Simple Sophistication

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ • Sessions by appointment only

Simple Sophistication

How to Do Santa Minis: A Step-by-Step Guide

We want to help you learn How to Do Santa Minis: A Step-by-Step Guide

Running Santa Mini Sessions can be a game-changer for photographers during the holiday season—but only if done right. Whether you’re new to the concept or looking to improve your current setup, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start.

The truth is, planning, pricing, marketing, and executing a successful Santa Mini Session requires more than just a festive backdrop and a Santa suit. It’s about creating an experience that families will remember—and come back for year after year. We have been doing Santa Minis since 2017 and our clients RAVE about them every year.

Why Santa Minis Are Worth It

Santa Minis can be one of your most profitable sessions of the year—if you do it right. But many photographers struggle with booking out sessions, managing costs, or keeping the experience magical for every family.

If you’re feeling unsure about how to plan, price, or market your Santa Minis, I’ve got you covered. That’s exactly why I created the Santa Experience Workshop. This 4-week video course shows you everything you need to know to run successful, profitable Santa Mini Sessions—without the stress and guesswork. It’s designed to be done in 4 weeks, but it is a self-paced course so you can go through it as quickly or slowly as you would like.

What You’ll Learn Inside the Workshop

  • How to plan your Santa Minis from start to finish
  • How to Do Santa Minis: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Pricing strategies that maximize your profit
  • Marketing techniques to fill your sessions
  • Tips for working with Santas and families
  • Workflow and editing tips for quick turnaround

Want the full breakdown? Click here to join the workshop: Santa Experience Workshop by Gilmore Studios

Your Next Steps

If you’re serious about running successful Santa Minis and maximizing your profits, don’t do it alone. The Santa Experience Workshop takes you through every step, from planning and pricing to marketing and delivering a final product families will love.

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. Let me walk you through every step so you can create magical, profitable Santa Minis this holiday season!

by Gilmore TeamPosted in For PhotographersTags: , , , , , , , , , ,
  • Santa Minis - Festive Backdrop - Holiday Photography
  • Christmas Mini Sessions - Santa Setup - Family Portraits
  • Santa Mini Session - Joyful Smiles - Holiday Photos
  • Santa Experience Workshop - Successful Minis - Photography Tips
  • Christmas Spirit - Santa Photography - Mini Session Fun
  • Santa Minis - Cozy Setup - Family Memories
  • Holiday Photography - Santa Experience - Professional Studio
  • Santa with Kids - Mini Session - Christmas Backdrop
  • Holiday Mini Photography - Santa Setup - Cozy Atmosphere
  • Professional Santa Minis - Holiday Portraits - Happy Families
  • Santa Minis - Festive Magic - Smiling Kids
  • Santa Workshop - Successful Minis - Gilmore Studios
  • Santa Photos - Mini Session - Holiday Cheer

Meet the Gilmores:

Gilmore Studios serves Orange County, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. We specialize in wedding photography, family portraits, newborn and branding photography. Our studio has been in business since 2002.

Fun Facts:

PLace we call home:

Newport Beach & Queen Creek

Number of kids:

3 boys

Years in business:

Since 2002

As seen in:

Family photography

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The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation:

What themes can we do?
Honestly — almost anything.

But here is what I actually recommend.

Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly.

Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were.
That is worth capturing.

We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same.
For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake.
And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos.
She chose an album.

Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately.
What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now.
Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography

DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.

8 3
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18065998445409348
The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation: What themes can we do? Honestly — almost anything. But here is what I actually recommend. Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly. Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were. That is worth capturing. We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same. For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake. And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos. She chose an album. Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately. What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now. Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.

Photography started as something I loved.

I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later.

But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career.

Then a business.

Then a huge part of my life. 🤍

I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades.

And honestly?

The greatest part isn’t the photos.

It’s the people.

The families who come back year after year.
The babies who become seniors.
The clients who become friends.

That’s what keeps me showing up every day.

Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job?

Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

16 5
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18123683860650152
Photography started as something I loved. I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later. But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career. Then a business. Then a huge part of my life. 🤍 I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades. And honestly? The greatest part isn’t the photos. It’s the people. The families who come back year after year. The babies who become seniors. The clients who become friends. That’s what keeps me showing up every day. Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job? Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

You trusted a photographer with 3000+ followers… instead of 300k 👀

And honestly? Best decision ever. 🤍

Because great photos aren’t about follower count.

They’re about connection, experience, and capturing your child in a way that actually feels like THEM.

The laughing.
The personality.
The little in-between moments parents never want to forget. 🥹

That’s the stuff that matters years later ✨

44 4
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17941926954032804
You trusted a photographer with 3000+ followers… instead of 300k 👀 And honestly? Best decision ever. 🤍 Because great photos aren’t about follower count. They’re about connection, experience, and capturing your child in a way that actually feels like THEM. The laughing. The personality. The little in-between moments parents never want to forget. 🥹 That’s the stuff that matters years later ✨

Personality Portraits booking now….Most of my clients have no idea what the final image is going to look like when I’m taking it.

I’m asking siblings to stand here.
Look there.
Move closer.
Laugh at each other.

And sometimes it probably makes absolutely no sense in the moment.

But that’s the beauty of trusting the process.

Because what I’m really looking for isn’t perfect smiles.

It’s connection.

The way siblings look at each other.
The little laughs.
The personalities that make your family yours.

Those are the photos that end up meaning the most years later.

If you love photos that capture your child`s personality, comment PERSONALITY and I`ll send you all the details about our Personality Portrait Sessions 🤍

28 0
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18064545089650834
Personality Portraits booking now….Most of my clients have no idea what the final image is going to look like when I’m taking it. I’m asking siblings to stand here. Look there. Move closer. Laugh at each other. And sometimes it probably makes absolutely no sense in the moment. But that’s the beauty of trusting the process. Because what I’m really looking for isn’t perfect smiles. It’s connection. The way siblings look at each other. The little laughs. The personalities that make your family yours. Those are the photos that end up meaning the most years later. If you love photos that capture your child's personality, comment PERSONALITY and I'll send you all the details about our Personality Portrait Sessions 🤍

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ

Session by appointment only

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