When I first ventured into photography, I never imagined my journey would begin with capturing the magic of Christmas. The pro assignment (if you can call it that) had me take over 4,500 pictures of children with the fuzzy Christmas icon, for short sessions over three weeks. It was brutal. The children were unpredictable; their parents were anxious and rushed. The experience taught me invaluable lessons, which later proved incredibly useful in my career.
Children under two were a delight to photograph. Easy. They were generally unfazed by the big, red, hairy giant. Their innocence and curiosity made for some of the most heartwarming photos. However, as children grew older, their reactions to Santa changed dramatically.
Between the ages of two and five, things changed. They found Santa intimidating. The sight of the stranger would overwhelm them. Once their fear surfaced, there was no going back. These sessions required quick thinking and photography. I had to be faster than the parents’ assuring words.
“Oh, he’ll be fine. He was absolutely calm with Santa last year.”
Nine times out of ten, he wasn’t fine, and last year was ten lifetimes ago. The shot was taken before the twisted face reached the surface. The screams and tears followed,
“Perhaps he’s tired. He never cried before.”
When children reached the age of six, their perspective changed again. The hairy monster was gone, and the provider of gifts arrived. The kids would sit and chat with Santa, eagerly sharing their hopes with him for Christmas morning. I had all the time in the world to capture these shots. Mothers often wanted several options.
As I mentioned, the knowledge I gained from doing Santa photos has been instrumental in my work later. Weddings are complex events with people of all ages, requiring special attention to capture the best possible pictures under changing, time-limited conditions. The ability to adapt to different personalities and emotions has been a key factor in my success.
While I am grateful for the lessons learned as a Santa photographer, I have no desire to return to it. My passion grew to capturing the love and joy of weddings.
To all the current Santa photographers, I wish you the best of luck. I empathise with you. May your holiday season be filled with smiles, appreciative parents, and a quick (but profitable) end to the season’s hustle.
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