2026 Dallas Santa Mini Sessions in Southlake, TX
Celebrate the magic of Christmas with our 2026 Dallas Santa Mini Sessions at Peppermint Studio in Southlake, Texas. Designed for families throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, these private Santa photo sessions give children time to talk, laugh, share their Christmas wishes, and create genuine memories with our wonderful Santa — without the lines and rush of a traditional mall Santa experience.
Santa Mini Sessions are one of our most-loved holiday traditions each year, and many families return season after season. From big hugs and belly laughs to quiet conversations and even a few classic Santa tears, we focus on capturing the real magic of childhood at Christmas.
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! 🎅🏻✨
Book Your 2026 Santa Mini Session Here!
2026 Santa Mini Session Details
Dates: Sunday, October 18 & Saturday, October 24, 2026
Location: Peppermint Studio, 631 E Southlake Blvd, Suite C, Southlake, TX 76092
Session Length: Approximately 10 minutes
Investment: $250
Includes: 5 professionally edited high-resolution digital images
Full Gallery Upgrade: Pre-purchase for $50 or purchase after the session for $100, typically including 10–20 edited images
Gallery Delivery: Approximately 3 weeks
A Private Santa Experience Without the Mall Crowds
Santa photos should feel like more than a quick picture and a rushed goodbye.
Our private Santa Mini Sessions are designed to give children a few magical minutes to truly interact with Santa. They can share their Christmas wish list, tell him a story, read a book together, give him a hug, or simply take a little time to warm up.
Instead of focusing only on perfectly posed portraits, I also photograph the little moments in between — the smiles, conversations, curious expressions, laughter, and sweet connections that happen naturally.
These are often the photographs families treasure most: not simply a picture with Santa, but a little piece of childhood Christmas preserved forever.
❤️🎅🏻 Meet Our Santa 🎅🏻❤️
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! 🎅✨
Santa Photos Ready in Time for Christmas Cards
One reason we schedule our Santa Mini Sessions in October is to give families plenty of time to enjoy their photographs throughout the holiday season. I love the idea that your Santa portraits can become more than social media photos — they can arrive in grandparents' mailboxes, hang on your walls, and become part of your family's Christmas memories for years to come.
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 Christmas cards early and have everything ready before the busy holiday season begins.
Personally, I highly recommend Mpix for holiday cards. They typically offer 50% off holiday cards during Thanksgiving week, so I like to create and save my card design ahead of time, then simply place the order when the holiday promotion begins. Easy and stress-free!
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 pairs beautifully with classic holiday outfits in Christmas red, burgundy, cream, white, camel, warm brown, and other festive tones.
Velvet dresses, sweaters, cable knits, corduroy, and classic Christmas plaid all photograph beautifully. For families and siblings, coordinate colors and textures rather than wearing identical outfits.
Christmas pajamas are also welcome if you prefer a more casual look. If wearing pajamas, children may go barefoot. For regular outfits, we recommend wearing festive or neutral shoes that coordinate with your clothing. Please avoid colorful sneakers or athletic shoes.
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 About Dallas Santa Mini Sessions
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The $250 Santa Mini Session includes approximately 10 minutes with Santa and 5 professionally edited high-resolution digital images.
You may pre-purchase the full gallery for an additional $50, typically including 10–20 edited images. If you prefer to decide after viewing your included images, the full gallery may be upgraded afterward for $100.
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Santa Mini Sessions are approximately 10 minutes, which is usually plenty of time to capture a wonderful variety of portraits and interactions.
We keep the session moving naturally with conversations, hugs, sibling moments, wish lists, and family portraits while children are still engaged and excited. A quicker pace often works especially well for young children.
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Absolutely! Immediate siblings may share one Santa Mini Session. We will photograph them together and capture different interactions with Santa as time allows.
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Yes! Parents are welcome to join in a few photographs. Family interaction can also be especially helpful for younger children who may need a little extra reassurance when meeting 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 and up to two grandparents. 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.
If cousins or multiple immediate families would like to participate together, please reserve consecutive sessions so we have enough time for everyone.
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Because Santa Mini Sessions are specifically designed around the Santa experience, we typically do not set aside separate time for family portraits without Santa.
For babies who may cry or young children who are still unsure or afraid of Santa, I may photograph a few family portraits without Santa when appropriate. This gives us additional options while allowing your child time to feel comfortable.
If you have a specific request for family portraits without Santa, please let me know in advance by adding a note when booking, or mention it to me at the beginning of your session so I can plan our limited time accordingly.
For families looking for a larger variety of traditional holiday portraits without Santa, I recommend our separate Christmas Mini Sessions.
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Please don't worry — this is completely normal, especially for babies and toddlers.
We never force children to interact with Santa. We can begin with a parent nearby, let your child observe Santa from a comfortable distance, or simply photograph their natural reaction. Happy, shy, curious, serious, or crying — they are all authentic parts of childhood and often become some of the sweetest Christmas memories.
For more tips on helping young children feel comfortable before their visit, see our Santa Mini Session Preparation Guide. -
Yes — absolutely! A Christmas wish list or letter gives children something special to share with Santa and often creates wonderful natural conversations and candid photographs.
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If your children are dressed and ready to photograph, you are welcome to wait in your car and come inside about 2 minutes before your scheduled session. Once you enter the studio, please wait in the waiting area immediately to your right until your session begins.
If your child needs a little extra time to warm up, use the restroom, change clothes, or become familiar with the studio, please arrive about 10-15 minutes early. You are welcome to wait in our indoor waiting room until your session begins.
To help each family enjoy an uninterrupted Santa experience, we kindly ask arriving families to remain in the designated waiting area rather than entering the shooting area while another session is in progress.
Because Santa Mini Sessions are scheduled back-to-back, please make sure everyone is fully dressed and ready to photograph by your scheduled start time.
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To keep the session focused and allow children to interact naturally with Santa, phone photography is not allowed during the session. Additional cameras can easily distract children, draw their attention away from Santa, and interfere with the photography experience.
That said, we know how special these Santa moments are! ❤️ As long as it does not interrupt the session, you are welcome to quickly capture a 10–20 second video clip on your phone. Please keep it brief and allow the photographer to take the lead so your little ones can stay focused on Santa and enjoy the magic.
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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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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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If your child is sick, please contact me as soon as possible. If another Santa Mini time is available, I will do my best to accommodate a reschedule.
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!
Santa Mini Sessions Through the Years
Santa Mini Sessions have become a favorite holiday tradition at July Angel Photography, with many families returning year after year. While our Christmas sets change from season to season, the heart of these sessions remains the same - genuine interactions, childhood wonder, and magical memories with Santa.
You are welcome to take a look back at some of our favorite Santa Mini Sessions from previous years:
2022 Santa Mini Sessions
Santa’s Living Room
2023 Santa Mini Sessions
Santa’s Vintage Christmas Kitchen
2024 Santa Mini Sessions
Christmas Magic at Peppermint Studio
2025 Santa Mini Sessions
Santa’s Post Office in the Snow
Book Your 2026 Dallas Santa Mini Session
Create a little Christmas magic your family will remember for years to come. Our 2026 Santa Mini Sessions in Southlake, Texas are designed to capture more than a traditional Santa portrait — from wish lists and big hugs to laughter, shy smiles, and all the sweet little moments in between.
Families join us from throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, including Southlake, Colleyville, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Westlake, Carrollton, Fort Worth, Dallas, and surrounding communities.