Back by popular demand! My autumn mini sessions are now booking for 2026!

This year I’m doing things a little differently. Rather than holding all the portrait sessions at one location, I’ve picked four different locations across the Triangle, with dates in Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Wake Forest.

A family of four stands on a forest path, surrounded by greenery and autumn leaves. They are all smiling and wearing casual outfits with sweaters and jeans. Sunlight filters through the trees, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

A family of five walks on a stone path in a garden, holding hands and smiling at each other during their Autumn Mini Session. The parents are on either end, with three children between them, as sunlight filters through the trees in the background. By award-winning Raleigh wedding photographer, Joe Payne.

A smiling family of three stands outdoors in sunlight, with greenery in the background, capturing a perfect moment for Autumn Mini Sessions. The child, wearing a colorful dress, is held between two adults, who are both smiling warmly at the camera. By award-winning Raleigh wedding photographer, Joe Payne.

The idea is still the same: a quick, easy portrait session that gives you some great photos without turning family pictures into an all-day production.

A family of five sits happily on a stone ledge in front of a fountain, capturing the joy of autumn mini sessions. They are all wearing winter attire, including vests and boots, against a backdrop of water spraying from the fountain and lush greenery.

Here are the details:

Saturday, October 10th — Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham
Sunday, October 11th — Coker Arboretum at UNC, Chapel Hill
Saturday, October 24th — Fred Fletcher Park, Raleigh
Sunday, October 25th — Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest
Duration: 20-minute sessions. If you’d like a longer session, simply book two back-to-back time slots.
Photos: 15 fully edited high-resolution images of your choice.
Full gallery: Love too many to narrow it down to 15? You can upgrade to the complete edited gallery for an additional $195.
Cost: $395.
Booking: Head here to choose your location, date and time.

A family of four stands together on a sunlit forest path, surrounded by lush green trees. The parents smile at each other while their two young daughters, one in pink and one in blue, stand close by and look up at them.

What you get:

These sessions are designed to be relaxed, fun and uncomplicated. We’ll spend 20 minutes making a mixture of natural, candid photographs and a few more traditional portraits, giving you plenty of variety without dragging things out — particularly useful when small children are involved!

And despite the name, mini sessions aren’t just for families. They work just as well for couples, maternity photos, updated portraits or even some relaxed outdoor headshots.

A couple shares an embrace and smiles at each other in a park during autumn, capturing the warmth of their Duke University engagement session. The woman dazzles in a sparkly dress, while the man looks sharp in a dark suit against the vibrant red and orange leaves of a romantic backdrop.

A smiling pregnant woman in a floral dress stands outdoors, holding her belly with both hands during one of our Autumn Mini Sessions. Tall grasses and blurred foliage fill the background. The photo is in black and white. By award-winning Raleigh wedding photographer, Joe Payne.

Woman in a strapless burgundy gown stands outdoors on a sunlit, wooded path surrounded by trees and bamboo, smiling with one hand on her hip—perfect inspiration for Autumn Mini Sessions. By award-winning Raleigh wedding photographer, Joe Payne.

This year you also have four very different locations to choose from.

Duke Gardens gives us the beautiful landscaped gardens, paths and autumn colour that have made it such a popular location for my mini sessions over the years.

Coker Arboretum at UNC gives us a more intimate, leafy setting right in Chapel Hill.

Fred Fletcher Park offers mature trees, open spaces, pathways and some great architectural backdrops right in Raleigh.

And Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest gives us a completely different look again, with beautiful grounds and architecture to work with.

A smiling family of three stands outdoors. The father, in a red sweater, holds their young son, who wears a patterned sweater. The mother, in a cream turtleneck, stands beside them. Green plants and trees blur in the background.

After your session, I’ll send you your own private online gallery where you can choose your 15 favourite photographs for high-resolution download. If narrowing them down proves impossible, you’ll also have the option to upgrade to the complete edited gallery for $195.

A young child in orange pants and a striped shirt is joyfully swinging between two adults holding his hands as they walk on a leaf-covered path outdoors. The adults’ faces are not visible.

Your high-resolution files are yours to keep, so you can have prints and cards made wherever you like. Your gallery also includes a store if you’d prefer to order professional-quality prints directly.

Ready to book?

Some sessions have already been snapped up by past clients who received early access, but there’s still plenty of availability across the four dates.

To book your autumn mini session, simply choose your preferred location, date and time here.

I’ll then be in touch with everything you need to finalise your booking, including exactly where to meet me on the day.