Fall Mini Sessions: Shelby Farms vs. Memphis Botanic Gardens — Which Location Is Right for You?
Fall mini sessions are officially here, and I couldn’t be more excited to photograph your beautiful families as the leaves turn and the golden light settles in. These sessions are thoughtfully designed for families who want quick joyful, relaxed, and natural updated family portraits. In just 15 minutes, we’ll capture up to date timeless images of your family for Christmas and holiday cards and for timeless keepsakes.
You’ll receive a curated, fully edited gallery of images, from which you can select your favorite five to download included in the session fee. If you find yourself wanting more, you’ll have the option to purchase additional images or upgrade to the full gallery.
It’s a quick little pause in your busy season—just enough time to soak up your people and walk away with updated, meaningful photographs you will cherish for years to come.
This year, I’m offering three dates and two distinct locations:
October 19th & November 19th at Shelby Farms Park
November 1st at Memphis Botanic Gardens
I know many of you are wondering…
What’s the difference between Shelby Farms and Memphis Botanic Gardens?
Let’s dive into the vibe of each location so you can choose the perfect backdrop for your fall photos.
SHELBY FARMS PARK
If you’re looking for a golden, warm, natural vibe, Shelby Farms might be your perfect fit.
This location offers that wide-open field feel—tall grasses, golden tones, and earthy textures. It’s ideal for families who love running, cuddling, laughing, and letting their little ones or pups be totally themselves. Just keep in mind, sessions are short and sweet (15 minutes!), so if your dog is high-energy or sensitive to other pets that may be nearby, it’s something to consider.
The exact location within Shelby Farms will be chosen by me in the days leading up to your session. I’ll drop a pin and send it your way with all the details you need! Shelby Farms offers the earthy, golden, organic look you see in the images here throughout, so no matter the exact spot, you’ll be in good hands.
The light here is incredibly magical—even on cloudy days. Watching the sun sink lower and lower in the sky in open air is something that never gets old or less beautiful.
You’ll love the calm, open feel of Shelby Farms.
Vibe: Warm, relaxed, golden, organic
Best for: Playful families, casual outfits, energetic kids and families that want to include their pet(s)
Bonus: Wide open space and glowy sunsets that feel straight out of a movie
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDENS
This location is a longtime favorite and for good reason. The gardens are always beautiful, but I want to set expectations clearly: your session location within the Botanic Garden will be chosen by me the day of—and here’s why.
There are a few key variables I take into consideration:
What events are scheduled that day
Where there is open space not overrun with people or other photographers
The look and feel of the trees and landscaping (which varies year to year depending on the weather)
If rain is in the forecast, we may stay closer to a covered area to keep everyone comfortable and dry
So while you may have seen photos from a few different areas of the Garden in past years that have different vibes and feels, your session will reflect the unique conditions of that specific day. I promise it will be lovely no matter what—and you’ll get that beautiful autumn feel that we all love!
Vibe: Vibrant, floral, classic, refined
Best for: Coordinated family outfits, more formal styling, not wanting pets involved
Bonus: Stroller-friendly with lots of color and structure
A Note on What You See in These Photos
The photos you see here are from the Botanic Garden Mini Sessions were taken on two different dates. One was an overcast day with a chance of rain, so we stayed near the main building to be close to shelter. The other was sunny and there was still lots of green and yellow colors on the foliage, and they hadn’t quite turned to orange and red.
This flexibility is part of what helps me create the best images possible on your session day. My goal is always to give you photographs full of warmth, connection, and genuine smiles—no matter what. So if you are wanting to book at Memphis Botanic Gardens for your mini session, please keep in mind that I can’t guarantee a specific location within the gardens, but as always, I will choose a beautiful location that best works for the day.
When you book a mini session with me, you're not just signing up for pretty photos—you’re making just a sliver of time in your busy schedule to press pause, hug your babies a little tighter, and walk away with updated family photos and visual proof of the love that lives in your home.
Ready to book your spot? Mini sessions tend to go fast, and these are the only dates I’ll be offering them this fall. Grab your place before they’re gone!
What Families Are Saying About Their Mini Sessions
“Caitlin is wonderful to work with. She was able to capture our little ones’ natural smiles and personalities. Every photo in our gallery was beautiful! We will be getting them all!”
“Caitlin is very efficient and prepared. Even if you book a mini session of 15 minutes, she can deliver an album of TONS of images to choose from. Having quick, rewarding sessions are great when you have little kids!”
“We absolutely loved working with Caitlin! She was so great with our children and managed to get so many amazing photos during the chaos! The quality of her work is exceptional and we can’t say enough good things. Can’t wait to get Caitlin to photograph our family again in the spring!”
“Caitlin has captured my family of 5 two different times—once for a sibling shoot, and most recently, for a family mini session. She has so much patience with my 5, 3, and 1 year old kids and no matter their mood, she has captured the best pictures that I will treasure for a lifetime. I highly recommend Caitlin!”
“Caitlin has been an absolute dream to work with. She took heirloom portraits of my son for his 2nd birthday and most recently did a Fall Mini Session with the entire family and I could not be more pleased with her attention to detail! The photos she took will be something I look back on and cherish forever! She was extremely patient when our two toddlers were running all over the place and you can tell she really takes pride in her work. I can’t wait to book our next session!”
