2020 Utah Summer Family Mini Sessions

Summer is here... and that means family session season is in full swing!!  So much to love about all of my favorite summer spots- the blooming wildflowers, lavender farms, lush green mountains, and gorgeous white salt flats.  I am excited to offer some of my top favorite locations once again, for Utah 2020 summer mini sessions!  These can be used for immediate families, children, maternity, and seniors.

Sessions are $300 + tax, and include a 30-40 minute session at one of the dates and locations listed below.  Some locations require an additional travel or permit fee, which will be listed below if that applies.  Some locations that I shoot at that may have areas of no or minimal shade, such as Albion Basin, Salt Flats, and more will be scheduled 15 minutes apart and then done in two blocks of time, so that both families get photos when the sun is higher and when the sun is lower (golden hour).  This process has worked really well for me in the past, so that all of my clients get a little bit of both lighting variations if we are working with a sunny, cloudless day.

Mini sessions include 20 high resolution digital images of your choice, and the option to add on more images, if desired, at $10 per image.  More session info about mini sessions may be found on my pricing page here on my website.

**dates will be crossed out when booked -- current as of 7/5/20**

2020 Utah Summer Family Mini Sessions:

June 20:  Alpine Loop - 6:00 pm
June 20:  Provo Canyon - 7:15 pm
June 20:  Utah Lake - 8:30 pm
June 27 (AM):  Santaquin Canyon - 7:30 am
June 27:  Snowbasin - 7:00 and 7:15 pm (add $50 for travel)
June 29:  Mona Lavender Farm - 7:00 and 7:30 pm
July 9-13:  Denver, Colorado sessions (see this post for details)
July 16:  Albion Basin - 7:15 and 7:30 pm (add $50 for permit/travel)
July 18:  Albion Basin - 7:15 and 7:30 pm (add $50 for permit/travel)
July 23:  Albion Basin - 7:15 and 7:30 pm (add $50 for permit/travel)
July 25:  Albion Basin - 7:15 and 7:30 pm (add $50 for permit/travel)
July 29:  Albion Basin - 7:15 and 7:30 pm (add $50 for permit/travel)
August 4:  Tibble Fork Reservoir (American Fork Canyon) - 6:00 and 6:15 pm
August 8:  McPolin Barn (Park City) - 6:30 and 7:00 pm (add $25 for travel)
August 15:  Tibble Fork Reservoir (American Fork Canyon) - 6:00 and 6:15 pm
August 29:  Bonneville Salt Flats - 6:30, 6:45, and 7:00 pm (add $75 for travel)

I can't wait to book your beautiful family portraits!  Feel free to reach out by email or text at melaniericephotography@gmail.com or 801-865-7089.  Thank you for your interest!

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2020 Denver, Colorado Summer Mini Sessions

Hello friends!  It's that time of year again... I'm heading out to Denver, Colorado to visit and do some photo sessions!  This is actually my home town/state, so it has been really fun to get back home and see old friends every year!  These are all 30-40 minute mini sessions, which is the perfect length of time to capture a bunch of beautiful family photos, while still keeping it short enough to keep everyone's attention span.

The cost is $300 + tax, and they come with 20 high resolution digital images of your choice!  Full pricing and additional details about my mini sessions may be also be read in more detail on the pricing tab of this website.  I'm so excited to head out there again!  Shoot me a message at melaniericephotography@gmail.com, or 801-865-7089, if you would like to book with me in Denver this summer!

**Session dates will be crossed out when booked.  Current as of 6/26/20.

2020 Denver, Colorado Dates:

July 9:  Elk Meadow Park - 6:00 and 6:30 pm
July 10 (AM):  Van Bibber Park - 7:30 am
July 10:  Chautauqua Park - 6:00 pm
July 10:  Lost Gulch Lookout - 7:00 pm
July 11 (AM):  Van Bibber Park - 7:30 am
July 11:  Three Sisters Park - 6:30 and 7:00 pm
July 12 (AM):  Van Bibber Park - 7:30 am
July 12:  Boulder Foothills - 6:00 pm
July 12:  Stanley Lake - 7:45 pm
July 13 (AM):  Red Rocks Park - 6:00 am
July 13:  Chautauqua Park - 6:00 pm
July 13:  Lost Gulch Lookout - 7:00 pm

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Open for Business + Front Porch Sessions and Masks!

Hello again!  I have missed doing photography so much these last few months, while I closed up shop for a while during the Covid-19 pandemic.  I am excited to announce that I am gradually reopening my business to taking sessions again!  The governor of Utah recently announced that non-essential businesses could begin to reopen, and that the stay at home restrictions may be lifted on some levels.  I will proceed with taking clients again, but until the pandemic is safely behind us, I will be implementing the following measures:

• Please feel free to reschedule your session at a moment's notice, if you or any family members are sick.  This has always been my policy, but I ask this even more so now.  Please check your own temperatures, if possible, before heading out to a session with me.  I will do the same for myself, and will notify you as soon as possible if I have any signs of illness.  I will exercise an abundance of caution to ensure that all of us are healthy and well before conducting any sessions!
• I will wear a mask for sessions in which 6 feet of social distancing is impossible, such as with posed newborn sessions.
• I will practice social distancing as much as possible with all family sessions- I will not help you fix hair or adjust posing, but will direct you to do so yourself if the need arises.  No handshakes or hugs before or after sessions, just a wave for now from me.  ;)
• Studio sessions will be limited to newborns and individual babies/children only for now- no family, parent, or sibling photos at this time.  Please limit those coming to my studio to just the baby and one parent.  Because my studio is in my home, I need to limit traffic of people in my home as much as possible to help protect both my clients and my own family.  If you desire to add on sibling or family photos to your newborn session, please reach out to me to discuss options- we can do these outdoors somewhere nearby my studio, in your home, or on your front porch!  There are many great and creative options to still get these treasured moments captured!
• I will sanitize my hands, my camera gear, and my studio between clients as much as possible!

Front Porch Sessions
My family mini session schedule at scenic outdoor locations will resume in June.  I will post a full schedule of dates for those in a separate post, coming soon.  In the meantime, I am offering front porch mini sessions for families during the month of May!  These are such a fun way to capture candid life at home.  I have been loving the "Front Porch Project" movement, and have had so much fun capturing my clients at their homes!  Here is all the info you need to know for these sessions!

• Dates available:  The evenings of May 16, 22, 23, and 31.  These will be between the hours of 5:00 and 8:00 pm.   I will finalize a time with you prior to the session, once my clients for the day have all booked and I can plan out a driving route.
• Session fee is $125 plus tax, which comes with a 15 minute session and 10 high resolution digital images of your choice.
• Additional images are $10 each, if desired.
• This promotion is limited to clients located in Utah County, but if you live in the Salt Lake City area, I will do yours for an additional $25 travel fee (or if you recruit a couple neighbors, we can waive the travel fee!).

Masks
One final thing worth mentioning... I started making fabric masks with my two girls while we were quarantined at home!  I still have a lot of fabric, and would love to help continue making masks for our community.  Head over to my mask website HERE for info on how to order your own mask!  These are so cute, functional, and comfortable. They are a great option for everyday wear, and would also be a fun addition to your family photos this year. ;) ha ha.  Support my small business in multiple ways, and get some beautiful photos and fun masks out of it! Thank you for your support!!

Thank you so much again for supporting my business!  It means the world to me and my family.  I work hard to provide my clients with beautiful images that they will cherish for a lifetime.  Check out one of my porch sessions below!  These are so easy for families, and so much fun!

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Temporarily Closed due to COVID-19

To my loyal clients, friends, and blog followers, I just wanted to hop on here and update my website so that you all are in the know of how I will be handling my business in light of the current COVID-19 crisis.  What a whirlwind these past few weeks have been, am I right?!  Here in Utah, we even got to experience an earthquake on top of all of it!  I think we are all more than ready for things to feel normal around here again.

That being said.... it will be a while before things are normal.  The health and safety of my clients is my utmost priority, and I am committed to doing my part to prevent the spread of the coronavirus illness.  I will be temporarily closing up shop here and I will not taking on more sessions until government and health officials deem it safe for non-essential businesses to operate again.  I have already been working with my March and April clients to reschedule or cancel when possible, and I will continue to do so with my clients who were scheduled beyond that point, as necessary.  It hurts my heart a lot to hang up the camera for a while, but I know that it is the right thing to do.  I work as an L&D registered nurse in the hospital in addition to doing photography, so keeping myself, my family, and everyone around me healthy is even more so at the forefront of my intentions.

Nobody knows how long this pandemic is going to last, or when it will be safe to go out and about, but I will absolutely be ready to go and start offering session dates again when it is time.  If we need to do so with continued social distancing measures and extra sanitizing, I will do everything that is necessary!  I absolutely love creating photos and memories for the many wonderful clients I get to work with, so it kills me a little (lot) to have to set this passion aside for a while.  I hope and pray for the health, safety, and sanity of all of you out there during this difficult time.  This, too, shall pass, right!?  :)

For my Colorado clients out there, I was originally hoping to make the trip for sessions sometime around July 9-13.  This may still work out, but I will be following the news closely to see if we need to push these dates back some.  It may happen in the fall of this year instead, if needed.  I will keep you informed as soon as we all have a better idea of where this is going.  I certainly still hope to make the trip if at all possible this year!

I believe that we will all come out of this crisis being stronger, a little more kind, and a little more prepared to face new challenges as human beings.  I have already seen so much good around me as a results of people serving and helping each other.  And I am loving the tons of extra time with my family!  How often do we get the opportunity to just breathe and have a clear schedule??  It can't all be bad. :)  I'm greatly looking forward to doing photography again when this all blows over.  Please don't forget to support small businesses like mine and many others, who have to close up shop for a while.  We are working so hard to provide for our families, and share our gifts and passions with others.  For me personally, it is a major loss of income that my family depended on to keep our household running.  It is discouraging to see how long this virus may really last, but I am hoping and praying for the best.  I will be utilizing this extra down time to polish up my business behind the scenes, and keep delivering the memories that will capture your hearts for a lifetime.

See you soon!

XOXO,
Melanie

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Spring 2020 Utah Mini Sessions

Spring is right around the corner!  I am so excited!  It is one of my very favorite seasons.  I'm thrilled to be able to offer mini sessions again for the upcoming spring season as the weather warms up!  These may be used for immediate families, seniors, maternity, or children.  Spring is senior portrait season, and it is the absolute perfect time to get those portraits done before graduation!  Some of these locations may require either an added location fee or a travel fee- this will be noted if it applies.  Please note that the blossom times vary from year to year.  I do my best to predict it from past years, but it may vary slightly. :)  As I always do, I will absolutely keep dates flexible when needed, to accommodate for ideal blossom timing and any possible weather constraints that occasionally come up.

Here are all the details you need to know!

• Session fee: $300 plus tax 
• Includes 20 high resolution digital images of your choice 
• 30-40 minutes long at the locations indicated below 
• Extra digital images may be added at $10 per photo, as desired 

Send me an email at melaniericephotography@gmail.com and let's plan your dreamy spring session!

Spring Mini Session Schedule:
**Dates will be crossed out when booked.  Schedule current as of 3/8/20.**

March 20:  Downtown Provo - 5:00 and 6:00 pm

March 20:  Utah Lake - 7:00 pm

March 27:  Downtown Provo - 6:00 pm

March 27:  Utah Lake - 7:00 pm

April 3:  Provo blossoms - 5:30 and 6:00 pm

April 11 (AM):  Utah State Capitol cherry blossoms (+ $25 travel) - 7:30 and 8:00 am

April 19:  Fruit Heights orchard (+ $25 travel/permit) - 6:00 and 6:30 pm

April 24:  Fruit Heights orchard (+ $25 travel/permit) - 6:00 and 6:30 pm

April 25:  Utah County orchard - 6:30 and 7:00 pm

April 29:  Utah State Hospital orchard (+ $10 permit) - 6:00 and 6:30 pm

April 30:  Provo Canyon - 6:45 and 7:15 pm

May 9:  Little Sahara sand dunes (+ $40 travel) - 5:00 and 5:30 pm

May 15:  Provo Canyon - 6:45 pm

May 15:  Utah Lake - 8:00 pm

May 23:  Snowbasin (+ $50 travel) - 6:00 and 6:30 pm

May 27:  Alpine Lambert Park - 6:30 and 7:00 pm

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Fall and Holiday 2019 Mini Sessions

I can't believe that fall is coming so soon!  What a great year it has been so far, for my photography business!  I am so grateful for the many wonderful clients I have been able to work with this year.

Fall mini sessions are officially here and ready for booking!!  The list below displays the following dates and locations that I have planned for this fall.  The fall colors can tend to show sooner or later depending on the year, so please keep some time and location flexibility in mind as you are planning your session.  I will do my best to adjust locations, when necessary, to make sure that we are getting these fall colors at their very best and most beautiful!

Please inquire for pricing and full details by emailing me at:  melaniericephotography@gmail.com

Fall Mini Session Schedule:
30-40 minute session, includes 20 high resolution digital images of your choice
**(dates will be crossed out when booked.  Schedule is current as of 11/16/19)

September 6:  American Fork Canyon - 5:00 and 5:30 pm
September 7:  Bonneville Salt Flats (add a $50 travel fee per client) - 6:30, 6:45, and 7:00 pm
September 12:  Alpine Loop - 5:00 pm
September 12:  Utah Lake - 7:00 pm
September 21:  Jolley's Ranch - 9:00 and 9:30 am
September 21:  Alpine Loop - 4:00 pm
September 21:  Provo Canyon - 5:30 pm
September 21:  Utah Lake - 6:30 pm
September 26:  Alpine Loop - 3:30 pm
September 26:  Provo Canyon - 5:00 and 5:30 pm
September 28:  Mapleton Canyon - 8:45 am
September 28:  Jolley's Ranch - 9:45 and 10:15 am
September 28:  Alpine Loop - 3:30 pm
September 28:  Provo Canyon - 5:30 and 6:00 pm
September 30:  Snowbasin (add a $50 travel fee per client) - 5:00 and 5:30 pm
October 5:  Mapleton Canyon - 8:45 am
October 5:  Jolley's Ranch - 9:30 and 10:00 am
October 5:  Alpine Loop - 3:30 pm
October 5:  Provo Canyon - 5:15 and 5:45 pm
October 11:  American Fork Canyon - 4:45 and 6:15 pm
October 12:  Payson Canyon - 9:00 and 9:45 am
October 12:  Alpine Loop - 3:30 pm
October 12:  Provo Canyon - 4:30 and 5:30 pm
October 18:  Santaquin Canyon - 4:30 and 5:00 pm
October 25:  Rock Canyon - 10:00 and 10:30 am
October 25:  Santaquin Canyon - 4:30 and 5:00 pm
October 26:  Rock Canyon - 4:45 and 5:45 pm
November 2:  Downtown Provo - 4:45 pm
November 2:  Utah Lake - 5:45 pm
November 9:  Downtown Provo - 3:45 pm
November 9:  Utah Lake - 4:45 pm

Holiday Half-Mini's Schedule:
Mountain locations with lots of pine trees, and hopefully some snow! :)
Quick 10-15 minute session
10 high resolution digital images of your choice
(**dates crossed out when booked)

November 30:  Jordan Pines Campground - 1:30, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, and 2:30 pm
December 7:  American Fork Canyon - 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 3:30, and 3:45 pm

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Spring and Summer 2019 - Utah and Colorado Family Mini Sessions

My spring and summer schedule is here!!  I'm so excited for the warmer weather, longer days, blossoms, wildflowers, trips up to the mountains, and so much more!  This is probably one of my favorite times of year to take family portraits.  The weather is warm and sunny, the colors outside are lush and vibrant, and the location options are endless.  With Utah's incredibly diverse landscapes, there is always somewhere unique and new for everyone to try for their next family session!

Family mini sessions are about 30-40 minutes in length, which is the perfect amount of time for families to achieve all of the posed and candid shots of a family session, while working quickly enough to keep everyone happy and focused.  I have carefully selected these times and locations based on past years, knowing when the lighting and landscape are best, so you don't have to worry about figuring all of that out!  Please note that the timing of blossoms and wildflowers are unpredictable from year to year.  These are my best estimations; however, I'm happy to reschedule as needed if the flowers or weather aren't in our favor.  :)  As session dates approach, I will happily adjust these dates or times as needed, to ensure that you get the very best results for weather and scenery.  Also, some locations such as Utah Lake, the Salt Flats, Albion Basin, etc. have gorgeous open prime lighting right at sunset.  Usually this beautiful light is perfect for 30-45 minutes.  For locations like these, I will have each family break their session up into two 15-20 minute session increments, so that both families get a bit of both the harsher and softer light.  I have done this many times in the past, and it works very well.

The following is a list of dates I have selected for my mini sessions!  Some locations require additional travel or location permit fees (this will be indicated with an asterisk (*)).  Depending on how many spots are filled on that date, you may split this fee with the other client(s) and only end up paying half or less of this price.

(Schedule current as of 8/25/19.  Session times will be crossed out when booked.)

March 22:  Utah Lake - 6:30 and 7:00 pm
March 23:  Downtown Provo - 5:30 and 6:00 pm
April 5:  Provo blossoms - 5:30 and 6:00 pm
April 13:  Provo blossoms - 6:00 and 6:30 pm
April 19:  Provo blossoms - 6:00 and 6:30 pm
April 13:  State capitol blossoms - 7:00 and 7:45 am
April 20:  North Salt Lake City orchard blossoms* - 6:00 and 6:30 pm
April 27:  Utah County blossoms - 6:00 and 6:30 pm
May 4:  Utah County blossoms - 6:00 and 6:30 pm
May 11:  Provo Canyon - 6:30 pm
May 11:  Utah Lake - 7:30 and 8:00 pm
May 24:  Utah County poppy field - 6:30 and 7:00 pm
May 24:  Utah Lake - 8:00 pm
May 29:  Utah County poppy field - 6:30 and 7:00 pm
May 29:  Utah Lake - 8:00 pm
June 7, 8, 9:  Denver, Colorado sessions (7 of 7 spots filled)
June 24:  Mona lavender farm* - 6:30 and 7:00 pm
June 27:  Alpine Loop - 6:00 pm
June 27:  Utah Lake - 8:00 and 8:30 pm
July 5:  American Fork Canyon - 5:45 and 6:15 pm
July 6:  Rock Canyon - 7:30 am
July 6:  Provo Canyon - 7:30 and 8:00 pm
July 10:  Alpine Loop - 5:30 and 6:00 pm
July 12:  Alpine Loop - 5:30 and 6:00 pm
July 12:  Utah Lake - 8:00 and 8:30 pm
July 13:  Bonneville Salt Flats* - 7:00, 7:30, and 8:00 pm
July 18:  American Fork Canyon - 5:45 and 6:15 pm
July 19:  Alpine Loop - 5:30 and 6:00 pm
July 24:  Albion Basin* - 7:15 and 7:45 pm
July 27:  Albion Basin* - 7:15 and 7:45 pm
July 31:  Albion Basin* - 7:00 and 7:30 pm
August 1:  Albion Basin* - 7:00 and 7:30 pm
August 5:  Albion Basin* - 7:00 and 7:30 pm
August 24:  American Fork Canyon - 5:30 and 6:00 pm
August 29:  Provo Canyon - 5:30 and 6:00 pm

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