How Santa photos will be different in Victoria this year
Victorians face a very different Santa photography experience this year, with major retailers revealing what children can expect and whether they’ll be able to sit on Saint Nick’s knee.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Children will get their temperature checked and seating sanitised between guests this Christmas while posing for pictures with Santa.
In Victoria this year Santa, and anyone aged 12 or over who wants a photo, will also be required to wear a mask in line with current government guidelines.
Social distancing elves will be making sure people are safe and sitting on Santa’s knee will also be banned.
Major retailers and shopping centres are busy planning for Christmas events, which will look very different as COVID-19 health and hygiene guidelines remain in place.
Some parents have also opted for virtual Santa experiences, with one provider recording an explosion in bookings.
A David Jones spokesperson said Santa would still be meeting kids in store but just a 1.5 metres safe distance at their Magic Caves installations, and virtually via the store’s North Pole Hotline.
“All Christmas photography at David Jones will be socially distanced with the use of props and backdrops, and managed in line with current government health and safety advice with the onsite assistance of our Social Distancing Elves,” a spokesperson said.
Friends Matthew Nader and siblings Zoe and Jacob Hipolito got the chance to meet Santa at David Jones and test out the new social-distanced set-up.
“This year has been so traumatic and the thought of not seeing Santa would have been really hard on kids who look forward to it every year,” Matthew’s mother Antoinette Nader said.
“This year more than ever our children need to believe in the magic of Christmas and have something joyful to look forward to,” she said.
Westfield shopping centres, which saw more than 150,000 excited Christmas lovers line up for a Santa photo last year, are also implementing a socially distanced photo experience.
Like DJs, portrait photos will move to a landscape setting to factor in the longer set.
“Physical distancing is an important part of our daily lives at the moment, so we’ve reimagined some of our much-loved Christmas experiences, including Santa photography and more, to ensure we are bringing to life the festive spirit our customers expect of us while prioritising the health and safety of our customers, our retail partners and our employees,” said Lillian Fadel, Group General Manager Centre Experience.
“We are focused on remaining agile to deliver a COVID-safe, festive and enjoyable experience for our customers.”
Christmas Memories, which provides Santa photography services at suburban shopping across Victoria, said under its COVID-safe plan, families must book ahead for their Santa photo.
Kym Aldred, company director, said children may be temperature checked before sitting on a stool, which would be sanitised between each guest 1.5m away from Santa.
Props such as hats and headbands would not be provided, but children were welcome to bring their own.
Santa will also be changing his gloves regularly.
“We’re looking at strategies and techniques to make Santa’s face mask more discreet,” Ms Aldred said. “If he has a fake beard, it will be under his beard, not over his beard.”
Originally published as How Santa photos will be different in Victoria this year