- 10-minute Santa experience and photography session
- November 7–8, 2026
- Sessions from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Online gallery with 10 included photographs
- Option to purchase holiday photo gifts
- Detailed Santa Mini Session planning guide
- Optional styling consultation with Christine
what’s included
Santa Minis take place at the Mt. Ida Inn in Ellicott City, Maryland, in early November. Each 10-minute session is designed around the children, giving them time to settle in, meet Santa, share their wish lists, and take photographs together. Parents are welcome to join for a family portrait at the end.
Your gallery includes 10 photographs, with the option to order holiday photo gifts for grandparents, your home, and everyone else on the nice list.
SANTA
MINI SESSION
everything you need to know about your
$500
Think: the whole family with Santa or a few final children-first portraits.
Parents are welcome to step in for a final family portrait with Santa. Prefer to keep the session focused on the children? We’ll use those last minutes for a few more photographs of them together.
PARENTS,
YOU’RE UP
MINUTES 8–10
Think: first reactions, conversations, wish lists, individual time, and siblings with Santa.
Santa makes his entrance and gives the children time to react and get acquainted. He’ll spend time with each child, listen to their wish lists, and then gather everyone for photographs together.
SANTA
ARRIVES
MINUTES 3–8
Think: baby alone, hands and feet, expressions, swaddled and gently posed portraits
We’ll begin by photographing the children before Santa arrives. This gives them time to explore the set, get comfortable with me, and create classic Christmas portraits both individually and together.
JUST THE
CHILDREN
MINUTES 0–3
Santa Minis move quickly, but never chaotically. Each part of your 10-minute session is designed to help your children settle in, enjoy their time with Santa, and leave you with a varied gallery of polished portraits and genuine interactions.
HOW YOUR SESSION UNFOLDS
TEN MINUTES
thoughtfully PLANNED
Locations
Sunday Nov 8
Meet Santa Jeff on
Santa Jeff
Saturday Nov 7
Meet Santa Dennis on
Santa Dennis
Choose your Santa
A santa for all
NOVEMBER 7–8 · MT. IDA INN · ELLICOTT CITY, MARYLAND
$500
Choose your date and time, complete your booking online, and your family will be officially added to Santa’s calendar.
Book your mini
Ready for Santa?
- 10-minute Santa experience and photography session
- 10 included finished photographs
- Private online gallery delivered within two weeks
- Santa Mini Session planning guide
- Optional styling consultation
- Option to purchase holiday photo gifts
Yes. Your gallery will include the option to order holiday photo gifts for grandparents, your home, and everyone else on your list.
Will holiday photo gifts be available?
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Follow the signs to the holding room so each family has private time with Santa (you can dress children in this room, just leave time for them to settle). Sessions run consecutively, so arriving late will shorten your time with Santa and the session cannot be extended.
How early should we arrive?
You’ll receive a Santa Mini Session planning guide and access to my curated Pinterest board. I’m also happy to provide an optional styling consultation if you’d like a second opinion on your outfits.
What should we wear?
Yes. The final two minutes are reserved for parents who would like to join their children for a family portrait with Santa , although the session is primarily designed around the children and their experience with Santa.
Can parents be in the photographs?
The first three minutes take place before Santa enters, giving your child time to settle in. Once he arrives, we’ll follow your child’s lead. No one will be required to sit on Santa’s lap or forced into a particular pose. Toddler parents should be prepared to join the photo to help toddlers feel comfortable with Santa.
What if my child is nervous around Santa?
Santa Minis are designed for infants and children from a singular, immediate family. Each child will have time with Santa individually, followed by photographs of all the children together.
Who can book a Santa Mini Session?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Turn this year’s Santa portraits into gifts for grandparents, your home, and a few especially nice people on your list.
You can pre-order photo gifts when you book, then select the photographs once your gallery arrives. Samples will also be available to view at your Mini Session, so you can see each piece in person before deciding. Once your gallery is delivered, you’ll have another opportunity to order additional gifts and prints directly through the gallery store.
TURN THEIR PORTRAITS
INTO PRESENTS.
Santa isn’t the only great gift giver
PRE-ORDER AT BOOKING · VIEW SAMPLES AT YOUR SESSION · ORDER MORE FROM YOUR GALLERY
I photograph families with a blend of refined portraiture and honest, documentary moments, stepping in with thoughtful direction when it helps and leaving room for personalities and relationships to unfold naturally.
As a mother myself, I know meeting Santa can bring big excitement, sudden shyness, or both within the same minute. I work quickly, read personalities, and adjust as we go, whether that means giving an eager child room to chatter, helping a cautious one warm up, or recognizing when we already have the photograph. Your child never needs to perform for the camera for me to create something meaningful.
MARYLAND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER | EDITORIAL PORTRAITURE & DOCUMENTARY MOMENTS
meet Christine
Mini Session dates are released to my email list first, giving you early access to booking before they’re announced publicly. For limited seasonal windows like cherry blossoms, lavender, and Christmas, that means first choice of dates and the most sought-after session times.
JOIN THE MINI SESSION VIP LIST
See you next season.
