Your holiday card is still a blank template. Your kids have grown what feels like six inches since your summer photos. And the idea of wrangling everyone into matching outfits for a full hour outdoors in a Minnesota January makes you want to go lie down under a blanket.
I get it. That’s exactly why I run winter minis at Arneson Acres.
I call them Still & Wild Sessions. They’re 30 minutes, outdoors, at one spot in Edina, and they’re only available in winter. You show up bundled. We play. You leave with real photos of your family exactly as they are right now.
No three-week outfit spiral. No scouting locations. Just show up and let your kids be loud.
Hi, I’m Megan
I’m a family photographer based in Edina, and I’ve been photographing Twin Cities families for over a decade. I’m also a mom of two (plus two dogs who think every session is about them).
I don’t pose people. I prompt them. I ask your oldest about the Lego Pikachu in their pocket. I let your toddler run. My sessions are loud and fast and a little chaotic, which is exactly how your family actually is.
Curious whether a Still & Wild Session fits your family? Reach out here and let’s talk it through.
What is a Still & Wild Winter Mini Session?
A Still & Wild Session is a 30-minute outdoor family photo session at Arneson Acres in Edina, I offer only during the winter months.
Here’s what’s included:
- 30 minutes of shooting time
- 5 edited digital images
- $500
- Option to add the full gallery for $100
These are not typical minis. Most mini sessions run short and quick and get you a few usable frames for a card. Thirty minutes gives us room for the snuggles, the stomping, the laughing, and all the messy in-between moments that actually look like your family.
You get the same experience after the session that every client gets. I walk you through choosing your images, prints, and products, so you end up with something on your wall instead of a folder you keep meaning to open.
How are Winter Minis Different from a Full Session?
Both get you real photos of your family. They just work differently.
Winter Minis:
- About 30 minutes of shooting time
- Held at Arneson Acres
- Great for tight schedules, and holiday cards
- Smaller variety of setups and poses
Full Sessions:
- A full hour of shooting time
- You choose the date and location (your home, your favorite park, wherever)
- Room for more variety, more locations within a spot, more outfit changes
- Better if you’re particular about where or when
If you have a specific park in mind or your family can only do Sunday mornings, book a full session. If you’re flexible and you mostly want a few current photos of everybody, winter minis are your answer.
To learn more about whether a mini or full session is right for you, check out this blog post.
Why do Winter Minis Work so Well in Minnesota?
I know. Winter in Minnesota has a reputation. But this season gives us things summer can’t.
1. Winter light in the Twin Cities arrives early and lands soft
Golden hour shows up much earlier in winter than it does in summer. We get beautiful light without pushing anyone past bedtime (an underrated perk if you have a toddler).
Snow helps too. It bounces light back up onto faces, which softens everything. Overcast days work like a giant softbox, so nobody squints.
2. Winter minis catch a stage that vanishes fast
Kids change most in the stretch between fall photos and spring. The baby who was brand new in October is pulling up on furniture by February. Your kindergartner loses a tooth. Your middle schooler suddenly looks like a whole person.
Booking a winter session fills that gap. Do it a few years running and you’ve built a timeline of your family without ever calling it a project.
3. Your family is more fun in the snow than you think
Cold weather gives kids something to do. They throw snow. They fall over on purpose. They run.
That’s the wild part of Still & Wild, and it’s the reason I keep these sessions outdoors instead of moving them into a studio.
Some winter days, nobody’s leaving a heated building (and that’s fair). I keep a running list of my favorite indoor photo locations in Minneapolis for exactly those days. It’s one of my most-read posts, so start there if the forecast looks rough.
Want to make a whole day of it? Explore Minnesota’s roundup of winter things to do covers skating on Lake of the Isles, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, and plenty of indoor options for when it’s truly too cold to stand still outside.
What Should We Wear for Winter Minis?
Please close the Pinterest tab. Your family doesn’t need to match.
A few things that genuinely help:
- Warm layers first. Cold kids are done in five minutes. Comfortable kids play the whole 30.
- Colors in the same family, without everyone wearing identical shades
- Let your kids pick something. The princess dress over snow pants. The mismatched mittens. The dinosaur hat.
- Boots they’ll keep on, and hats and mittens for everyone
- Skip stiff brand-new outfits nobody has broken in yet
Kids who feel like themselves smile like themselves. That’s most of the battle.
Worried about the cheese face? Every kid has one. I put together a free guide with the exact things I say and do to get real smiles instead of squinty forced ones. Grab it here before your session and try a few at home.
What Do Families Actually do With Their Winter Mini Photos?
Your 5 images shouldn’t live and die in a phone folder. What my families actually do:
- Holiday cards, obviously
- A framed print in the hallway that gets swapped every year
- Grandparent gifts (always a winner)
- An annual album that turns into a family record
- Prints in your kids’ rooms, which they love more than you’d expect
If 5 images isn’t enough once you see them, you can add the full gallery for $100. Plenty of families do.
I wrote a whole post on five ways to get your photos off your phone and into your house. Read it before your session so you already know what you want when we sit down to choose.
Winter Minis FAQ
Why does every winter mini happen at Arneson Acres?
Because I’ve photographed there for years, and in winter it does something no other spot in the Twin Cities does. It’s one of my most-requested locations, and it holds up in February in a way most parks don’t. Running winter minis in one place also means I already know it cold. I know where the light lands at 3pm. I know which path stays walkable after a snowfall. I know where to stand so a busy park looks quiet behind you.
Can we do winter minis with a newborn?
Yes. Newborns do great in short sessions. If your baby is brand new, though, ask me about a newborn session instead. Or if you are still pregnant, maybe you’d be interested in a fresh 48 session. Those happen within the first 48 hours of birth at the hospital, birth center, or your home, and they capture something a mini can’t. You can learn more about them here.
When should I book winter minis?
Slots go fast. My newsletter subscribers hear about dates first, so join the list if you want first dibs or book your spot here.
Do you photograph siblings only?
I can. Sibling-only photos are one of my most requested setups, and 30 minutes is often perfect for it.
Ready for Your Winter Minis?
Your kids are only this age once. This exact combination of missing teeth, favorite stuffed animal, and current obsession is temporary, and 20 minutes is enough to keep it.
My Still & Wild Winter mini dates aren’t announced yet. My newsletter subscribers get first dibs, so join the list here and you’ll know before anyone else.
Come bundled up and ready to play. I’ll handle the rest.
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