What 20 minutes looks like
Twenty minutes is short on purpose. You arrive, I direct a few setups, and you leave with 10 edited images. The time works well for families with small kids, because the whole session fits inside one good mood. General tip: eat before you arrive, bring a spare top for each child and keep one prop in your pocket. The toddler plan has a running order for the 20 minutes.
The published places
The price list names six places for Seasonal Minis: Dix, Pullen, Umstead, Bond, Hill Ridge Farms and Yates Mill. In order, those are Dorothea Dix Park and Pullen Park in Raleigh, William B. Umstead State Park, Fred G. Bond Metro Park in Cary, Hill Ridge Farms and Historic Yates Mill County Park.
Each place has its own rules for paid photography, and a mini session counts. The next section lists them from the official pages.
Permits at those places
- Dix Park and Pullen Park: Raleigh Parks asks professional photographers for a commercial photography permit that lasts one year and covers all city parks.
- Umstead State Park: NC State Parks treats paid sessions as commercial photography. It asks for a Special Activity Permit submitted to the superintendent at least 2 weeks ahead, plus a DNCR Film Permit. Approval is not guaranteed.
- Bond Park: The Town of Cary film and photography page exempts photographers with a camera and a single tripod who do not restrict public areas. Parks and venues can add their own rules.
- Yates Mill: Wake County requires free online registration and a permit for client-based shoots. It lists restrictions at the mill, and sessions have a maximum of 30 people and permits of 1 to 3 hours.
- Hill Ridge Farms: Ask the farm before you plan a session. The farm's own rules apply.
I confirm the rule for your place before you book. These notes were researched in October 2026 and rules change, so the permits guide is the place to look for the current wording.
Outfits and timing
Pick two or three colors that sit together and avoid very bright logos. In fall, warm solids such as rust, mustard, olive and navy sit well against turning leaves. Pick a time when the youngest child is rested. The outfit planner builds a palette for your group, and the golden hour calculator gives sunset for your date, since a mini that ends in golden light starts about 90 minutes before sunset.
Hear first when dates open
The list is free, and ticking the box is the only way you are added. It goes only to that notice and to replies. The privacy page lists everything this site collects. If you would rather not wait for mini dates, a regular family session can be booked any week of the year.
A full session instead
If you need more than 20 minutes, a Signature family session is $475 for about an hour with 30 or more edited images. See the family sessions page for all three packages, or send a message from the form on that page.