NOTE: Booking for my 2026 Old Town Tustin Santa Experience is now live!

Christmas feels different when your kids are little.

I know that now more than ever because my own kids are grown. I love Christmas with my family today, but oh, what I wouldn’t give to go back for just a little while to those years when there was so much magic and wonder. When Santa was REAL. When Christmas morning felt like the most exciting day of the entire year. When my kids were little enough to believe all of it.

Those years go by so much faster than you think they will.

I think that’s one of the reasons I love my Santa sessions so much. I see so many young families come through my studio who understand that. They know their children won’t be this little forever, and the holidays have a way of driving that home even more.

Now I get to experience a little bit of that Christmas magic again through the children who walk through my doors every year to see Santa.

And after photographing so many of them, I’ve learned something important: the best Santa photos don’t necessarily happen because a child smiled perfectly at the camera.

Sometimes they cry.

Sometimes they refuse to sit on Santa’s lap.

Sometimes they stand six feet away and stare at him suspiciously.

And sometimes those end up being the photographs their parents treasure most.

So if you’re planning a Christmas mini session or Santa photo experience this year, here are five things I want you to know before you arrive.

1. How Do You Pick the Right Christmas Mini Session Time Slot?

Here’s my best advice: you know your child.

Some toddlers completely melt down the minute they miss their nap. Others can easily push it an hour without a problem. Some kids are happiest first thing in the morning. Others need a little time to get going.

The same goes for food. If your child turns into a completely different human when they’re hungry, please don’t schedule a session at the exact time they normally eat lunch and hope for the best.

Timing your session matters if timing matters to your child.

If you know your child will be happy at just about any time of day, you’re good. But if mornings are their sweet spot, grab a morning appointment if you can. This is also one reason I encourage families to book their Santa sessions early. You’ll have more choices and can pick the time that actually works for your family rather than simply taking whatever is left.

No matter what time you choose, try to arrive well rested and well fed. Visiting Santa comes with a LOT of excitement, especially when you’re little.

And if the perfect time isn’t available? Don’t panic. We work with the child who walks through the door, not some imaginary perfectly rested, perfectly behaved version of them.

2. When Should You Start Planning Christmas Mini Session Outfits?

I’m probably a little more relaxed about this than you might expect from a photographer.

I love holiday colors. I love when a family really gets into the theme. I love beautiful dresses and festive outfits.

I also LOVE Christmas pajamas.

Once my Santa set is finished for the year, I send my families the theme along with a wardrobe guide filled with ideas that will photograph beautifully with it. That gives everyone time to plan without guessing what will work with the set.

If you’re already thinking about what everyone will wear, I put together a full guide to Christmas family photo outfits and what to wear for Santa pictures. But here’s the bigger thing: I want your kids to be comfortable.

If your child hates the beautiful itchy sweater you bought specifically for pictures, I promise you, we’re all going to know about it.

And sometimes you just have to pick your battles.

I’ve photographed a child who basically rolled out of bed and came to see Santa with bedhead and Bluey pajamas.

And you know what?

We took the pictures.

Because someday even the Bluey-pajama stage is going to be gone.

So plan ahead, coordinate if that’s important to you, and absolutely lean into the Christmas look if you love it. But don’t let the pursuit of the perfect outfit make everyone miserable before you even get here.

3. What Should We Bring to a Christmas Mini Session?

You don’t need much.

For little ones, I recommend bringing a snack and some water, baby wipes for last-minute face and hand cleanup, and a brush or comb.

If your child has written a letter or wish list for Santa, definitely bring that too. Santa loves talking with children about what’s on their list.

I generally recommend leaving toys at home unless there’s a small comfort item your child genuinely needs. There is already plenty here to capture their attention.

And the most important thing you can bring isn’t something that fits in a bag:

Let your child have their own experience.

Parents naturally want this to go well. You’ve planned the outfits. You’ve gotten everyone out the door. You’ve paid for the session. You want that beautiful Santa picture.

Kids can feel that pressure.

Most of my returning parents have learned to do something that I absolutely love. They stay pretty quiet. They watch. They enjoy seeing their child interact with Santa and let the moment unfold.

That’s when the magic happens.

4. What Happens When You Stop Trying to Make Kids Smile for Santa?

Please don’t make your child smile for Santa.

I mean that.

We spend so much time teaching our children to be cautious around strangers, and then one day we walk them into a photography studio, introduce them to a man with a giant white beard and a red suit, and expect them to immediately climb onto his lap and smile.

Santa is a stranger to them.

Some children need time to decide that he’s safe.

And that’s okay.

If you’re worried about how your child will react, I have a whole guide on how to prepare your kids for pictures with Santa without putting pressure on them to smile, perform or sit on his lap.

We never force children to sit on Santa’s lap. We never force an interaction they’re uncomfortable with. We meet them where they are.

I had a family start coming to me when their twins, a boy and a girl, were about three. The little boy was curious about Santa and interested in him almost immediately.

His sister?

She may have been the most suspicious child I have ever photographed.

She stood as far away from Santa as she could possibly get while still technically being in the photograph.

But we let her.

And they came back the next year.

She got a little closer.

Then they came back again.

A little closer.

We’ve basically documented her evolving relationship with Santa year after year. If my calculations are correct, this may finally be the year she makes it all the way next to him. Maybe even onto his lap. I’m not making any promises. 😂

Her mom recently wrote something that meant so much to me:

“We’ve watched our twins grow up through these Santa photos.”

They drive down from Los Angeles every year for their Santa session, and her kids talk about our Santa all year long.

THAT is what I want to photograph.

Not a performance.

Your child.

What a gift to have a photograph of exactly who they were this Christmas, because there’s a very good chance they’ll be completely different next year.

We only get so many Christmases while they’re little and the magic feels like this.

5. What Should You Actually Expect from a Christmas Mini Session?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about a short Santa session is that it has to feel rushed.

It doesn’t.

Our Classic Santa Experience is ten minutes, but those ten minutes aren’t about racing through a predetermined list of poses.

Every child’s ten minutes looks a little different.

Some kids walk through the door ready to TALK. They have been waiting for this moment and Santa is going to hear every single thing on that wish list.

Others need a little time.

Santa may read a story with them. He has his special Nice List written in a language that, cleverly, only Santa can read. He has a beautiful wooden reindeer staff with a button children can push to make Rudolph’s nose glow. Sometimes he’ll let a child try on his enormous Santa coat.

I photograph all of it.

I’ll direct things when I need to, but mostly I’m watching. I’m looking for the expressions and interactions happening between the “picture” everyone thinks we’re there to get.

Because those are so often the images that matter.

And not every child will do every activity. That’s intentional. This isn’t an assembly line where every child has to hit the same marks.

We’re on their time.

What Makes Our Old Town Tustin Santa Experience Different?

When I say I think I have the best Santa in Orange County, I mean it.

He is the REAL Santa.

His suit and accessories have been collected from all over the world, and he is meticulous about every detail.

But that’s not what makes him so extraordinary.

In real life, our Santa is a special education teacher.

And I cannot overstate what a difference that makes.

He has an incredible abundance of patience, humor and kindness. I’ve watched autistic children come into my studio and recognize almost immediately that there is something about him they can trust.

He doesn’t rush children. He engages with them. He listens to them. He remembers that the point isn’t simply to get them to look at my camera.

I want children to feel seen and heard by Santa.

Before their session, they’ll even receive a letter from Santa in the mail. Then, when they arrive at the studio, Santa already knows their name and is ready to see them.

And yes, he has the BEST Santa laugh.

Children tell him what they want for Christmas. They read with him. They investigate his toys. They tell him stories. And before they leave, Santa gives them a special keepsake gift that changes every year. We’ve had North Pole coins and special bells in past years, and I love hearing that children still treasure them long after Christmas is over.

Parents tell me their children talk about our Santa throughout the year. They remember what he told them. They remember the things they did together.

One mom who drives her twins down from Los Angeles every year said it perfectly:

“It’s so much more than just getting a picture with Santa.”

That’s exactly what I want it to be.

If you’re wondering what I mean when I call this a Santa Experience instead of simply Santa photos, I explain what a Santa Experience is and how it works in much more detail here.

What Does a Santa Session at Jennifer Imus Photography Look Like?

The Old Town Tustin Santa Experience takes place in my photography studio in the heart of Old Town Tustin, California.

Families should plan to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Weather permitting, you’ll wait just outside the studio, where the kids can have a snack and color holiday pictures while you wait for your private time with Santa.

When it’s your turn, we’ll come get you.

And then you’re in.

The studio is filled with holiday lights and Christmas details, and Santa will be there waiting for your children.

They can run right up to him or take their time.

The Classic Santa Experience

Our Classic Santa Experience includes a private 10-minute visit with Santa, five beautifully edited digital images, a personalized letter from Santa mailed before the session, and a special gift from Santa.

Additional images can be purchased after the session, or families who know they’ll want every image can choose our Deluxe Experience, which includes the complete gallery (at a pre-booking discount).

Parents can absolutely get into the pictures too. In fact, I encourage it.

And yes, pets are welcome too! They’re part of the family, and I love when they get to be part of the Santa magic.

Our Classic & Deluxe Santa Experiences are designed for immediate families. Up to two additional family members may be added for a fee, although for larger extended families I strongly recommend booking back-to-back sessions so everyone has enough time.

The Santa Legacy Experience

For families who want something longer and even more personalized, I offer just two Santa Legacy Experiences each year.

These are 20-minute private visits that include the full gallery of 20+ images, a highlight video, milk and cookies with Santa, a fine art print, priority editing and additional opportunities to personalize your family’s time with Santa.

Galleries are delivered approximately three weeks after the event, giving families time to order Christmas cards, gifts and prints.

Make the Most of Your Christmas Mini Session This Year

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from all of this, it’s that you don’t need a perfectly behaved child to have beautiful Santa photos.

Choose a time that works for your child.

Dress everyone in something that makes them feel good.

Show up rested and fed.

Then let go a little.

Let your child be suspicious.

Let them be excited.

Let them talk Santa’s ear off.

Let them stay close to you until they’re ready.

And yes, let them cry.

Because the goal isn’t to manufacture a perfect Christmas moment.

It’s to remember this one.

My own children are grown now, and Christmas has changed. That’s part of life. But I know how much I would treasure the chance to step back into those Christmases when they were little for just a few minutes.

I can’t do that.

But every year, I get to preserve a little bit of that time for someone else.

And that’s why these sessions mean so much to me.

2026 Old Town Tustin Santa Experience

Our Santa Experience sells out each year, and families return year after year. Some even drive from Los Angeles to continue their tradition with us.

If you’re still comparing your options, I’ve also put together a guide on how to choose the right Santa photographer in Orange County and what I think actually matters when you’re deciding who to trust with these memories.

Past Santa Legacy families receive first access to 2026 reservations on September 10, followed by current Jennifer Imus Photography clients on September 11.

Public booking opens September 15.

Classic Santa Experiences begin at $350 + tax.

I can’t wait to see who runs straight into Santa’s arms this year…and who decides to keep a safe distance and investigate him from across the room.

Both are welcome here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Mini Sessions

How long is a Christmas mini session?

Our Classic and Deluxe Santa Experiences are 10-minute private sessions. Families who want more time can choose one of our two 20-minute Santa Legacy Experiences.

How many photos do I get from a Christmas mini session?

The Classic Santa Experience includes five beautifully edited digital images. Additional images can be purchased individually, or you can upgrade to the complete gallery. Our Deluxe and Legacy Experiences include the full gallery.

What should I wear to a Christmas mini session?

Wear something festive that your family feels comfortable in. I send families a wardrobe guide once the year’s Santa set is complete, with suggestions designed specifically for that set. Holiday colors, dressy outfits and Christmas pajamas can all photograph beautifully.

When do I get my photos from a Christmas mini session?

Classic and Deluxe galleries are delivered approximately three weeks after your Santa session. Santa Legacy clients receive priority editing.

Can I bring my whole family to a Christmas mini session?

Santa reservations are designed for immediate families. Up to two additional people can be added for $125. For larger extended families, I recommend reserving back-to-back sessions so everyone has enough time with Santa.

What’s the difference between a mini session and a full session?

A Christmas mini session is intentionally short and focused, making it perfect for capturing a specific holiday experience. A full portrait session allows significantly more time for variety, styling, locations and a broader collection of family images.

Make a Day of Your Santa Session in Old Town Tustin

If you’re coming from outside the area for your Santa session, make a little day of it! Old Town Tustin has some of my favorite places to eat, and several are right around the corner from my studio.

My go-to is American Grub on El Camino Real. They have some of the best burgers and sandwiches, and it’s an easy stop before or after your session.

If you have a little more time, I love Storico for what I think is some of the best pasta in Orange County. Right next door is their sister restaurant, Centro, which has amazing pizza.

Coming in for a morning Santa session? El Camino Cafe and Cream Pan are two of our favorite breakfast spots.

And one little photographer tip before you head over: if you have a child who gets hangry, definitely make the food stop before Santa. 😂 A well-fed kid and a little Christmas magic are a very good combination.