Timeless First Communion Portraits | Sioux City Mini Session

Every now and then, a session comes along that reminds me why I love what I do—and this was one of those.

I recently had the honor of photographing a beautiful little girl for her First Communion milestone. Her mom (who’s just as stunning as her daughter!) wanted to capture this special moment in a timeless and elegant way. The session came together in such a beautiful and organic way that I wanted to share the story behind it.

It actually all started when a friend of the mom reached out to me, asking about both event photography and a portrait session. I sent over my pricing, but I totally understand that sometimes we have to work within a budget. I let them know that if they booked the event, I’d include the portrait session complimentary. In the end, they decided to go a different direction for the event coverage, so I suggested a mini session instead—15 minutes, five digital images. It was the perfect fit, and honestly, I’m always happy to work with people when I can. If you talk to me, I’ll try to find a way to make it work.

The friend shared my information with the mom, who speaks mostly Spanish. We made it work using Google Translate for communication, and she was able to fill out the booking form and submit payment without any issues. It was a great reminder that with a little patience and a willingness to connect, language doesn’t have to be a barrier.

When the day of the session came, they arrived at my studio, and I was immediately struck by how absolutely gorgeous this little girl was in her First Communion dress. The dress was stunning—pure white, flowing, elegant, with such a beautiful and classic style. It truly made the session feel so timeless. Her mom asked if she could take a few photos with her daughter, and of course, I said yes! I always invite family members to join in, even if it’s just a few quick portraits. These are the moments that matter.

The mom had requested a gray backdrop, and I ended up using one that was more of a soft brownish-gray. It actually worked better than my standard gray—it brought out the details of the dress so beautifully and gave the photos a rich, warm tone that I loved.

I kept the setup simple—just two Profoto lights, one as the key light and one as a soft fill. I shot with my Canon 6D Mark II using my 50mm lens at f/2.8, ISO 100, and a shutter speed of 1/125. That lighting combo gave everything a soft, airy feel that looked amazing on her white dress.

They brought a simple prop to mark the occasion, and it was just the right touch. We didn’t go overboard with styling or extras because the beauty was already there—the subject, the dress, the light. That’s really all you need for portraits that feel timeless and elegant.

The entire session lasted maybe 15–20 minutes. Her daughter helped translate throughout, but honestly, a lot of it came down to body language and connection. I demonstrated the poses myself so they could mirror me, and everything flowed naturally. It was such a fun, easy session—and the results were stunning.

At the end, the mom told her daughter to tell me: “I didn’t know who she was before, but I’ll keep using her from now on.” That compliment hit me right in the heart.

It means the world when someone takes a chance on you—especially when they’re unfamiliar with your work—and you’re able to make them feel seen, valued, and beautiful. That’s what this session was about. Not just capturing a milestone, but building trust, connection, and creating something they’ll treasure forever.

I’m so grateful they gave me that chance.