If you keep seeing "Christmas mini sessions" pop up every November and wondering what they actually are — here's the simple answer. A Christmas mini session is a short, styled holiday photoshoot in a fully decorated studio. Instead of a long, hour-plus sitting, you get about twenty relaxed minutes, professional photos, and none of the fuss. I'm Jo, and I photograph Christmas mini sessions across Toronto and the GTA every December — here's everything you need to know.
Christmas Mini Sessions — At a Glance
Price: $299 ($149 + HST booking fee, $150 after your shoot)
Included: 20 professionally edited, high-resolution photos
Session: 20 minutes in a fully styled holiday studio
Delivery: 5–7 days, private online gallery
Studios: Icon Studio Space (Toronto) · Glasshouse Studios (Richmond Hill) · Ruby Manor (Brampton)
For: families, kids, babies, couples, maternity, grandparents & pets (pets at select studios)
Reviews: 300+ five-star Google reviews
What exactly is a Christmas mini session?
It's a short holiday photoshoot — usually 15–20 minutes — in a studio that's already decorated for Christmas. The tree, the lights, the props are all set up before you arrive, so you just show up in your holiday outfits and we shoot. You get the same professional quality and editing as a full session, in a package built for one thing: beautiful holiday photos, fast. Mine are 20 minutes, 20 edited images, delivered in 5–7 days.
Why book a Christmas mini session in Toronto?
It's affordable and quick. A mini is far more budget-friendly than a full session and fits a busy December. At $299 you get 20 edited images — no per-photo fees, no upsells. (Here's exactly what it costs and includes.)
The studios do the hard part. You don't decorate a thing. I style my sets across three of the best holiday studios in the GTA — Icon Studio Space in Toronto, Glasshouse Studios in Richmond Hill, and Ruby Manor in Brampton. (See the top studios here.)
It's perfect for cards and gifts. Your gallery comes back in 5–7 days — in time to print holiday cards and grandparent gifts. (Card ideas here.)
It becomes a tradition. Book the same session each December and you'll have a year-by-year record of how your family grows. (Why it becomes a tradition.)
How I photograph them
My style is documentary — candid and real, not stiff and posed. I'd rather catch your toddler reaching for an ornament than count to three. My background is in weddings (Fearless Photographers and WPJA member), and I bring that same eye for genuine moments to a twenty-minute mini. You'll get enough direction that you never feel lost, then I let the real moments happen.
Who are they for?
Just about everyone: families, kids, first-Christmas babies, couples who want one lovely photo by the tree, expecting parents, multi-generational groups with grandparents, and pets (at select studios).
Frequently asked questions
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Short, styled holiday photoshoots — about 20 minutes in a decorated studio. Mine include 20 edited images, delivered in 5–7 days, for $299.
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About 20 minutes (roughly 15 minutes of shooting) — designed to be quick and low-pressure.
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$299, all-in — 20 edited images, private gallery in 5–7 days, no per-photo fees or upsells.
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Styled studios in Toronto (Icon), Richmond Hill (Glasshouse) and Brampton (Ruby Manor). Full 2026 dates are on my Christmas mini sessions page.
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Early — weekend dates and the Toronto studio fill first. Here's the timing guide.
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For most families, yes — you get professional, editorial-quality holiday photos in twenty minutes, for far less than a full session, and back in time for cards.
Ready to book your 2026 Christmas mini?
Now that you know what they are — the best ones fill up fast. My 2026 minis run November 29 – December 19 across Toronto, Richmond Hill and Brampton.
👉 See all 2026 dates and studios, and book your Christmas mini → · or message me and I'll help you plan it.
Christmas Photoshoot in Toronto - At a Glance
Price: $299 ($149 + HST booking fee, $150 after your shoot)
Included: 20 professionally edited, high-resolution photos
Session: 20 minutes (fuller family, maternity & newborn sessions also available)
Delivery: 5–7 days, in a private online gallery
Studios: Icon Studio Space (Toronto) · Glasshouse Studios (Richmond Hill) · Ruby Manor (Brampton)
For: families, kids, babies, couples, maternity, grandparents & pets (pets welcome at select studios)
Reviews: 300+ five-star Google reviews