Minneapolis Studio Family Photos: Easy, Fun, Dogs Welcome

The little guy in the green cap pulled it off a few times. His sister spun in circles until her hair flew straight out sideways. Dad laughed so hard at the two of them that his eyes closed. And the family’s two German Shepherds lay on the floor and watched the whole thing like they’d seen it before, because they had.

That’s what Minneapolis studio family photos actually look like. Not everyone frozen on a bench saying cheese. Two kids being silly, two parents laughing at them, and two very good dogs.

I’ve photographed Twin Cities families since 2009, and this studio session is a good look at what happens when you bring the whole crew, dogs included, into my space in Northeast Minneapolis.

What Happens During Minneapolis Studio Family Photos?

You climb one flight of stairs, walk into a bright white room, and your kids immediately find the one thing they’re not supposed to climb on. That’s fine.

We start with everyone together, while the kids are fresh and the dogs are calm. Once the group photos are done, things loosen up. We move through:

• The whole family together on a bench, with the dogs at your feet
• Siblings on their own, on a stool, a French chair, or a tufted ottoman
• Each kid alone, which is usually when the funny faces come out
• Mom with the kids, spinning, hugging, being carried
• Just the two of you, because the kids get a break and you get a hug that nobody interrupts

I don’t ask kids to perform. In this session the kids were silly almost the entire time, and I let them be. Look at the little guy flying over his dad’s head while his sister laughs at him. You can’t pose that. You just have to be ready when it happens.

Why Choose Studio Family Photos Over an Outdoor Session?

Outdoor sessions are beautiful in September and October. Then it’s November in Minnesota, and your toddler is refusing mittens in 20-degree wind. Minneapolis studio family photos fix a lot of that.

• The weather doesn’t matter. Snow, rain, wind, or the week the whole state turns gray: your Minneapolis studio family photos still happen.
• Nobody squints. My studio has north-facing windows, so the light is soft and even. No one is staring into the sun, and nobody has to stand in a specific patch of shade.
• No mosquitoes, no strangers walking through the background, no hunting for parking at a crowded park.
• It works around naps. Studio sessions run between 10am and 2pm, while the light is best, and we pick a time that works with your baby’s schedule, not against it.
• You get two looks in one room. Most of this session was on my white wall, but the little guy on the floor cushions is in front of my blue lime-wash wall. Same session, same outfits, a completely different feel.

If you’re weighing other indoor spots around town, I wrote about some of them in Indoor Photo Shoot Locations in Minneapolis. For winter family photos in Minneapolis, though, the studio is where I’d start.

Can You Bring Your Dog to Studio Family Photos?

Yes. Dogs are welcome in my studio. If your dog was part of the family before your kids were, they belong in the photos.

When a dog joins your Minneapolis studio family photos, it becomes a Signature session. Dogs need time too: time to sniff every corner, time to settle, and time for me to work with them without rushing your kids.

These two German Shepherds were older, they had been to my studio before, and they listened well. They lay down where their people asked them to and mostly stayed there. At one point one of them stretched out flat on the floor in the middle of a family photo, and I kept right on shooting.

A few things that help if your dog is coming:

• Plan on stairs. The studio is on the second floor and there’s no elevator.
• Walk them before you arrive. A dog who has already had a good sniff outside settles faster inside.
• Bring what they respond to. Their leash, their favorite treats, whatever gets them to lie down at home.
• Tell me about them when you book. How old they are, how they do with new places, and anything I should know.

What Should You Wear for Minneapolis Studio Family Photos?

Everything this family wore came from my studio wardrobe, except Dad’s pants, which were his own, and the little guy’s green cap, which Mom brought from home.

Look at how the palette works together: sage green, cream, oatmeal, and a soft khaki, with one small floral print on Mom’s dress. Nobody matches, but everybody belongs in the same photo. On a white studio wall, soft colors like these let faces stand out instead of shirts.

What works well for Minneapolis studio family photos:

• A base of two or three colors carried through everyone’s outfits, not identical outfits
• Texture over loud pattern. Linen, smocking, a tiered ruffle, a little knit
• One small print at most, usually on Mom
• No logos, no neon

And the easiest option: borrow from my wardrobe. It has more than 100 dresses for moms in sizes XS through 3X, shirts for dads, and clothes for kids from newborn through 5. You can browse it on my Wardrobe page, then either get dressed at the studio (arrive about 15 minutes early if you’ve scheduled a petite session, no need to arrive early for a signature session) or set up a wardrobe consult before your session so everyone’s outfits are picked ahead of time.

Like the cap, bring one thing from home that’s really your kid’s. It’s the detail you’ll point at in ten years.

Petite or Signature: Which Studio Family Session Do You Need?

• Petite Family session: 30 minutes in the studio. A good fit for a smaller family who wants a clean, simple set of photos.
• Signature Family session: about an hour. This is the one you book if your dog is coming, if you have a bigger family, if there’s a newborn, or if you’d like more time and more variety without watching the clock.

This family booked a Signature session because of the dogs, and it gave everyone room to be silly without anyone feeling rushed.

You’ll find both options for Minneapolis studio family photos on my Experience page.

How Do I Book Minneapolis Studio Family Photos?

Tell me a little about your family: how many kids, how old they are, and whether the dog is coming. I’ll help you figure out whether Petite or Signature fits, and we’ll pick a time that works around naps.

Start here with the family session page, or see how a session works on my Experience page.

Ready for Your Minneapolis Studio Family Photos?

The short version of Minneapolis studio family photos: pick your people (and your dogs), borrow the clothes, and let your kids be as silly as they want. I’ll handle the light, the furniture, and the dog who decides to lie down in the middle of everything.

FAQ: Minneapolis Studio Family Photos