You've booked your child's session time, shopped for the perfect outfit to coordinate with the set and backdrop colors, and in your adult mind, you are sooooo excited to introduce your child to Santa to build some amazing memories and to have your photographer capture some beautiful pictures that you can share with family and friends, use for your Christmas cards, and have as a family keepsake for your child.
No doubt, it all sounds so exciting and very Hallmark movie-esque, but it can actually be a stressful day, not only for you, but for your child.
Here are a few tips to help you prepare your child, and to help make this a fun and memorable experience.
PLAN TO ARRIVE A FEW MINUTES EARLY. If you've schedule a mini session for your child, keep in mind that your photographer has scheduled many sessions that day, back-to-back, with probably only a few minutes between sessions. So arriving a few minutes early is key to a successful session. I recommend to all my clients that you plan to arrive at the very least 5 minutes before your scheduled session time. This will give you time to get inside and get coats off, hair smoothed, clothes straightened, noses wiped, or any other last-minute touch-ups before your session. 10 minutes might even be a better option.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING? You don't NEED to bring anything at all!
If you think it will be a distraction to your child, then please leave it at home. But if you think it will help break the ice with Santa, or if it will bring comfort to your child to hold something familiar while visiting with Santa, feel free to bring a favorite stuffy, or toy, or baby doll.
If your child has a LIST that s/he wants to read to Santa, bring that along!
If your child has a favorite Christmas BOOK, Santa can flip through a few pages of that (but we probably won't have time to read the entire book, so maybe plan to hand that to Santa part toward the end of the 10 minutes for a few quick pictures or if you need it to get your child to feel more comfortable, hand it to Santa sooner).
HOW WILL S/HE POSE WITH SANTA? If you've booked a Santa Mini Session with a professional, trust that your photographer has a plan.
If you've booked a Santa Mini Session with me, my plan is...we will go with the flow.
Obviously, I will make every effort get some posed, looking-at-the-camera pictures of your child with Santa, but most of your final images will be of your child visiting with, talking with, interacting with Santa.
The goal of this day is to create a fun and memorable experience for your child while capturing keepsake pictures.
I will be taking LOTS AND LOTS of pictures during your child's 10-minute session. Believe me, you will have lots to choose from.
The Santa I've hired is GOOD! He's a professional Santa and has been doing this for YEARS!
WHAT IF MY CHILD WON'T COOPERATE? With small children meeting Santa for the first time, this is always a possibility. And, quite honestly, we will just have to go with the flow.
Starting NOW, get your child excited about Santa so s/he already feels like s/he knows him. Tell stories about the jolly man who brings presents to girls and boys around the world or share memories of what Santa meant to you as a kid.
Remember, though, from your child’s perspective, those “safe,” non-threatening representations of Santa are polar opposites from standing face-to-face with a 6 foot tall, 300 pound, ho-ho-hoing, white hair covered “stranger.” That can be scary for your little one.
Try to avoid sweets, ice cream, sugary cookies, candy, and sodas in the couple of hours before your visit to meet Santa. We all see how sugar affects our children’s moods. An apple, crackers, or string cheese as a snack will help you have a better visit! And hungry kids are likelier to act out.
What to say, and what NOT to say: Be careful not to paint a scary picture of Saint Nick ahead of time. If you prep your child by saying, “Don’t be afraid, Santa’s not going to hurt you,” you’ve introduced a possibility that may never have occurred to him. Instead, talk about how fun it will be, and show your child a picture of a sibling or a cousin perched happily on Santa’s lap.
DON'T SAY: “Now, don’t CRY.” “Don’t be AFRAID.” “Santa is not SCARY!"
DO say: “This is SO MUCH FUN!” “I like Santa!” “Santa is so nice.” “Look at all the pretty lights!”
All in all, don’t expect perfection. Parents tend to have high expectations at this time of year for how everything should go. Don’t be disappointed if the pictures don't turn out exactly as you envision. What now seems like a missed opportunity for a “perfect” picture with Santa may become a special photo in future years because it captured that visit to Santa.
WHAT IF PICTURES WITH SANTA JUST DON'T WORK? I am also offering HOLIDAY MINI SESSIONS, pictures WITHOUT Santa, on the same day. So if your child is absolutely, positively terrified, we can always try a few pictures WITHOUT Santa. Or, you can simply book a Holiday Mini Session instead of a Santa Mini Session.
My 2022 Santa Mini Sessions and Holiday Mini Sessions will both be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at a studio located in Bartonville, Illinois. If you still need to book, I have a few openings left!
DETAILS, PRICING, AND BOOKING for Santa Mini Sessions are available here: https://book.usesession.com/s/vG7mh4-JE
Or, book your Holiday Mini Session (without Santa) here: https://book.usesession.com/s/UW_ObRBDJ
Wishing you all the best this holiday season...I can't wait to serve your family!
xo,
~Lisa