Where to get your ever popular shopping centre Santa photos in Melbourne

Santa Claus is coming to town and there are plenty of places to get your photo taken with him. And if all doesn’t go well? We’re collating the worst St Nick photo fails too.

It’s that time of year, when families haul themselves into the car on a trip to the local shopping centre for their annual Santa photo.

With Christmas just a week away, Christmas Memories headquarters elf Sophie Fatrouni said it wasn’t too late to get a picture with the big man himself.

Her top tips involve booking early and heading in on a weekday if possible.

“Weekends are really busy,” she said.

“The earlier you go, the better. It’s the best time to have more uninterrupted time with Santa.”

For many, Santa photos have been a tradition for years and Ms Fatrouni said those who kept coming back tended to want to stick with the same Saint Nick.

“A lot of our customers say they’ve been doing it for seven, eight years,” she said.

“Most of our Santas move around between stores but many customers get to know their Santa and so they move with the store.

“Mainly it’s the Santa that they love.”

But how can Santa be at so many places at the same time?

“Santa can do amazing things,” Ms Fatrouni said.

“You just can’t question the magic.”

We’re also looking for the best Santa photo fails. Picture: Supplied

Over the past few years, there’s also been a growing trend to include pets in the annual photo.

While not all pets are always allowed — Ms Fatrouni said they’d had requests to bring in chickens and other farm and wild animals — dogs tended to love Santa.

“Pets are part of the family as well,” she said.

“Maybe it’s just them with the kids and the pets, or maybe the pets are the kids. Including them in the photos is a nice way to do it.”

Southgate’s Santa, from Direct Image, will be near the food court each weekday between 1pm and 4pm this week.

He said there were lots of ways to get kids involved in photos.

Particularly when there’s a younger child who is visiting the big man in red for the first time, he said it was important to get older siblings and parents involved.

Children even get to ring the bell sometimes, Santa said.

And it’s not too late for little boys and girls to make it onto Santa’s nice list.

“I always ask them, even though Santa already knows (who has been bad and good),” he said.

But there’s always Santa’s “in-between list”, he said.

Crown Melbourne’s Santa encouraged kids to think about the presents they wanted ahead of meeting him. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Meanwhile, Crown Melbourne’s Santa encouraged kids to think about what they want for Christmas ahead of time.

“For those coming down to meet me this year, make sure you have thought about what you want Santa to bring you this Christmas so I can note it down on my list, so I don’t forget,” he said.

“My elves here at Crown Melbourne will help you get the perfect Christmas photo – it’s all about trying a variety of poses, making sure everyone is smiling and having a joyful experience.”

If your child refuses to smile for the annual shopping centre Santa photo, you’re not alone.

From frowns to tears to screaming and bawling, kids have been rebelling against the forced Santa pictures since their inception.

Some tips for getting good pics involve arriving early and breaking the ice.

But if this doesn’t work, the photos could still be fantastic.

We’re looking for the funniest Santa fails from Herald Sun readers.

If you think you can top these photos with your own Santa tragedies, send them to the Herald Sun.