The best holiday card photo usually isn't the one where everyone is looking at the camera. It's the one where nobody is.
I learned that from a family I photographed during a mini session at Scripps Pier. Mom, dad, and their two boys. One of the frames from that afternoon was the four of them walking together along the sand, not looking at me at all. Nobody was fixing their hair or holding a smile. They were just enjoying a beautiful day at the beach and each other's company.
A few weeks later, they sent me their holiday card. That was the photo they picked.
I've seen my work on a lot of screens, but this one meant something different. That photo went out to their grandparents, aunts, cousins, and oldest friends. It was how they told the people closest to them, "this is us this year." That's the job I want to do for your family this season.
The Details: 2026 Holiday Mini Sessions
Here is everything in one place:
Saturday, November 14: Scripps Pier, La Jolla
Saturday, November 21: Los Peñasquitos Ranch House
Time: between 2 and 5 pm, in 20-minute sessions
Spots: 6 per day, 12 total
Price: $225, paid in full when you book
Delivery: a sneak peek the next day and your full gallery within 7 days
That 7-day turnaround is the whole point. November 14 families get their photos by November 21. November 21 families get theirs by November 28. Both leave plenty of time to design and order printed cards before the December rush.
Beach or Ranch House? Pick Your Vibe
Both locations work. The choice comes down to the look you want on the front of your card.
Scripps Pier is the San Diego card. Sand, ocean, and the pier stretching out behind you. If you have family back east who are already shoveling snow, this is the one that makes them jealous. It's also where that walking photo came from.
Los Peñasquitos Ranch House looks like a different season. The historic adobe walls and earthy tones give you something that feels more like fall than a beach day. If you want photos that feel warm and cozy instead of sunny and salty, start here. It's also an easy drive for North County and inland families.
I've already scouted both spots, so I know where the afternoon light falls before you get there. You just show up.
Why 20 Minutes Is Enough
Twenty minutes sounds short until you've tried to keep a four-year-old interested in anything for longer than that. Kids are usually at their best early in a session, and a mini is built around that. We start with a couple of minutes of talking so everyone loosens up. Then I move us through spots I've already mapped out, so we don't waste your time figuring out where to stand.
I don't line families up and count to three. I give you something to do: walk together, race to the water, whisper something silly to your brother. Whatever happens next is real, and that's usually the photo that ends up on the card. If you want to see how I work with little ones, I wrote about it in The Toughest Critic in the Room Is Three Years Old and Stop Posing. Start Playing.
The Lujan family has booked me for many family shoots, and this is how they put it:
"If you have kids that you want photographed, he is super patient and he knows how to get the kids engaged! He's amazing at capturing candid photos. I love that you get the photos back quickly too!"
The Lujan Family
What's Included
20 minutes at a pre-scouted location
10 edited photos
A next-day sneak peek
Your full online gallery within 7 days
Want more? Extra photos are $15 each, or get the full gallery for $100
Want to see more of my work before you book? Take a look at my family portfolio.
Good to Know Before You Book
Group size. Minis are made for up to 6 people. Bigger crew? The Extended Family Session gives everyone room to breathe. We love your pups, but these sessions are humans only.
Arrive early. Come 10 minutes before your time so you can park, fix hair, and let the kids get their wiggles out.
If it rains. If weather cancels us, we'll move to Sunday (November 15 or November 22). If that doesn't work for you, you get a full refund.
If you can't make it. Spots aren't refundable, but you can pass yours to a friend or switch to the other date if there's room.
What to wear. Wear what feels like you. For outfit ideas and tips on getting kids ready, read Before the Camera Comes Out: How to Prepare for a Family Photo Session in San Diego. Have another question? Check my FAQs.
How to Book Your Holiday Mini Session
Head to the Mini Sessions page, pick your date and time, and fill out a short form so I know who's coming. Payment confirms your spot right away. No back and forth.
There are only 12 spots across two Saturdays, and once they're gone, that's it until next year. Still deciding whether a mini is right for your family? Are San Diego Mini Sessions Worth It? breaks down what you get compared to a full session.
This year, skip the cropped phone photo from August. Let's make one your family actually wants to send.