FALL MINI SESSIONS
Chicago
Timeless portraits. Effortless Experience. Gorgeous backdrops.
You know the photos you actually want. The ones where your kid's real laugh shows up, not the fake cheese one. The ones where the dog somehow behaves for four whole minutes. The ones you'll actually print and put on your wall instead of leaving buried in your camera roll.
That's what a Michele Taylor mini session gets you. Twenty minutes, one of Chicago's best fall backdrops, and a gallery full of images your family will love for years.
You're busy. Ridiculously busy. Between school drop off, practice pickup, and the group chat that never stops, "schedule a professional photo session" feels like one more thing you don't have time for.
So here's the deal. You show up, I handle the rest. No planning a shot list. No googling "what should my family wear for pictures" at 11pm. No wrangling three kids and a dog into a pose that looks natural, because I'm really good at making that look easy.
You get gorgeous, holiday card worthy portraits in the time it takes to grab a coffee. That's the whole point of a mini session.
I'll Say the Quiet Part Out Loud ;)
Wide open lawns and big trees turning every shade of orange, with plenty of room for kids and dogs to actually run. Portraits here feel like a warm hug.
Winnemac Park
OCTOBER 25
October 18
A leafy elevated trail through Bucktown and Logan Square, golden light and just enough greenery to feel like a getaway. Ideal for families who want warmth without leaving the city.
The 606 TRAIL
Exposed brick, string lights, and enough moody city texture to make your family look like they wandered onto a magazine shoot. Perfect for portraits that feel edgy and polished at once.
Fulton Market District
September 20
A limestone peninsula with the entire Chicago skyline as your backdrop, and golden hour here is borderline unfair. This is the spot for the "we really do live somewhere beautiful" shot.
Promontory Point
OCTOBER 24
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Chicago in the fall is unfairly photogenic, and we've picked our favorite spots to prove it. Only four dates this year, so these go fast. Select your preferred date/location below to get to the appropriate calendar.
Session Dates & Locations
Your private online gallery goes live, full of real, candid, beautiful images. You pick your favorites, then use your credit on whatever your family will actually use, digital images, a print, holiday cards, or the album you'll pull out every year at Thanksgiving.
SESSION DAY
We meet you at your spot and take it from there. 20 relaxed minutes, real laughs, real chaos included, no stiff poses or forced smiles. You show up, we handle the rest.
You'll get our Fall Prep Guide before your session, what to wear, how to prep your kids (and your dog), how to actually enjoy the twenty minutes instead of white knuckling it. We help coordinate outfits too, yes, even for the family member who refuses to match anything.
PLANNING & Prep
$375
- 20 minute session
- online gallery
- 5 images of your choice; option to upgrade at checkout
Book your spot
Pick your location, date and time, pay your session fee, done. Takes about two minutes.
Details. Details. Details.
"I promised myself I would not lose it trying to coordinate two kids, a very unwilling dog and a more unwilling husband. I don't know how she did it, but it all came together and the gallery she sent had me tearing up. We ended up ordering the album too, it's already the most flipped-through book in our house." - Katie M., Chicago
"Our son was not on his best behavior that day, but somehow Michele captured his personality perfectly. Still not sure how that happened. We couldn't be happier with our pictures." - Heather G., Chicago
What Chicago Moms Are Saying
- You want holiday card worthy images with zero fuss.
- You want portraits that feel polished and natural, not stiff and posed.
- You value real service and a genuinely great experience, not DIY chaos and a hundred edits to sort through yourself.
- You want a photographer who makes your whole crew, kids, partner, and dog included, feel instantly at ease.
This is for you if...
What if it rains?
Chicago weather does what it wants. If your date gets rained out, we'll move you to the following Tuesday or Wednesday, or you can hop into a different open date or location. We make the call the day before if needed, so you're never left guessing.
Then you're in good company, and also exactly why you booked a photographer who does this for a living. Sixteen years of experience means we roll with it, we're not chasing a stiff, forced smile, we're catching your family as they actually are.
What if my kid has a meltdown mid-session?
Always. Pets are family, and some of our favorite fall galleries are dog led. Just let us know when you book so we can plan the session around them.
Can I bring my dog?
FAQ's
Let us take the stress out of planning and ordering! You will leave this experience feeling confident and taken care of, instead of getting stuck trying to figure everything out on your own.
Because honestly, you have enough on your to-do list already.