I Did It Scared: Behind My First Fall Mini Sessions in Edmond, OK

Oct 12

Family smiling together in warm golden hour light during fall mini sessions in Edmond, OK

A Community Story Behind the Lens

This story doesn't start with one family. It starts with a whole neighborhood full of beautiful people, and honestly, it might be one of my favorite stories so far in my journey as an Oklahoma City family photographer.

Last fall, I finally did the thing I'd been tiptoeing around for years. I offered my very first Fall Mini Sessions in Edmond, OK and my very first clients were my own neighbors! I've lived in our neighborhood for years, and I'm a little embarrassed to admit I still hadn't properly met so many of the amazing families living just a few doors down. Turns out, who knew that a camera would be the best icebreaker ever? Every single family who showed up brought their own magic, and together, they made this experience one I'll never forget. And as a storytelling lifestyle photographer, this is at the heart of everything I do. I LOVE capturing the raw, unscripted moments that tell a deeper story about the way we live.

Wide shot of a family standing among colorful fall trees at an outdoor photo location in Edmond, Oklahoma

Here are just a few of the beautiful moments and families that made these storytelling lifestyle portrait sessions so special.

One family brought their four-legged crew member, a sassy little Corgi named Penny, who clearly knew she was the star of her own show. She had the whole session wrapped around her tiny little royal paw, and honestly? As a lifestyle photographer in Oklahoma City, I live for personality like that. I was here for every second of it.

Another session that warmed my heart was with a beautiful couple. They are empty nesters who realized they hadn't had professional portraits taken of just the two of them in years. Their kids are grown, the house is quieter, and they decided it was finally their turn. They showed up looking absolutely sharp. The fringe skirt and maroon leather jacket were practically begging to be photographed in motion. Every twirl, every step, every laugh. That kind of genuine joy is exactly what I live to capture as a lifestyle photographer in Oklahoma City.

And the kiddos? Oh, they didn’t disappoint. They brought all the energy! There's something so sweet about little ones who are just being themselves, running, laughing, and making everything feel alive. Some of the sweetest natural light portraits of the day came straight from those in-between moments of pure and unscripted joy.

A few of the kids recognized me from school, and the looks of pure shock and surprise on their faces were absolutely priceless. They could hardly believe that "Ms. Drake" has another life outside of the classroom and would be their family photographer for the day!

Their Vision for the Perfect Fall Session

Family posing together in fall leaves for a holiday card portrait by an Oklahoma City family photographer

The sessions took place right around Thanksgiving, so almost every family had the same goal: holiday cards. They wanted beautiful family photos to send to all their loved ones near and far.

Here's the part that made my heart happy. Nobody had any special requests. For me? It's a dream. Why??? Because I work best when I have carte blanche (fancy talk for "total creative freedom"). That meant I got to play with the light, try fun poses, and let each family's personality guide the shoot.

Plus, it meant that I wasn't checking boxes off a shot list (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I just prefer to live in the moment and chase those genuine interactions. To me, those are the exact kind of authentic, story-driven portraits that make you smile every time a Christmas card lands on someone's fridge or hangs from their fireplace mantle.

Mom, dad, and daughter snuggled together in warm golden hour light during a fall family portrait session near Oklahoma City

Behind the Scenes: How My First Fall Mini Sessions Actually Came Together

Okay, let's get real for a second. Before any of these magical moments happened, I was terrified.

I'd heard the client horror stories (no thanks). The super quick turnaround time for delivering photos (yikes!). Then came ALL THE QUESTIONS that kept me up at night:

Where would I even hold these sessions? (eek!)
How would I organize time slots and payments?
What should I charge so it's worth my time but still tempting to book?
How long should each session be? Fifteen minutes felt way too stressful. An hour isn't exactly "mini" anymore.
And the big one: Who would actually book with me?

I'm a technically trained photographer, but I'm also pretty shy about my art. Add a giant case of imposter syndrome, and the idea of blasting ads on social media made my anxiety climb faster than a toddler on a sugar high.

So I started small. Our neighborhood has a private Facebook page. Instead of going in full guns blazing, I shared a post with some of my work to see if anyone might be interested. And lo and behold... people were! A LOT of people. (WOW!)

Okay. This was happening. I set up a booking system through HoneyBook, took a deep breath, and hit publish.

Then my phone started dinging. Ding. Ding. Ding! Wait, were people actually booking my first-ever mini sessions? YES, they were! Cue the happy dance... followed immediately by the realization that I still didn't have a location. (LOL!)

Little boy laughing and playing airplane with mom autumn leaves during a lifestyle photography fall mini session

The Hail Mary Mansion

I had my heart set on one spot: a stunning mansion with grounds that screamed fall. I tracked down the owner's phone number and email and reached out. It was a total Hail Mary because it was a Sunday and it was a few hours before my first mini session, but hey, worth a shot.

I didn't hear back right away, so I got in my car and drove up the long private driveway. I knocked on the door of the main house. No answer. I tried the second house on the property. Still nothing.

I climbed back into my car, ready to drive home and come up with Plan B. And right then, my phone buzzed. It was an email from the owner saying yes, I could hold my sessions there!

OMG!!! The confirmation came the very morning of the shoot. It was everything I'd pictured for a true fall season backdrop. LET'S GO!

Family of six with four young boys, from a baby to a middle schooler, posing together in fall leaves in Edmond, OK

Finding My Zone

After my very first session, something clicked. My nerves melted away, and I found my zone.

Golden hour was in full effect. (That's the soft, glowy light right before sunset that makes everyone look like a movie star.) The backlighting was doing its thing, with the sun glowing behind my families and lighting up their hair like a halo. The leaves were showing off the most gorgeous yellows, oranges, and reds.

Some of my favorite moments:

Letting the kids throw leaves at each other. Pure chaos. Pure joy. Pure magic on camera.
Cindy Steph in motion. That fringe skirt and leather jacket against the fall colors? Stunning.
The forehead-to-forehead photo. One mom asked me to recreate a photo of her husband and son, foreheads pressed together. The backlight created these dreamy sun flares that wrapped around them perfectly. It's still one of my favorite photos I've ever taken.

Mom hugging her young daughter close in soft natural light during a story-driven family portrait session

The Day the Sun Wouldn't Shine

Not every day was sunshine and golden glow. On one particular day, the sun simply refused to come out. Normally, cloudy skies don't bother me because overcast light is soft and flattering. But I was still riding the high from those golden, sun-drenched sessions, and I wanted that same warm glow for everyone!

Here's the beautiful truth, though: every single family's photos turned out gorgeous. My neighbors all looked like models. Seriously, Edmond, what's in the water?

Mom and dad embracing in golden hour light during a fall mini session near Oklahoma City

A Personal Note from Mel | Why I Loved These Photo Shoots

Looking back, I'm pretty proud of myself.

I'm a planner. I like having every detail mapped out and every "what if" answered before I take a single step. This time, I didn't have all the answers. I didn't have a location until the morning of! But I decided to step out of my comfort zone and step out on faith. I kept telling myself, It will all work itself out. And it did.

I did it scared. And I'm so glad I did.

The best part wasn't even the photos (though I'm obsessed with them). It was finally meeting my neighbors. They were soooo nice and super fun. I walked away with new friends, sweet memories, and a neighborhood that feels a whole lot more like home.

And the love didn't stop there. A few neighbors wrote me glowing reviews for my website, and several have already reached out asking about Fall Mini Sessions again this year. Wow. My heart is full.

Backlit family portrait with a warm golden hour sun flare glowing behind them in Edmond, Oklahoma

Happy dog named Penny sitting in fall leaves with her family during an outdoor photo session in Oklahoma City

The Gear That Helped Me Bring This Fall Vision to Life

For my fellow photo nerds (and the curious!), here's what was in my bag:

Canon R6 Mark II. My trusty camera body. It handles fast-moving kids and flying leaves like a champ.
24-70mm f/2.8 lens. This versatile lens lets me go from wide shots of the whole family and that gorgeous fall foliage backdrop to close, emotional portraits without switching lenses. Perfect for quick mini sessions!
Gray card. This little tool helps me nail accurate white balance, which simply means the colors look true to life. Skin tones look natural, and those fall leaves stay vibrant instead of looking too orange or too blue.
Reflector. I brought it just in case I needed to bounce a little extra light onto faces.

But the real stars of the show? Golden hour and backlighting. And an honorable mention goes to those magical sun flares that completed the warm, cozy, beautiful fall afternoon feeling.

Siblings holding hands while walking through autumn leaves in soft natural light

Mother and daughter smiling cheek to cheek among fall leaves during a mini session in Edmond, OK

Want Photos Like These? Here's How You Can Work with Mel Drake

These sessions reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place. It's about people, connection, and capturing the little moments that make your family yours. The giggles. The leaf fights. The quiet forehead-to-forehead moments you'll want to hold onto forever.

If you're looking for a family photographer in Oklahoma City who'll bring warmth, fun, and a whole lot of heart to your session, I'd be honored to be part of your story. From fall mini sessions in Edmond, OK, to full portrait sessions across the OKC area, I'm all about vibrant, story-driven lifestyle photography that feels authentic and tailored to you.

I would love to photograph your family memories. Whether it's for this year's holiday cards, an annual family portrait update, or just because, let's create something beautiful together.

Reach out today, and let's make magic! ✨

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @MelDrakePhotography and Facebook @MelDrakePhotography for more behind-the-scenes fun, tips, and sneak peeks of upcoming shoots.

XOXO, Melissa "Mel" Drake

#LetsMakeMagicTogether #MelDrakePhotography

Family sitting together at sunset during their fall mini session with Mel Drake Photography

QUICK REFERENCES:

Photography:
- Melissa “Mel” Drake (Mel Drake Photography)
Location:
- Edmond, OK
Equipment:
- Canon R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 lens

TIME TO MAKE MAGIC: BOOK YOUR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION TODAY

Interested in capturing your own unique story through stunning photos? Together we'll tell your story and bring your vision to life. Let's make some magic together! Contact Mel Drake Photography today.

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