Magical Santa Mini Sessions | Naperville Photographer

Well, I held on to my santa pictures until closer to Christmas.  With Christmas only three days away and family coming into town tomorrow, I probably won’t post any more blog posts until after the holiday.  So, MERRY CHRISTMAS!  This was our first year doing Santa pictures.  I didn’t want to be one of those photographers doing cheesy pictures that you just get an obligatory 5×7.   But then I started seeing some amazing pictures and realized that there was an opportunity to provide amazing images that become part of your annual holiday decorations to be brought out year after year.  I also happen to personally know Santa.  Parents even told me he was movie quality – he really is.

My assistant and I had fun creating the set.  Who knows what we’ll do next year!  One thing I didn’t anticipate because I simply totally forgot about it – the crying toddler phenomenon that happens with kids about 18 months to three years of age.  They may be the happiest children, but there is just simply something about Santa that terrifies them.  Since these were special pictures, I didn’t want anyone to walk away disappointed, so I would just ask Santa to go into the other room, take a picture with the child, and add Santa back separately.  You can’t tell in my editing.

My main goal was to create magical Santa pictures.  Mission accomplished!  We tried to do a variety – from kids reading the Night Before Christmas with Santa…

 

To peeking into his magic bag of toys.  The older kids were great actors!

 

And sometimes kids were okay sitting, but not directly ON Santa’s lap.

 

These are my own children, and I have a beautiful 18×24 canvas now hanging in the entryway.

 

This pretty girl offered milk and cookies to the big guy.

 

And some kids just wanted to play with the toys.  This red train was a big hit.

 

This was the youngest child to see Santa this day – seven weeks old!

 

All children should be sound asleep when Santa comes… but I see one little trouble maker decided to stay awake and steal his cookies!  LOL

 

But if they are awake, handing him a cookie is a nice thing to do.

 

“What do you have for me in the bag, Santa?”

 

Sweet brothers just couldn’t stay awake, but at least they left out the milk and cookies.

 

When your twin sister is brave enough to sit on Santa’s lap, but you’re not quite willing to do it.

 

While some kids did cry, they all cheered up just fine when Santa left their sight.  All except this one child who would just not calm down no matter what, not even when being held by his mom.  So I said, well, you’re going to get  a funny picture.

 

And isn’t it always the younger child who wakes up while the older one sleeps?

 

I love all the different pajamas I saw on this day!

 

It looks like Santa left behind his bag this time.

 

And while some kids cried with Santa, some were all giggles.

 

Naughty girls eating Santa’s cookies.

 

This time, the older brother was brave enough to be with Santa, but the little brother was only willing to touch his brother.

 

Sitting on a sled and playing with a train, what more does a little boy need?

 

There can never be too much magic in our lives.

 

Sleep well, children.  May all your Christmas dreams come true.

 

And while Santa is definitely part of the season, it is really about family.

 

Firefly Nights hopes you have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season.  We thank all of the clients who came to our first annual Santa mini sessions.  We offered these only on one day, and as you can see, it was a very busy day!