gavin

"Paige made our engagement and wedding photo experience unforgettable. She was professional, fun, and did an amazing job capturing our personalities in our photographs. Great turn around time. I cannot say enough great things about this woman!!!"

"Unforgettable"

- jen and shane

"PAIGE! I just got a chance to completely look through all of the photos. They are absolutely stunning!!! Thank you so much, you captured everything perfectly!"

"Captured Perfectly"

- courtney, 2020 PEP Senior rep

"I genuinely could not be happier with the experience Paige provided me with this year. I was super nervous to be in front of the camera, but my shoots with Paige literally felt like hanging out with your best friend while simultaneously taking photos. Paige sincerely cares about each and every one of her clients, and that is made so evident by the hard work she puts into her craft. I’ve learned so much from watching Paige run her business and I am in awe of how much she loves what she does- and how incredibly talented she is at what she does. Not only did I gain breathtaking photos of my Senior year that I will keep close to my heart forever, I also gained a friend, and to me that is priceless. If you’re thinking about booking a shoot with Paige, do it now- you’ll wonder where she’s been all your life. 💕"

"Could not be happier"

- Gabby + Kyle

"Literally sitting here crying because your pictures are so amazing. I’m absolutely in love they are perfect. I love your style of candid and how you get the perfect shot...The hardest thing for me to choose was our wedding photographer, it took me the longest time. And we 1000% made the right choice. You did amazing. Thank you so much!"

"Absolutely in love"

- Baby, 2020 PEP Senior rep

"You're literally the best at what you do...I love them all!"

"The best"

- Tori + aaron

"BEST. PHOTOGRAPHER. EVER...Don't know what we would have done without you!"

"BEST. PHOTOGRAPHER. EVER"

- hannah + ross

"Paige is phenomenal. From the very first meet up, I knew that she was going to do everything in her ability to make our day something special. She is so easy to work with, and really plays to the strengths of the couple. My husband and I are awkward and we laugh at everything, and she let us be ourselves and really captured our personalities in the pictures. She truly went the extra mile and brought so much energy to our day."

"Phenomenal."

- Chelsea + seth

"We had a blast with Paige, and have the most amazing photos to show from it. We are blessed beyond belief that we met this wonderful human and that she provided us with photos that will adorn our home for years to come. Through grateful tears, THANK YOU for your work. We are so happy to have a friend in you."

"The very best day."

- Keeley, 2020 PEP Senior rep

"Paige is one of the most kindest, hardworking, selfless, people I know. I’m am not a confident person at all, but when I did my shoots with Paige she would make me laugh and feel confident. One of my favorite parts of my senior year was being able to get to know her, and do my senior casuals with her. She is not only a great photographer but a great person💕"

"She would make me laugh and feel CONFIDENT"

- Alicia + Justin

"From personal experience, I can say that Paige is incredible to work with. She was the best photographer we could have asked for! We highly recommend her!" 

"Highly Recommend"

- Tori + otto

“Paige is an outstanding professional with AMAZING photography skills. My husband and I LOVE her, and we were so delighted with our experience using her services on our special wedding day. Paige has a way of making you feel so comfortable in front of the camera and the photography she creates is absolutely top notch. Thank you Paige!”

"So Comfortable"

- morgan + skye

“Paige is just the best. She (sometimes literally) bent over backwards to make our day and everything before our day go absolutely perfect. There aren't enough words to explain how thankful we are for her AND her beautiful work. I can't imagine our wedding day without her and will most definitely be recommending her to everyone in the future.”

"Aren't Enough Words"

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