simply joy
sessions
You want photos that actually look like your kid, not a stiff, posed version of them.
Simply Joy Sessions are built around who your kid actually is, not how straight they can stand. Each session only takes a few minutes, but every second is spent letting a kid be exactly who they are in front of the camera. The gap-toothed grin. The sideways smirk. The full-belly laugh. Real smiles, real personality, real joy, every time.
Whether it's Picture Day at school, a pop-up session, or a mini session event, the approach stays the same: quick, comfortable, and completely their own.
If you're looking for a Minneapolis school photographer who sees the real kid, not the rehearsed one, you're in the right place.
No posing. No pretending. Just joy!
the
"We loved working with Ashley and Troy on our family photo session. They made us all feel so comfortable and relaxed and ensured that it was an enjoyable experience for everyone from beginning to end."
Stengel family
the
No cost to your school.
Simply Joy comes to you for Picture Day.
school picture day
Starting at $150
My goal isn't a forced, cheesy smile. I'm chasing real expressions, whatever that looks like for your kid that day: silly, serious, shy, or somewhere in between. With toddlers, that might mean trading animal noises back and forth. With older kids, I'll ask about their favorite subject in school, or who their best friend is and what they love doing together, whatever gets them talking and forgetting the camera's there.
Want to give your kid a fun head start? Have them come with a joke ready to tell me. I promise to laugh, even if it's the hundredth version of the chicken crossing the road. A session wraps in just a few minutes. Quick enough to keep their energy, long enough to catch the real thing.
Every Simply Joy session, whether at your school, a pop-up, or a mini session day, includes the same experience:
Missed Picture Day, or have a sibling who attends elsewhere? Pop-ups make sure every kid gets the same experience. Mini session days are open throughout the year to the public, no school connection required.
POP-ups & Mini Session Events
Get mini session dates first>
Yes, these are booked individually with their own sitting fee, since they're not tied to a school partnership. [See full pricing →]
A:
q:
Yes, as long as both siblings attend the same school. I'll photograph them individually and together at no extra cost, with a separate sibling gallery.
A:
q:
Each child is photographed individually. You'll receive an online gallery with your child's images to choose from, along with a class composite.
A:
q:
No sitting fee. Your child is photographed at no cost, and you only pay when you order prints or digitals.
A:
q:
Mini sessions run throughout the year. Get mini session dates first by joining my newsletter list.
A:
q:
Nope, there's no order required until you've seen your images, and no minimum order.
A:
q:
Yes! Book a pop-up session for any child not enrolled at a partner school. Same Simply Joy experience, just booked separately.
A:
q:
Typical turnaround is about 3-4 weeks after your session date.
A:
q:
I encourage kids to help choose their outfits! Solid colors work best, avoid large graphics, logos, and neon. A full styling guide is included once you book.
A:
q:
Yes! Anyone that you share your gallery link with can place their own order.
A:
q:
Exactly. Some kids are instantly expressive, others take a little longer to warm up. Both are completely okay, these portraits capture your kid exactly as they are today.
A:
q:
(applies to school, pop-up, and mini sessions alike)