More Than Christmas Minis: A Little Vintage Magic, a Lot of Love, and a Piece of My Heart

Behind the scenes of our 2026 Sarasota Christmas Mini Sessions at SRQ Creative Studios.

Some people see a Christmas photography set.

I see ten years of collected treasures, childhood memories, late-night ideas, a whole lot of love, and pieces of the people who made me who I am.

If you know me, you know that when I get an idea in my head, there's absolutely no stopping me. I'm talking jolting out of bed at 3 AM because I had a VISION and suddenly needed to rearrange an entire Christmas set.

And my poor husband? Well, he's officially earned the title of Prop Manager. Whether he applied for that position or not is still up for debate.

But this year, I wanted something different. Something that felt nostalgic, magical, lived-in, and full of heart.

And somehow, it turned into so much more than Christmas minis.

A Little Piece of My Mom

It started with treasures I already had.

Tucked away in my shed was a beautiful vintage window my mom thrifted nearly fifteen years ago. Something she saw beauty in long before I ever imagined it becoming part of my photography studio.

Then there was the little kitchen she made for her grandbabies. Those babies aren't so little anymore. They've grown up, and that sweet little kitchen has already lived an entire chapter of memories.

But now? It gets to be part of someone else's childhood magic.

And maybe that's what makes this so special to me.

These aren't just props I ordered online. They're pieces of our family's story, finding a new purpose and making new memories.

The Victorian Sofa That Almost Defeated Me

And then there was THE sofa.

My favorite Victorian sofa.

I had this beautiful vision in my head, but no matter how I arranged everything, something just wasn't right.

The sofa needed to be GREEN. Not just any green. That beautiful, rich, vintage green velvet that I could already picture perfectly in my mind.

So naturally, I decided I needed to learn how to reupholster furniture.

Because apparently being a photographer, medical mama, and studio owner wasn't enough. I needed a new full-time job as a furniture upholsterer, too.

And let me tell you, I went ALL IN.

But when that green velvet sofa finally came together?

It was EXACTLY what I had imagined.

Every frustrating moment was worth it.

Thrifted Trees, Borrowed Treasures & Christmas Magic

One of my favorite things about these sets is that they didn't come together from one giant shopping trip.

There's a thrifted Christmas tree, an old tree from a friend, and a few brand-new ones mixed in.

A friend shared a beautiful vintage Christmas tray.

My neighbor brought fresh homemade cookies and frosting for the little ones to decorate.

And somewhere along the way, all these little pieces from different people started coming together into one beautiful Christmas story.

It reminds me that some of the most magical things aren't brand new or expensive.

Sometimes they're borrowed, thrifted, handmade, or passed down with love.

A Little Christmas Magic From My Childhood

And those tiny vintage red chairs?

Those are extra special.

I SAT IN THOSE CHAIRS AS A LITTLE GIRL.

They lived in my Gamgam's parlor, and now here they are, becoming part of Christmas memories for another generation.

I can't even begin to explain how much that means to me.

There's something so beautiful about watching an object that holds your own childhood memories become part of someone else's.

It's like a little piece of the past getting to live all over again.

And then there's the vintage Santa costume I originally bought so the grandparents could surprise my son.

Another little piece of our family's Christmas magic finding its way into the studio.

More Than Just a Christmas Mini Session

When you walk into SRQ Creative Studios for your Christmas photos, you're not walking into a backdrop I threw together in an afternoon.

You're stepping into something I've dreamed about, worked on, cried over, laughed about, stayed up way too late creating, and poured my entire heart into.

You're sitting on furniture with stories.

You're surrounded by pieces of my childhood, memories of my mom, treasures from friends, and little details that mean more to me than you'll ever know.

And now I get to photograph YOUR family making memories in the middle of it all.

The giggles. The frosting-covered fingers. The tiny hands. The excitement of seeing Santa. The beautiful chaos of trying to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time.

One day, those little ones will be grown, too.

And I hope these photographs bring you right back to how this Christmas felt.

From My Family's Memories to Yours

This year, our Sarasota Christmas Mini Sessions are about so much more than beautiful holiday portraits.

They're about nostalgia, family, creativity, and the magic of making something old feel new again.

They're about finding beauty in things that already have a story.

And they're about creating memories that will someday mean just as much to your children as those little red chairs mean to me.

This isn't just a Christmas mini set. It's my heart and soul, wrapped in green velvet, vintage treasures, twinkling lights, and a whole lot of love.

And I cannot wait to share it with your families.

With all my love,

Paris 🤍

Images by Paris | SRQ Creative Studios

Ready to experience the magic? Explore our 2026 Sarasota Christmas Mini Sessions and find the perfect holiday experience for your family.