How to get the perfect Santa photo this Christmas

Capturing a great Santa photo with kids is usually a perilous task. Here are the six steps you need to take to avoid a merry Christmas meltdown.

An upset Jack Gordon, 1, sits on Santa's knee. Picture: Claudia Baxter

Christmas Day is fast approaching, and parents everywhere are frantically arranging times to snap that annual Santa photo to send to the grandparents and of course, post on Instagram.

But while this calendar date tends to be a must on the Christmas to-do list, it should be met with caution.

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Quite frankly, getting a good photo of kids at any time is no easy task, let alone while making them sit on a dressed-up stranger’s knee.

So last year’s photo was a traumatic event for everyone involved, and resulted in a less-than- ideal family keepsake. I’m also pretty certain Santa may have hung up his boots.

So here is your ultimate guide to getting the perfect Santa photo. Maybe.

Beau, 14 months, and Teddy, 3, sit with Santa for the annual Christmas photo.

THE OUTFIT

First, when planning the annual Santa photo you must decide what your children will wear on the day. This is not a case of just popping them in “nice, not daycare” clean shorts and a tee. This is a full-blown, scour the shops to buy a ridiculously over the top ensemble that you will justify because they will wear it on Christmas Day (never mind the other outfit you already brought them to wear for the actual day).

Christmas pics or it didn’t happen.

LOCATION

Location, location, location. Mums and dads need to suss out where Santa photos are happening. Once you’ve found the list of Santa’s shopping centre visits you must first do a walk-by. You need to keep an eye out for a non-creepy Father Christmas and an appropriate backdrop. I’ll be dammed if the colours don’t suit my theme.

Why you should take naptime into consideration when booking the Santa pic.

BOOKING A TIME

This would have to be one of the most crucial elements to success with your Santa pic. Timing is everything. So first, you need to work around nap times, because no one wants a cranky toddler at the best of times let alone when they’re required to put on a smile, sit on a Santa’s knee and hold still for the shot. Secondly, you need time to pre-feed your kid, because ain’t nobody got time or money for a back up outfit.

What you can only hope for, a Christmas miracle — both kids smiling and everyone’s eyes open.

THE LEAD-UP

Once you have locked in the outfit, and secured a time and location, you now must discuss the process with your child. Where you’re going, what will happen, what will be asked and how you can respond, why it’s going to be so much fun, how they are so super lucky to get to meet Santa in person etc etc. This is a vital step. You’re preparing them for what’s about to unfold.

BRIBERY AT ITS BEST

And as any good parent would know, nothing, ever, goes to plan. So it pays to pop in an added bonus of a special treat, or toy, or activity — just as an extra measure — you know — to ensure your kid understands exactly what’s riding on this.

‘Remember baby, if you sit still and do a big smile you get a marshmallow’, usually works a treat.

Merry Christmas family — the best of the bunch more often than not.

THE RESULT

Look, you have a 50/50 chance of success at best. Sometimes you get lucky and your kid plays ball, doesn’t crack it, smiles and genuinely appears to have had a solid convo with the big man in red, leaving confident he will get the full PJ Masks set complete with bad guys. But it’s more likely the photo you will be sending out will be either one of a cherry Santa complete with a tantrum-throwing child, or good old mum and dad are in the pic with a puffy-eyed red faced child who’s scared for life. Either way, good luck — and may you at least have a laugh if it all goes to custard.

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