“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” It’s such a simple phrase, but one that I really missed last Christmas. We moved to Amsterdam at the end of October, and I wanted to host Santa Sessions, but didn’t have time to prepare. So many moms were asking for photos with Santa, as Amsterdam is an international city but the Dutch really only celebrate with Sinterklaas and Pete.
Well, this year, Santa Claus is coming to town! You can go ahead and reserve your Santa session with me by filing out my inquiry form on my website. I will be taking sessions up to December 23rd, but if you want to use your images with Santa for your Christmas card, I recommend scheduling your photoshoot in November or early December.
How to Prepare Your Child to Meet Santa Claus
You know your child best, but I have found that the more I prepare my kids for something new, the better it goes. I show them what they’re going to wear, and we talk about what they’re going to do. If they’re old enough, they can also bring a letter for Santa.
I would say something like, “We’re going over to my friend Sim’s house and she knows Santa Claus, so he will be at her house as well. Would you like to meet him? What are you going to say to Santa?”
I find the images that parents treasure most aren’t of everybody smiling and looking at the camera. Your child will probably first see Santa Claus and just stare at him for a minute. Don’t intervene and try to point them towards the camera. We have plenty of time to get everything. Most photographers doing Santa Sessions schedule them every five minutes, but I want to make sure that your child has enough time to warm up to Santa and really get comfortable.
What to Wear for Your Amsterdam Santa Session?
I always have a simple set up for my photoshoots and Santa Photoshoots are no different, because I want the focus to be on you and your family. While I do offer Christmas sessions in the heart of Amsterdam, Santa sessions are usually done in the studio, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing outerwear for your photos. Chose colors and patters that are calm, and feel free to bring along a pair of Christmas-themed pajamas to change into. I personally help you pick out your outfits and I send out a PDF style guide upon booking to get your started.
This is Amsterdam, so I suggest packing your clothes and changing into them once you arrive at the studio.
What If My Child Is Scared of Santa?
If your child is nervous around strangers (hey, those are some good instincts!), then I am not going to push them to sit with Santa. I purposefully schedule mini sessions to last 20-30 minutes so your child has enough time to warm up to Santa and still take photos. If your child never warms up to Santa, I suggest that we just get some images of them with the Christmas backdrop. I also have a wooden train that they can play with while Santa sits in the background.
How Many Photos Do I Receive from my Santa Session?
For a mini session, you can expect to receive 10 images, but you will have at least 20 images to choose your 10 from. Truthfully, I usually give back around 90 or so images and let the family pick our their absolute favorites. Sometimes they just can’t decide and want the full gallery!
Turn Around Time for Santa Photos
You can expect to get your images back in 4-6 business days in November. While Christmas is our busy season in Amsterdam, I may be able to get them out sooner, but I like to formally list a longer time period. If you are leaving Amsterdam for Christmas but still want photos with Santa, please reach out earlier rather than later!
What If I Don’t Put My Child on Social Media
I don’t post my children on my photography account either, because they didn’t sign up to be models when I started a business. Your child’s internet safety is my number one priority. I don’t list their names or post about their birthdays (this is Private Identifying Information). I am also happy to take some images where their faces aren’t looking at the camera so you can still have something to share.
Booking your Santa Session
To book your session with Santa, you can either fill out my inquiry form on my website, or email me directly at simsawyersphotography.com.
COMMENTS