If you are a photographer planning Christmas mini sessions in Los Angeles, a vintage red truck gives you one set that every family recognizes as Christmas the moment they see it. Red Truck LA rents a running 1972 Ford F-100, delivered anywhere in Los Angeles County, for $1,000 a day, and session pricing is negotiable.
Why a truck works for mini sessions
Mini sessions live or die on turnover. You need a setup that looks finished from the first family to the last, and that you do not have to rebuild between bookings. A truck bed is that setup. Families sit in the bed, kids climb onto the tailgate, couples lean on the side, and the backdrop stays put all day.
It also reads as Christmas without explaining itself. A red pickup with a tree in the back is the picture people already have in their heads when they think of a holiday card, so clients book it on the strength of one example.
What comes with the truck
- A running, registered 1972 Ford F-100, driven to your location.
- The owner, who stays on set to position the truck and keeps out of your frame.
- No decorations. The truck arrives as it is, and you bring your own set dressing. The JOY letters, Santa mailbox, blankets and trees in these photos were brought by the photographer.
How to plan the day
- Pick a spot with room to park and turn. The truck needs level ground and space to angle it toward the light. Public parks often require a permit for commercial shoots, so check before you announce dates.
- Schedule back to back. Most Los Angeles holiday minis run around 20 minutes a family. Leave a few minutes between bookings for reshuffling blankets and letting kids settle.
- Work the light. Open shade or the last hour before sunset is kindest to faces and to red paint. Midday sun blows out the paint and squints everyone.
- Plan the dressing once. Decide the setup before the first family arrives and keep it consistent, so the whole gallery feels like one collection.
What a truck day earns you
The truck costs $1,000 for the day. Whether that is expensive depends on how many families you fit and what you charge them. Put in your own numbers; the example is six hours of 20-minute sessions at $250 a family.
Shorter bookings are quoted separately, so if you only need the truck for a few hours, ask for a session quote.
When to book
Photographers usually announce Christmas minis in October so families have photos back before the holidays. December weekends for the truck are usually claimed by the first week of November, so hold your dates before you open booking to clients.
Four years of Red Truck minis
Tiny Toes Photography has run Red Truck holiday mini sessions in Los Angeles for four years running. The photos on this page are from those sessions.
Questions photographers ask
- How much does it cost to rent the red truck for Christmas mini sessions in Los Angeles?
- The day rate is $1,000. Session pricing is negotiable, so tell us your hours and how many families you are booking and we will quote the session.
- Where can the truck go?
- Anywhere in Los Angeles County. Ventura County works with enough notice. The truck is based in West Hills.
- Does the truck come decorated for Christmas?
- No. The truck arrives as it is. Photographers bring their own set dressing, such as JOY letters, a Santa mailbox, blankets, pillows and small trees.
- How far ahead should I book December dates?
- Book December weekends by the first week of November, before you open your mini session dates to clients.
- How many mini session families pay for the truck?
- At $250 a family, four families cover the $1,000 day rate. Six hours of 20-minute sessions with 5 minutes between fits 14 families, which is $3,500 before costs and $2,500 after the truck. Run your own numbers.
- Does someone come with the truck?
- Yes. The owner drives the truck to your location and stays on set to position it.