santa minis 2024
I am so excited to be offering my third annual Santa Mini Sessions!
This has been a dream of mine for years and I am overjoyed to seeing it come to fruition. I look forward to documenting this magical time of year with your littles & will focus on capturing authentic moments & interactions.I will do everything I can to provide you with a unique experience from start to finish.
Please be sure to read through this welcome guide thoroughly & contact me with any questions that arise!
studio address:
Social Butterfly Studio & Events
7177 Nolensville Road
Unit 5B
Nolensville, TN 37135
what to expect
Here’s what you can expect from your Santa mini session with me.
plan to arrive early : mini sessions go QUICK! They are booked back-to-back without wiggle room in between. When you arrive early we can start our session according to schedule and maximize the time we have together! Santa Sessions are designed to give kids a few private moments to have their special experience with Santa. Of course I’ll try and get a shot of your little(s) looking at me, but I also want to capture moments of them telling Santa their Christmas wishes.
calm & collected : please do not worry if you child seems less than happy; many kids have a little Santa fear, particularly after they turn 1. If they need us to, we can have Santa step away and have him come stand behind them. (My oldest was crying in some of our Santa photos his second year, we of course don’t want to upset him, but the memory is still something we cherish & he’ll be able to see later on!)
come with tools in your pocket : does your little one like when you sing certain songs? Do they laugh if you fake sneeze? (Yes, you read that right… mine find it particularly hilarious!). True story, first year we did Santa ours was loving “I’m a little teapot” so that’s what we sang standing behind the photographer & it warranted the biggest smiles!
your proof gallery : within 2-3 weeks of your session you will receive your digital gallery for viewing & selecting your favorite images. Mini sessions include 8 images from a proof gallery; however, you are always welcome to purchase additional images!
how to prepare
pack a bag of essentials : wipes, a toy that makes noise if that tends to make them smile or interact, possibly a snack for following our session. (I normally would encourage snacks in between but these Santa sessions will go so fast with only 10 minutes & I have no choice but to stay on time to be fair to all of the families!). If you think a treat throughout is imperative for your little, mini marshmallows have been a go-to for me as they don’t leave residue on their hands/face/clothes & are eaten fairly quickly.
added guests : Santa mini sessions this year are for the whole family! Parents do not have to step in, but if you’d like one with or without Santa, just let me know and we will snap a quick one!
avoid ouchies : Try to avoid bumps, bruises, and scratches leading up to your session. I understand accidents happen, so if your little one gets hurt please don’t hesitate to reach out & we can talk it over beforehand.
drive time : be sure to allow plenty of time for the commute to the studio. Unfortunately if you are late it takes away from the session duration. Santa is booked for 2 hours and to be fair to all of the families that have booked, I will have to stay on schedule. If you have any questions about the directions to our location, feel free to shoot me an e-mail or give me a call & we’ll discuss!
preparing the littles : Getting your kiddos excited beforehand is so important! Assure them that Mrs. Kelli just wants to have fun while taking some photos—they may even hear me make a few funny noises, play peek-a-boo, or attempt to sing a song.
relax : Sometimes as parents we get frustrated when the littles don’t participate as we hope. It will happen that they may not want to sit/stand with their hands down & the perfect smile, and it is OK! I promise sometimes these are the best photos I capture because we are documenting your child exactly who they are at this stage. (& it’s much better than red noses & teary eyes… am I right?!)
what to wear
Here are a few wardrobe tips to consider when styling your Santa session:
basics : Truthfully with the nature of Santa sessions, I also think matching could be precious for this particular set-up. The background is very simple & timeless so that Santa and the littles would stand out. Formal Christmas wear, Christmas PJs, or flannel dresses/button downs I think would all look great for this one!
colors : Class background means that any of the typical Christmas colors should look beautiful this year! I think you could totally go Red/Green, Plaid, or go simple with neutrals that have texture.
barefoot : If your kiddos are doing Christmas PJs, barefoot may be the perfect option—I have no problem with bare feet!
stylish : Last tip, (I promise!). Dress a little extra special. I’m notorious for being in joggers & t-shirt in my day-to-day life. However, for your photo session, consider selecting an outfit for you and each family member that is just a little step up from what you all would wear during everyday life. Think about jewelry, shoes, and other accessories to help make your session special.
distractions: For Kids: Remove any temporary tattoos/stickers etc. that you may not want in their photos forever.
outfit changes: Unfortunately, the length of mini sessions just doesn’t allot for changing clothes.
sick policy
Here are a few sick policy reminders:
illness in the family : If you, your spouse, or any of your children have been sick the week of our session please reach out. As with any school policy, the child needs to be symptom free for at least 24hrs (without meds) to be able to participate in the mini session.
vulnerable populations : Due to having some young children (babies included), Santa, our sessions being indoors, and in respect to me, if someone arrives to their session sick, I will have to end the session and send you home. At this time, your retainer will be forfeited.
retainer : if you and your family are sick at the time of your mini session, the retainer is non-refundable but transferrable (less the Santa & studio fee unless able to fill the slot) for up to 1 year from our session. This means that your retainer fee would be good towards any future session through 11/4/2023. As a mom, I understand it happens and want to make sure you feel you have plenty of time to reschedule a session at a time that you will still be excited about.