Preparing for Your Santa Experience Visit
Choosing the right outfit plays an important role in creating timeless Christmas portraits that your family will treasure for years to come.
We recommend planning your child's outfit ahead of time so everything is ready for your magical visit with Santa.
For the most classic holiday look, we love:
- Cozy Christmas pajamas
- Rich greens
- Red and green plaids
- Green and white plaids
- Red and black buffalo plaid
- White or cream nightgowns for little girls
- Traditional holiday attire
We recommend avoiding clothing with large logos, characters, busy patterns, or wording, as these can distract from the timeless feel of your portraits.
While solid red pajamas are certainly festive, they can blend into Santa's suit and our red furnishings. We generally recommend greens, plaids, creams, or other classic holiday colors for the most beautiful results.
Studio Wardrobe Available
Don't have the perfect outfit? We've got you covered!
We offer a wonderful selection of children's Christmas pajamas and holiday clothing in a variety of sizes for our experience sessions.
You'll also find our charming Elf, Nutcracker, and Drummer Boy outfits available to help complete the magic of your visit.
Be sure to visit our Studio Wardrobe page to explore the clothing options available for your child's Santa experience.
🎁 Personalize Your Visit
One of the things that makes The Magical Santa Experience so special is the opportunity to make it uniquely your own.
You're welcome to bring along a favorite toy, cherished book, special blanket, family heirloom, or meaningful keepsake to incorporate into your child's portraits.
These personal touches often become some of the most treasured images from your session.
Every child will receive a special gift from Santa at the end of their visit. If you'd like to make the experience even more personal, you're welcome to bring a wrapped gift for Santa to secretly place in his magical red bag before your session begins. Just imagine the look of excitement on your child's face when Santa pulls out a gift with their name on it!
If you plan to bring your own gift, please let us know before your session so our elves can have it tucked safely into Santa's sack before your child's session.
🎄 The Day of Your Appointment
We can't wait to welcome your family to Santa's workshop! To help make your visit as smooth and enjoyable as possible, here are a few things to know before you arrive.
Arriving at the Studio
Please plan to arrive 5–10 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This gives your family plenty of time to settle in before your magical visit begins.
When you arrive, simply come inside and make yourselves comfortable in our lobby. Children can enjoy Christmas movies, coloring books, and a little holiday excitement while they wait for Santa to invite them into his workshop.
If you plan to borrow clothing from our studio wardrobe, please let us know when you arrive. Our changing area is stocked with our holiday wardrobe, making it easy to find the perfect outfit before your session begins.
During Your Visit
Because each Santa experience is scheduled individually, arriving on time helps ensure every family receives the full attention and experience they deserve. If you arrive late, we may not be able to extend your appointment or accommodate your session.
Occasionally, sessions may run a few minutes behind schedule, especially when little ones need extra time to warm up to Santa. Please know that we will never rush a child's experience just to stay on schedule. We've built extra time into our day whenever possible so every family can enjoy a relaxed and magical visit.
After your session, we kindly ask that you make your way out of the shooting area so we can prepare for the next family's adventure. You're welcome to relax in our lobby for a few minutes, enjoy a complimentary coffee, cookies, or a snack, and soak in the Christmas spirit before heading home.
Helping Us Capture the Magic
The most beautiful moments happen when children become completely immersed in their visit with Santa. To help us capture genuine conversations, natural expressions, and authentic interactions, we ask that parents relax, enjoy the experience, and remain quietly off to the side whenever possible.
If your child is feeling shy or needs a little extra reassurance, don't worry. Every child is different, and we'll happily adjust the experience to make them feel comfortable.
While we ask that cell phones remain put away during most of the session, you're welcome to capture a few short behind-the-scenes video clips. We simply ask that you avoid recording throughout the entire session, as it can distract children and take away from the magic of the moment.
If you share your videos on social media, we'd love for you to tag Cherished Moments Photography so others can experience a little of the Christmas magic too!
❤️ If Someone Isn't Feeling Well
The health and well-being of our Santa families, Santa John, and our staff are very important to us.
If your child or anyone in your household is experiencing symptoms of illness, such as a fever, cold, or flu, we kindly ask that you contact us to reschedule your appointment.
We'll schedule makeup dates later in the season whenever possible so your family can still enjoy The Magical Santa Experience.
If you're unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please let us know at least 2 hours before your session. Appointments that are missed without advance notice or are not rescheduled at least 2 hours prior to the session will be subject to a $99 no-show fee.
📷 After Your Session
The magic doesn't end when your visit with Santa is over! After your session, we'll carefully hand-edit each image to create the beautiful, timeless portraits Cherished Moments Photography is known for.
Your Online Gallery
Your gallery will be ready to view approximately 4 weeks after your session. While we always strive to deliver galleries sooner, each image is individually edited with great care to ensure the highest quality. Galleries are completed in the order sessions are photographed, so families with earlier session dates will receive their galleries first.
As soon as your gallery is ready, you'll receive an email with a private link to view your images and place your order.
Because every piece of our Signature Magical Artwork is individually handcrafted, your proof gallery will include a selection of images featuring these magical enhancements. This gives you a glimpse of the magic that can be created while allowing you to view your complete gallery.
Once you've selected your favorite portraits, each purchased image will receive its own custom Signature Magical Artwork, thoughtfully designed to complement that specific moment and bring your family's Christmas story to life.
Want to see how the magic comes to life? Be sure to visit our Gallery page to watch the transformation video of our Signature Magical Artwork.
Ordering Your Artwork
Your gallery will remain online for two weeks.
As a thank you for ordering promptly, you'll receive a 5% discount when your order is placed within the first two weeks. If your gallery needs to be reactivated after it expires, a $20 gallery reactivation fee will apply.
Holiday Deadlines
To ensure your artwork arrives in time for Christmas, all orders must be placed by December 5.
Please note that depending on when your order is placed, custom album designs may not be completed until after the holidays. If you need your album sooner, please contact the studio before placing your order, and we'll do our best to accommodate your request.
Thank you for your patience while we carefully create your artwork. Every portrait is individually crafted with the same attention to detail that makes The Magical Santa Experience so special.
Studio Location
Cherished Moments Photography
9726 Fertile Avenue
Lonsdale, MN
Our studio is located on a quiet dead-end gravel road. If you'd like to minimize the amount of gravel you drive on, we recommend approaching from
County Road 1 (Millersburg Boulevard) rather than Highway 19. This route also avoids the steeper hills.
As you arrive, you'll find our studio on the left side of the road in a cream-colored building with burgundy trim.
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or need help finding the studio, please don't hesitate to call or text us at 612-756-4685.
If we're photographing a family when you call, we may not be able to answer the phone immediately.
Please leave a message, and we'll return your call as soon as possible during our next break.