I am doing something new this year and I can’t wait to let you in on it–Christmas Tree Farm Mini Sessions at Meert Tree Farm just outside of St. Louis! The contract is signed, the date is set, and now all that’s left to do is sign up some beautiful families to photograph! Interested? Read on!
I was at Meert’s last winter for a proposal session and I absolutely fell in love with the location. Evergreen trees with views of the sky, I’m not sure your Christmas cards will be more picturesque!
Because these 15-minute sessions are short and sweet, we will first focus on getting those Christmas-card portraits–the pictures where everyone is looking at the camera. Whatever time we have left after the portraits, we will grab whatever interactive and fun shots we can squeeze in. (For those of you who would prefer more time to have a more robust gallery, you are more than welcome to schedule a full family session. You can find that information HERE.)
For those of you who have booked a fall mini session with me in the past, you’ll notice couple of differences in how I schedule and price these sessions due to timeframe and location costs. Here’s what everyone needs to know…
Where?
Meert Tree Farm! (1460 Dry Fork Road, Festus, MO 63028)
I would plan on arriving at Meert’s at least fifteen minutes early so you can park and make your way through the trees to find our exact location.
Who?
These mini sessions are for immediate family members only, as larger groups take more time than what we have for these special sessions.
Not taken at Meert Tree Farm
When?
Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Sunday 2:00pm
- Sunday 2:15pm
- Sunday 2:30pm
- Sunday 2:45pm
- Sunday 3:00pm
- Sunday 3:15pm
- Sunday 3:30pm
- Sunday 3:45pm
Not taken at Meert Tree Farm
Cost?
$395 for the full gallery, 10-15 artistically edited, high resolution digital images. To book a spot, you will need to sign a contract and pay a $100 retainer fee, which will be applied as credit towards your final purchase. Both the contract and booking invoice can be taken care of online in just a couple of minutes. Breaking it down:
- $100 plus Missouri sales tax to book the session
- Additional $295 plus Missouri sales tax due after the session is edited
- Professionally finished Christmas cards, prints, canvases, or metals are available at an additional cost
Not taken at Meert Tree Farm
Wardrobe and Styling?
All families who book will be a sent a link that gives some good tips and tricks to styling for your session.
Not taken at Meert Tree Farm
Pets
This one can be a tricky one for mini sessions. I LOVE including pets in family pictures! But if you have a pet that doesn’t cooperate very well, we are going to be constrained for time to get that beautiful portrait. So use your best judgement. If you think your favorite furry friend will behave for that Christmas Tree Farm Mini Sessions Meert Tree Farm St. Louis family picture, bring him or her along! Or consider bringing along a “pet friend” who can keep your pet on a leash just out of frame in case your pet isn’t cooperating.
Not taken at Meert Tree Farm
Mini Session Limitations
Because these sessions are super short compared to my full family sessions, we don’t have much time for everyone to warm up in front of the camera and get used to me. I focus primarily on those handful of posed images, where faces are looking at the camera and smiling. We usually get some interactive images as well, but they aren’t the priority. I do try to get the most authentic smiles and expressions as possible, but it doesn’t always happen in every mini session due to the time constraints. If you think your family would do better with more time, do consider scheduling a full family session like the family below.
Not taken at Meert Tree Farm
When and how will I get my pictures?
These sessions will be edited and delivered on or before Tuesday, December 1, 2026. When I have completed editing your session, I will email you the invoice for the remainder of the amount due. Once that is paid, I will email you a link to an online gallery. From there, you can download your purchased images.
Not taken at Meert Tree Farm
Why?
In all of the possessions we have in this world, pictures of your family are one of the few things that grow more valuable over time. Grab a spot on my calendar, bring your family, and let me take care of the rest. Hope to see you soon!
To schedule your Christmas Tree Farm session, contact me HERE.
