Unwrap the Magic! 2026 DFW Santa Mini Sessions are Coming!
DFW SANTA MINI PHOTOGRAPHER SERVING FORT WORTH | SOUTHLAKE | GRAPEVINE | PLANO | RICHARDSON | DALLAS HIGHLAND PARK | AND SURROUNDING AREAS
Get ready for some holiday magic! I am thrilled to announce the details for our 2026 Santa Mini Sessions, one of the most beloved photo experiences of the year. We’ve once again invited the best Santa in town to create a joyful and authentic experience for your little ones.
Session Details:
Dates: Sunday, October 18th & Saturday, October 24th
Address: Peppermint Studio (631 E Southlake Blvd, Southlake, TX 76092)
Delivery: Your gorgeous, professionally edited gallery will be ready by mid-November, giving you plenty of time to create your Christmas cards.
❤️🎅🏻 Meet Our Santa in Dallas 🎅🏻❤️
One of the most special parts of our Santa Mini Sessions is, of course, Santa himself!
We have been incredibly lucky to work with the same wonderful Santa for many years, and he has truly become a beloved part of our Christmas tradition at July Angel Photography. Many families return year after year, and it is so sweet to watch their children grow while visiting the same familiar Santa each Christmas.
And he isn't just wonderful in photographs—he is truly amazing with children. He takes the time to talk with them, listen to their Christmas wishes, share a laugh, and let each little personality shine. Whether your child runs straight into Santa's arms or needs a little extra time to warm up, he is patient, gentle, and wonderful at making the experience feel natural and fun.
Over the years, we have captured everything from big hugs and belly laughs to quiet conversations, curious little looks, and even a few classic Santa tears. Those unscripted moments are often the ones parents treasure the most.
For us, Santa Minis have never been about simply sitting beside Santa and smiling at the camera. It's about capturing a little piece of childhood Christmas magic—the wonder, the excitement, and the memories your family will look back on years from now.
Take a look through some of our Santa memories from previous years below. You may even recognize a few familiar faces! 🎅✨
First Things First! A Tip for Your Holiday Cards:
For beautiful, high-quality holiday cards at a great price, I highly recommend Mpix. They typically offer 50% off holiday cards during Thanksgiving week, which makes it a great time to place your order!
You will usually receive your fully edited holiday photos within about 3 weeks after your session. Once your gallery is ready, you can start designing your cards using Mpix's beautiful templates, save your design, and simply check out when their Thanksgiving sale begins. Easy and stress-free!
Sample holiday card design - THE FRONT
Sample holiday card design - THE BACK
Santa Photos as Home Decor / Wall Art
Great family photos are more than just memories—they can also become a beautiful part of your home.
With its rich navy tones, warm Christmas reds, and timeless vintage details, this year’s Santa set looks especially beautiful as framed wall art. Whether displayed in a classic wood or gold frame for a warm, traditional look, or paired with a clean white mat and modern frame, these portraits can blend beautifully into your home decor.
Instead of keeping your favorite Christmas memories tucked away on your phone or computer, print and frame them! They can become a special piece you look forward to bringing out every holiday season—and a sweet reminder of how much your family has grown from year to year. ❤️
What to Wear for Your 2026 Southlake Santa Mini Session
This year’s set works beautifully with both casual everyday outfits and Christmas pajamas.
For a classic look, try cozy sweaters, knit dresses, plaid skirts, corduroy, or simple winter outfits in cream, red, burgundy, forest green, camel, brown, or navy.
For a more relaxed Christmas Eve feeling, Christmas pajamas are perfect. Red, plaid, cream, or coordinating sibling pajamas all photograph beautifully — and bare feet make the scene even cozier. The pajamas my dear clients purchased in the above image is from Petite Plume. A few of my clients ask, so I would love to share here.
One more note: Matching outfits are not necessary! I always love a thoughtfully mixed-and-matched look over everyone wearing the same thing. Coordinate your colors and styles, but let each child’s personality shine.
You are welcome to be creative with your outfit choices. I have tested all festive/Christmas colors and they all work wonderfully with this year’s setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely! Although our Santa Mini Sessions are primarily focused on children and their magical interactions with Santa, parents are always welcome to join in! We love capturing a beautiful mix of children with Santa, sibling portraits, and family photos with Santa. A family Christmas portrait often becomes one of the most treasured images from the session—and a perfect choice for holiday cards and Christmas decor.
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Of course! Siblings can be photographed together with Santa as well as on their own. We love capturing both the classic posed portraits and the sweet, candid interactions between siblings and Santa.
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Santa Mini Sessions are approximately 10 minutes, and yes—it is plenty of time! These sessions are intentionally designed to be fun, engaging, and fast-paced, which often works especially well for young children.
As an experienced children’s photographer, I work quickly and efficiently, moving naturally from one pose and interaction to the next while your children are still engaged and excited. Rather than spending too much time trying to perfect a single pose, we keep things moving—talking with Santa, sharing a laugh, reading a book, giving hugs, capturing sibling moments, and bringing parents in for a family portrait.
Children often give us their most genuine expressions during those first few minutes. A quicker pace helps keep the experience exciting and prevents little ones from becoming tired, bored, or overly aware of the camera.
You may be surprised by just how much we can capture in 10 minutes! ❤️
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Yes! This year’s Christmas set is beautiful on its own, so we are happy to capture a family photo without Santa when time allows. However, since Santa Mini Sessions are short, we recommend keeping the focus on the special interactions between your children and Santa. Too many similar family combinations can take valuable time away from those fun and candid Santa moments.
We usually prioritize a family photo without Santa when a baby or young child feels shy or afraid of Santa, so every family can still leave with a beautiful Christmas portrait. ❤️
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That is completely normal, especially for younger children! We never force a child to sit with Santa. If your little one feels unsure, we’ll usually start with a family photo without Santa so we have a beautiful, tear-free portrait first. Then Santa can quietly join from behind while your child stays safely with Mom and Dad.
From there, we’ll gently capture family photos and natural interactions as your child warms up. Hopefully, this gives us a sweet mix of happy, curious, and even a few classic crying-with-Santa moments - because sometimes those end up being the most memorable photos of all! ❤️
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If another time slot is still available, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help you reschedule whenever possible.
Because Santa Mini Sessions involve significant advance planning and costs - including Santa, studio rental, and the custom holiday setup - sessions are non-refundable if no alternate time slot is available. If you’re unable to attend, you are welcome to transfer your session to a friend or family member; just let us know their name and contact information.
Thank you for understanding! Keeping these policies in place allows us to continue creating this special Santa experience for all of our families each year. ❤️
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Please plan to arrive 10–15 minutes before your scheduled session. If you have younger children who need a little time to settle in, you are welcome to come inside and relax in our waiting room. A restroom is also available in the studio.
If everyone is already dressed and ready to go, we recommend waiting comfortably in your car and coming inside about one minute before your session. There are also a few chairs by the entrance for a quick wait.
Santa Mini Sessions are scheduled back-to-back, so unfortunately, late arrivals cannot be given extra time without affecting the families after you. Arriving prepared helps us make the most of every magical minute with Santa! ❤️
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Santa Mini Sessions are designed primarily for children and their special interactions with Santa. If you’d like to include grandparents, an Extended Family Add-On is available for $50. Please keep in mind that larger groups may leave less time for your children’s individual Santa experience, so you are always welcome to book two consecutive time slots if you’d like a more relaxed session.
For cousins or multiple families, please book separate time slots. We highly recommend booking consecutive slots so the families can still enjoy and capture some special moments together.
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Absolutely! A letter or wish list for Santa can create some of the sweetest and most natural interactions. Your child can show Santa their list, tell him what they’re wishing for, or simply hand him their special letter. We recommend keeping any personal props simple so we can spend as much time as possible capturing those magical moments.
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Phone photography and video recording are not allowed during the session, as additional cameras can easily distract children and interfere with the photography experience.
That said, we know how exciting these Santa moments are! ❤️ As long as it does not interrupt the session, we don’t mind if you quickly capture a 10–20 second video clip on your phone. Please keep it brief and let the photographer take the lead so your little ones can stay focused on Santa and enjoy the magic!
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Santa Mini Sessions are non-refundable and cannot be canceled, but we understand that children can get sick unexpectedly. Please contact us as soon as possible—we will always do our best to accommodate your family and move you to another available Santa Mini time slot.
If no Santa Mini slots remain, with a doctor’s note, your payment may be transferred as a credit toward one of our Christmas Mini Sessions instead. Since Santa meets many children throughout the day, we truly appreciate your help in keeping Santa and all of our families healthy! ❤️
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Your final edited gallery will typically be delivered within about 3 weeks after your session, giving you plenty of time to order Christmas cards, prints, and holiday gifts. We recommend planning your holiday cards early so everything is ready to go once your photos arrive!
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The base package includes 5 fully edited digital images. You’ll also have the option to pre-purchase the full gallery, which typically includes 10–20 carefully selected and professionally edited images.
Unlike our regular portrait sessions, there is no proof-selection process. The photographer will personally select and edit the best images from your session, including the strongest expressions, interactions, and family moments. This streamlined process works especially well for mini sessions, allowing us to provide a beautiful, consistent gallery with a faster and more efficient turnaround.
Not sure if you want the full gallery yet? No worries! You can wait until your final gallery is ready, view your images, and then decide whether you’d like to purchase additional images or upgrade to the full gallery.
FOR YOUR REFERENCE - BLOGS ABOUT PAST SESSIONS
Santa Mini Session 2022
Santa mini session is not just about photographs; it's about the memories we create together. So, embrace the laughter, the tears, and the unforgettable moments that come with it. We can't wait to share this enchanting journey with you once again.
Ready for Some Christmas Magic? 🎅✨
Santa Mini Sessions are limited and always fill up quickly, so grab your favorite time before Santa’s calendar gets full! We can’t wait to see your family and make some magical Christmas memories together! 🎅🏻✨