If you have a toddler, you do not need anyone to tell you that they are utterly unpredictable.  Below, I’ve outlined a very typical scenario of a three-year-old in the studio.  It is crazy how often this same experience unfolds during a Santa Experience Portrait Session.  If you don’t know about these unique and private photos sessions with Santa, you can read more here on the Santa Experience page.

So, follow along with me as I outline the path many toddlers take when meeting Santa at the studio…

This is a story of the process of becoming comfortable with Santa.  As with many toddlers, she went through a transformation.  We started the session with just the kids in the Santa set.  She loved Santa while she was talking about him to her brother.  They read about Santa in the book and she was excited at that time.  So, the CONCEPT of Santa was agreeable to her.

Well, the minute she saw Santa for real, she was immediately unsure about the big guy in red.  This is actually pretty common.  It took her a blink of an eye to scoot from one side of the chair to the far side – as far away as she could scoot.

Thankfully, Santa is an expert and knows how to keep a little distance for a little while.  The activities and games we play usually help remove those uneasy feelings.

Santa is an expert with the kiddos.  He knows how to interact with the kids, keeping a little distance as the child gets used to him.  Eventually, the kids begin interacting and enjoying the activities.  Santa plays games with the kids, has a snack of cookies, and decorates the tree with the kids, they check the nice list, and sometimes he even gives the kids a gift!  By the end, even the most skeptical toddler transforms from unsure to a true Santa fan!

Little kids are fascinating, aren’t they?  I started my adult life teaching elementary and then preschool children.  I can promise you, that I rarely get flustered with the kids in the studio.  (These are YOUR kids I’m talking about… my own kids knew how to push my buttons!)

I do understand that these little ones need to go through a process and I’m happy to help them through the stages as they experience Santa in the portrait studio.

Let’s create some beautiful heirloom holiday images together!

Karen Thaemert

Your favorite photographer for Santa Storybook Portraits