2023 Santa & Christmas Sessions
It’s that time of year again, and we’re over halfway to Christmas! (Don’t judge me, my Halloween loving friends… We’re still celebrating that too.) This year, I’m finally ahead of the game and posting Santa Session bookings early.
Santa Sessions in 2023
The past few years we’ve always done our sessions outside at a lovely little farm in Orting. This year, I was hoping for something a little different and have chosen a studio in Tacoma for our sessions. While there is a potential for the studio location to change, right now we’re planning for Studio 253 on Broadway. Sessions will take place on December 2nd and 3rd in 2023.
The setups have changed over the past few years, with everything from a cute door background to a tiny tree farm. This year I’m planning for 2-3 different sets; one for Santa himself and two for generic Christmas sessions. Below you’ll find a selection of our past setups and locations.
Not your Mall’s Santa
Trust me, I get it. It seems so easy to just head to the mall, stand in line for an hour and then get 2 minutes with the big man before they charge you $75 for a 5×7 and a digital print. Personally, that sounds a bit miserable and what do you do when your kiddo freaks out? We all have that “classic” Santa photo where the child is screaming because they have no clue who this weird guy in a red suit is.
Our sessions don’t go that way. We allot 15 minutes for each session and have the ability to move at your child’s pace. Our Santas are very skilled in taking time and interacting with the kids from a distance. (For those who are wondering, Santa is usually Jake or my own Dad.) If we find that the kids just aren’t having it, Santa has no problems with backing up and allowing us to do Christmas photos instead. Our goal is for tearless Santa photos.
Pro Tip: If you have a child that’s typically very hesitant to meet Santa or has had a traumatic experience in the past with the big guy, please let us know ahead of time. This will change how we begin your session and we may need to add an additional buffer. Booking the last session of the day (or the session right before lunch at 12 pm) will allow for more flexibility in your session.
No Santa? No problem.
For those who don’t celebrate with Santa or the teenagers who just don’t believe in Santa, we offer Christmas portraits instead. Our goal this year is to have 2 set options for Christmas photos in addition to our Santa set. If you don’t want any photos with Santa, please let us know ahead of time and we’ll make sure Santa is hidden away during your session.
Pro tip: In the past there have been several families who didn’t want to use Santa when they originally booked. Some changed their minds after seeing the first day of photos, and that’s ok! You are allowed to change your mind. If you arrive and decide you would like Santa, just let us know at the beginning of your session so I can adjust to give us time for both Christmas shots and Santa during your 15 minute allotment.
How much does it cost and what is included?
This year’s sessions are $150+tax and include your 15 minute photo session, an online gallery and no limit on the number of downloads. These sessions include images in both color and black + white, though the exact number of images depends solely on your family and their participation. We like to photograph the session as it unfolds, so there will be some posed images but many will be more documentary style. For reference the links below will show you sessions with the most and least amount of photos from our 2022 Santa Sessions.
We’re aiming to include a minimum of 20 photos from each session, though I (Markie) tend to end up sending closer to 40 (double that if you include the black + white copies). You will be able to order additional products and professional prints through your online gallery for those families who prefer tangible items.
How to book
This year’s booking process has changed a tiny bit. The link below will take you to our Santa/Christmas intake form. Once you’ve filled that out, you’ll receive your contract and an invoice for the retainer. This year’s retainer is low, a whopping $25, and is applied to your final payment.
FAQ: Am I allowed to book more than one session?
Answer: Yes. I also recommend booking an additional session if you are bringing extended family members (Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc.) or if you know your kids will want/need more time with Santa.
The TLDR Details
I love our Santa Sessions, so this post got a bit long winded! For those who are just looking for the quick dirty details:
Location: Studio 253 in Tacoma Washington (Subject to change)
Dates: Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 and Sunday, December 3rd, 2023
Includes: 15 minute session, online gallery, unlimited downloads
Price: $150+tax
Online ordering available: Yes for Holiday cards, prints, and albums.
