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

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!

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

Featured On the blog

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Simple Sophistication

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Six looks so good on her 🎈

We kept this session simple and sweet with a soft pink backdrop and balloons to match her fun personality. Then we brought the whole family in on the white backdrop, even their adorable pup.

I love sessions like this because they show how much personality shines through when the focus stays on your child and the people they love most.

#BirthdayPhotography #GilmoreStudios #NewportBeachPhotographer #FamilyPhotographyOC #MilestoneSession #OCPhotographer #StudioPortraits #ChildPhotography #BirthdayPhotoshoot
Every one year old is different. Some dive right in, some take their time, and some are not quite sure what to think at first. That is what makes these sessions so fun. You never know what you are going to get.

I love seeing their personalities shine through, especially when parents join in for a few photos at the beginning. It is such a sweet way to celebrate the first year and capture all the joy that comes with it.

#CakeSmashPhotography #FirstBirthdaySession #GilmoreStudios #NewportBeachPhotographer #OCBabyPhotographer #MilestoneSession #OneYearOldPhotos #BirthdayPhotography #FamilyPhotographyOC
I loved seeing this sweet couple again and their little dog. This year we did the session at  the San Juan Capistrano Mission.

It is such a good reminder to make photos part of your yearly routine. Life changes quickly, and having a collection of portraits over the years tells your story in the best way.

#FamilyPhotography #GilmoreStudios #SanJuanCapistranoMission #OCPhotographer #NewportBeachPhotographer #HolidayPhotos #CouplePhotography #PetPhotography #AnnualFamilyPhotos 
#missionsjc

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ

Session by appointment only

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