Welcome to Magical Minis Studio
All the wonders and joys of Christmas.
Backdrops you won't find anywhere else.
While everyone else is out there ordering their backdrops from Amazon, I’ve been doing something different in an effort to get on Santa's "Good List".
If you’d like something a little less... FLAT... for your holiday images, be sure to book your session at Magical Minis Studio. Our interactive sets make Christmas just a little bit more magical for your kids.
After all, we're not just snapping a pic that goes on your holiday card.
This Year's Theme
We'll be creating a fun, whimsical winter wonderland. A modern palette of bright reds, light pinks, aqua blues, and sage greens will add a bit of flair to your photos and stand out from the crowd!
White Tent
The white tent is back again this year! It was a fan fave last year, so we'll be updating it to have a new look. This tent backdrop is the most versatile, and can be updated to be non-denominational. Contact me with any questions!
Hot Cocoa Stand
A beautiful, handmade cocoa stand with marquee lights and twinkle light backdrop. Lots of cute props, and an interactive opportunity for little ones! Add chocolate chip cookies and that frown is sure to turn upside down!
Flowers & Trees
A vintage-inspired couch to snuggle on. A wintry flower backdrop with a combination of artificial and hand-painted wooden trees on either side. Perfect for seated family photos!
Check out our Pricing Packages & Upgrades
What's Included?
15 Minute Session
3 Custom-Made Backdrops
5 Digital Images
Online Gallery
Print Release
$199
gallery upgrades
Loving all your pics? Yep- I'm sure you will!
Add additional images or prints a-la-carte.
Or, upgrade your gallery to include all digital images, as well as some prints for grandma.
customized gifts, sent right to your door
Select from mugs, albums, framed prints, keychains and more. Order them at your session, then "sleigh" your holiday shopping like ol' Kris Kringle himself.
looking for a few more goodies in your stocking?
here are additional options.
Jingle Bells
Basic Package
15 Minute Session
3 Custom-Made Backdrops
5 Digital Images
Online Gallery
Print Release
$199
Jingle bell rock
Best Value!
15 Minute Session
3 Custom-Made Backdrops
15 Digital Images
Online Gallery
Print Release
Hair + Makeup for 1 person at Salon Nouveau
Only $495
jingle all the way
Deluxe Package
30 Minute Session
3 Custom-Made Backdrops
30 Digital Images
Online Gallery
Print Release
Hair + Makeup for 1 person at Salon Nouveau
Hair for up to 2 kids
$798
Last Year's Highlights
Learn More!
Here's why you should book your Magical Minis with Cathy Cardona Photography
Fast, Fun and convenient
Listen, the holidays are a BUSY time for us all. Even the kids have lost their patience for all the activities! This session will be quick so that you can get back to your life. It’ll be fun because… well, everyone likes fun! Plus, it makes for better photos. And it’ll be convenient because you can get all your family photos done, plus purchase albums and brag books for Grandma and other family members as a gift, at a special discounted rate. Everything will show up at your door and in your inbox. What's better than that?
Value
Some photographers offer a lot of photos for a low price, which seems like a better value. But, the truth is that what you REALLY want is a few amazing photos of your family- not a bunch of ok ones that you stick in a computer folder somewhere and forget about.
I’ll shoot lots of photos, hand-select the very best, and edit them individually to ensure that they meet my high standards.
By booking a mini session with me, you’re getting a HUGE discount on my session fees- plus the bonus value of getting some holiday gifts ordered before you even leave the session!
Experience
I’m a mom of 2 and I can tell you what I know to be true…. Kids don’t sit still! Not yours, not mine.... hardly any of them. Sure, they might sit still by some stroke of luck, but the great news is that I am experienced with taking photos of 2 moving children and a grumpy husband in a rush to get photos over with.
I practice every holiday, every family trip, and weekly with my own family and lots of others. I’ve got you covered! You’re guaranteed to get at least one good photo of your precious kid(s)- they may not be smiling and looking directly at the camera, but I'll be sure to capture their spirit.
Whether they are silly, sweet, shy, or a little of everything, you'll find a photo worth framing or adding into your holiday cards. And if they cry? Well, we'll get a few funny ones too.
Magical
I call them *Magical Minis* for a reason! Kids don’t always understand (or care about!) the concept of “sit still, let me get one good photo and then we can go”. If they’re bored, or miserable, they’ll let everyone know it! That’s why I have some magic up my sleeve for your photoshoot - small gifts for the kids, tasty chocolate chip cookies, props for them to play with. To them, it’s not just a photoshoot- it’s having fun! The more we can get your kids to interact with me, with you, and with each other, the better these photos will be!
Expert
I’m gonna toot my own horn for a minute. I’ve been doing photography for over 10 years now, and I’ve been practicing my family photography and kid sessions for the past 5 years. I’ve photographed many kids, and some kids repeatedly.
Not one child will act the same way or even be predictable based on their usual behavior- we hope for the best, but plan for the moodswings.
I have a personal toolkit for getting a shy kid out of their shell, and a crazy kid to calm down a bit. I know how to turn frowns upside down and give kids space for their meltdowns so they can come over when they're ready- which happens pretty quick since I know how to catch their attention!
After your session is complete, the work isn't done! Each photo will be selected and edited individually to get the most magical, airy glow. No filters or presets here! This ensures that every photo is cohesive, gorgeous, and well lit.
You'll get to choose between your favorites or upgrade to receive the whole gallery. With all the funny poses, happy grins, belly laughs and sweet moments, I bet you'll have a hard time choosing just one favorite!
what you get by booking with me
Style Guide
Every session comes with a personalized style guide. You'll get ideas on how to dress the whole family, along with photo examples and a list of my favorite places to shop.
But, that's not all! This guide also has some tips for adding accessories and coordinating!
Questionnaire
In order to give you the best experience possible, I ask all of my clients to complete a photography questionnaire before their session.
A wonderful experience is my top priority, and this guide will help me to understand your needs and expectations.
Magical Memories
This is what it's all about, right? No one wants to look back and remember how their kids were fighting and cranky.
We'll make this experience as fun as possible so the kids WANT to cooperate! They'll be excited, and you'll want to come back year after year.
Hi! I'm Cathy.
Mom of 2, crafter, DIY'er and photographer. Kid #1 keeps me on my toes with her wild, sassy personality. Kid #2 has me needing coffee to function for the first time in 30+ years. Add in my loving hubby, 2 cats and a giant dog, and you've got our family!
When trying to figure out what I wanted my photography business to be about, I picked my two favorite things: capturing the fleeting moments of childhood and supporting women-owned businesses.
Magical Minis Studio is hosted by me and my husband, John. Your adorable kids are growing up, and I want to freeze a moment in time for you. Don't settle for just any mini session for your minis - choose Magical Minis!
Cathy Cardona Photography specializes in personal branding, corporate lifestyle content, flatlays and product photography. Learn more about CCP here.
