Northern VIRGINIA SUMMER MINI PHOTO SESSIONS IN
ALEXANDRIA · ARLINGTON · FAIRFAX · WASHINGTON DC · SPRINGFIELD · MCCLEAN · AND BETHESDA
A THESE DAYS SUMMER OFFERING · 5 SPOTS ONLY
Backyard Editorial
SUMMER MINI-SESSIONS
45 minutes in your own backyard. The sprinkler, the swing, the popsicle already melting down a wrist, the kid who has firmly refused shoes. I come to you — no park and no outfit homework.
backyard session
this isn't your holiday card. Cards are for everyone ELSE. This is the one that lives on your fridge.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS
YOUR REAL WEEKEND.
WITH A CAMERA IN IT.
A Backyard Mini is exactly what it sounds like. I show up at your house, you carry on with the regular afternoon, and I photograph it the way it actually looks.
No need to bribe the kids because this is going to be fun. The kiddie pool stays full, the chalk stays on the patio, snack are free flowing — and that’s the photo. You tidy nothing.
SUMMER MINI PHOTO SESSIONS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
LOCATED ANYWHERE WITHIN 20 MILES OF ALEXANDRIA, VA
Available DATES
June 13 · 14
JULY 11 · 12 · 18
Backyard Summer Mini Sessions are short, 45-minute long, candid family photography sessions designed for families in Alexandria, Virginia and the Washington DC area who want relaxed, real-life photos without the stress of a traditional photoshoot. They are priced at $350 and include a selection of 15 edited photos from the gallery, with full-gallery upgrade options available for an additional $150.
$350
custom mini
45 minutes
in your yard
15
edited photos
5
spots only
PICTURE IT
Don't overthink the backyard
The days we're living for
Lawn chairs, lemonade, and bubbles
The hose running full blast
Watermelon picnic party
Grilling and drinks, music, and a dance party
Driveway laps scooters, bikes, skateboards, and a basketball
Cartwheel and handstand contest
Bathingsuits, zinc sunscreen, and beachballs
A water balloon fight
Searching for bugs and gardening
Sidewalk chalk and hop-skotch
Family game of twister
No kiddie pool required. No swing set, no Pinterest backyard, no special anything. The best frames are whatever your family already does out there on an ordinary evening. A few, to get you picturing yours —
None of these quite you? Even better. Tell me your family's version — that's the version I want to photograph.
TO SCHEDULE YOUR SESSION →
SPECIAL OFFER CELEBRATION
My website is getting an overhaul, and in honor of this special-to-me event, I have a special offer.
So for one summer only, I'm bringing a mini-session to you.
A Backyard Mini photo session is 45 minutes in your own backyard. No park, no field, no pressure to get a photo in a matter of minutes. No stress that it has to end up on a holiday card. Just real memories in your own backyard.
PERFECT FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE DOCUMENTARY CURIOUS
Summer photography mini-sessions in your own back yard help you snag meaningful and beautiful family photos without the stress and rush that fall family photos bring. You're not chasing a holiday card deadline or competing with other Northern Virginia families to grab a single golden hour spot. Summer sessions means you're bottling up everything great and stress-free about the year with the only goal to remember how it felt.
FOUR STEPS, ZERO HOMEWORK
How It Works
Pick your spot
Five backyards, five families. Tell me a little about yours and grab a date.
I come to you
No car keys, no driving, Your house, your things. Easy.
We don't tidy
Forty-five real minutes. I follow the activity around the yard.
You get photos
15 edited images - in your hands, no fall photo rush.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET THE EASIEST FAMILY PHOTOS OF THE YEAR
WHY SUMMER, WHY NOW
You can't photograph a sprinkler in November.
The backyard is only the backyard right now — green, loud, full of water and light. By October it’s dead grass and a coiled-up hose, a reminder of the cold to come.
Your kid is four and fully committed to the hose. That’s a summer, not a forever. Book in fall and you’ll photograph a different child. Five spots, one booking window — when the list is full, it’s full.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
One flat rate. No suprise add-ons.
45 minutes in your backyard — at a time that suites your family.
Selection of 15 edited images — you chose your favorites.
I travel to you — no last minute rush to an off-site location.
Low stress — no families waiting their turn after you. Free range of your own location.
As little or as much styling as you want — choose real-life no-prep, or style yourselves and your yard as much as you want.
$350
Per session · Select dates in June & July
Want every frame? Upgrade to the full gallery for an extra
$150
THE NOT-SO-FINE PRINT
These sessions are the website photos.
These Days is getting a full rebranding this summer, and a new website deserves new summer photos.
Booking a Backyard Mini means your photos may appear on the new website and on Instagram. If you’d rather keep your family off the internet, I hear you completely — my standard sessions can be fully private, and I’d still love to work with you. These five spots are simply the ones that come with a public credit attached.
I want to feature your family!
100%
of families agree: the view from the backyard beats the view from from a field
WHY ONLY 5?
With a rebranding comes simplified packages. My 1-hour family session will be erased from the menu, leaving more time for extended documentary work. Limiting these short sessions to 5 allows me to continue focusing on long-form documentary sessions while giving a few lucky families access at an affordable price-point.
BACKYARD EDITORIAL PHOTO SESSION DETAILS
Sessions can be scheduled in the morning or afternoon (best to avoid high-noon) at locations n the DMV region, including Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and the Maryland areas surrounding DC.
They can be as creative as you want. Want to go all out and coordinate swimsuits and floaties? Go for it. Want to just throw on your favorite shorts and flip flops — absolutely.
You'll walk away from these sessions with:
- new memories, real ones
- documentation of the now
- documentary style- images &
- plenty of posed smiling images (if you want)
These sessions can be as directed or undirected as you want. Just let me know how open to direction you are. All direction will be action and activity based, some arranging when the inspiration strikes.
Sessions can occur at your home in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, or Maryland within 20 miles of Alexandria, VA 22301.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Pick a session date. Available dates are: June 13 or 14, July 11, 12, or 18th.
Be willing to have your family photos and/or behind-the-scenes videos used in my portfolio, in social media, on the website, and in client materials. Sign a contract and model release form.
$350 session fee due at time of booking. Fee includes selection of 15 images.
Reschedule only in the event of bad weather.
To book, contact me below. We'll make sure its a fit and confirm a date/time and I'll send over the contract and booking link.
SIGN-UP FOR A BACKYARD MINI SESSION
Fill out the form below and I'll contact you to schedule. Due to the limited nature of these sessions, session date and time availability are not guaranteed.
Thank you!
I just got your message! I can't wait to connect with you.
I'll do my best to reply to your note as soon as possible.
If a date and time that works for you is available, I will send a booking link with a payment form and contract.
WHILE YOU wait
Sign up below to hear about future unique or limited offers as well as fall mini-sessions.
Or read the frequently asked questions below.
or follow along to see the results
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: HOW ARE THESE DIFFERENT THAN FALL MINI SESSIONS?
A: Backyard summer mini sessions are longer mini-sessions in the summer instead of the fall. These sessions are $75 more than my fall-minis, but are more than twice the length (45 minutes) and you receive more photos included in the package. Your final gallery of images to select from (or upgrade to) will also be larger. Overall, this is a far better deal.
Q: WHY ARE THESE SESSIONS BETTER THAN FALL MINI SESSIONS?
A: These sessions are less stressful than fall mini sessions. You don't have to go anywhere, worry about dressing for chilly weather or find the ultimate coordinating outfits, you don't have to come find me in a park you've never been to, and you aren't waiting in a line of families to get similar photographs. These are much more unique.
Q: Can we make changes after booking?
A: Because of the limited nature of these sessions, I have specific dates set aside. These sessions cannot be rescheduled for convenience, but we will reschedule due to weather, at the photographer's discretion.
A: You can wear whatever feels comfortable to you. These should not be fancy outfits (unless that's the "theme" to your backyard activity). You can wear your favorite outfit or a bathing suit, shorts, T-shirts or dresses. Whatever. I recommend avoiding graphic T-shirts and anything with bold text. In your backyard, a few pops of solid color will look really great.
Q: WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR AT A SUMMER MINI SESSION?
Q: ARE THESE POSED OR CANDID?
A: These sessions will mostly be candid photos of your family enjoying an actual activity in your yard. We we certainly grab plenty of photos where everyone is together looking at the camera, but that won't be the majority of the session. If you would like additional guidance or are open to direction, I can help direct some photos that will ensure we get a few great styled action shots.
Q: HOW LONG UNTIL WE GET OUR PHOTOS?
A: The turn-around time here is longer than in the fall, because the session is longer and you get more photos. I'll also be traveling in June. You will have your session in your hands no longer than 4 weeks after your session.
Q: HOW MANY PHOTOS DO WE GET?
A: You get to select your favorite 15 photos from your gallery. You can upgrade to the full gallery download for an additional $150.
Q: WHERE DO I TRAVEL FOR THESE SESSIONS?
A: You can have your own backyard summer mini photo session in areas within 20 miles of Alexandria, VA. Sessions can be held in places like McLean/Tysons, Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax VA. Sessions can also be scheduled in Washington DC, or in Maryland in areas like Bethesda, Takoma Park, and Potomac MD.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: HOW ARE THESE DIFFERENT THAN FALL MINI SESSIONS?
A: These sessions are $75 more than my fall-minis, but are more than twice the length (45 minutes) and you receive more photos included in the package. Your final gallery of images to select from (or upgrade to) will also be larger. Overall, this is a far better deal.
Q: WHY ARE THESE SESSIONS BETTER THAN FALL MINI SESSIONS?
A: These sessions are less stressful. You don't have to go anywhere, worry about dressing for chilly weather or find the ultimate coordinating outfits, you don't have to come find me in a park you've never been to, and you aren't waiting in a line of families to get similar photographs. These are much more unique.
Q: Can we make changes after booking?
A: Because of the limited nature of these sessions, I have specific dates set aside. These sessions cannot be rescheduled for convenience, but we will reschedule due to weather, at the photographer's discretion.
Q: WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR AT A SUMMER MINI SESSION?
A: You can wear whatever feels comfortable to you. These should not be fancy outfits (unless that's the "theme" to your backyard activity). You can wear your favorite outfit or a bathgsuite, T-shirts or dresses. Whatever. I recommend avoiding graphic T-shirts and anything with bold text.
Q: HOW LONG UNTIL WE GET OUR PHOTOS?
A: The turn-around time here is longer than in the fall, because the session is longer and you get more photos. I'll also be traveling in June. You will have your session in your hands no longer than 4 weeks after your session.
Q: HOW MANY PHOTOS DO WE GET?
A: You get to select your favorite 15 photos from your gallery. You can upgrade to the full gallery download for an additional $150.
Q: WHERE DO I TRAVEL FOR THE SESSION?
A: You can have your own backyard summer mini photo session in areas within 20 miles of Alexandria, VA. Sessions can be held in places like McLean/Tysons, Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax VA. Sessions can also be scheduled in Washington DC, or in Maryland in areas like Bethesda, Takoma Park, and Potomac MD.
I'm Janae!
I'm the photographer behind These Days Photography. I am a family, maternity, and newborn photographer for families across Northern Virginia and Washington, DC who are ready to fill their traditional family photo albums with a non-traditional photo experience.
My primary focus is documentary family photography, but I serve all families wanting true-to them photos.
Halloween 2025
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