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

Once in a Lifetime Photos with Santa – Newport Beach CA

The holidays go by in a blur — but some memories deserve to be preserved forever. One of the most magical traditions is getting your children’s photos with Santa. While most families settle for quick snapshots at the mall, a Santa experience in Newport Beach, CA offers something far more special: portraits that feel magical, timeless, and once in a lifetime.

At Gilmore Studios, our Santa Mini Sessions are designed to create more than just photos — they capture a holiday memory your family will treasure for years.

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Why Santa Photos Are Once in a Lifetime

Your children only believe in Santa for a few short years. Those little smiles, twinkling eyes, and giggles during their first conversations with Santa won’t last forever. That’s why investing in professional Santa portraits is so meaningful — they freeze the wonder of childhood in a way no smartphone picture can.

👉 Want to see more holiday magic? Browse other Santa Sessions at Gilmore Studios.

👩‍🏫 Photographers — want to learn how to host your own profitable Santa Minis? Visit Photographers Roadmap for guides, templates, and resources.

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What to Wear for Santa Photos

The right outfits make your Santa portraits festive and timeless:

  • Classic holiday colors. Red, green, navy, or cream always look beautiful.
  • Matching PJs. Cozy Christmas pajamas make for adorable, playful photos.
  • Winter textures. Plaid, velvet, or chunky knits add depth and seasonal flair.
  • Simple is best. Skip logos or bold prints that distract from your child’s expressions.

👉 Shop holiday collections at Carter’s for kids’ outfits or explore family holiday looks at Nordstrom.

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Where to Eat After Your Santa Session

Make your Santa outing in Newport Beach a full holiday experience by stopping for a festive meal afterward:

Why This Session Matters

While Santa visits will come and go, professional portraits last forever. Each year, families return to us not just for a photo, but for an experience — one that makes their children feel special and captures their joy authentically.

For parents, these photos become heirlooms, pulled out every holiday season and cherished for decades. For children, they’re a piece of their magical childhood preserved forever.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for once in a lifetime Santa photos in Newport Beach, CA, Gilmore Studios creates sessions that combine festive fun with timeless portraiture. From planning outfits to enjoying a celebratory meal afterward, every detail is designed to make your holiday season unforgettable.

✨ Ready to make holiday memories that last forever? Book your Santa Mini Session with Gilmore Studios here.

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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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Pick something you love and make that your career. Honestly, that’s kind of what happened.

I never imagined that setting up backdrops, planning themes, making silly noises to get a baby to smile, and celebrating first birthdays would become my job.

But here we are. 🥹

And after all these years, I still get excited watching a theme come together and seeing a little one’s personality shine once they step into the studio.

Because cake smash sessions aren’t really about the cake.

They’re about celebrating a milestone that only happens once.

And getting to be a small part of that never gets old. 🎂

What’s something you could talk about or do all day and never get tired of?
Pelican Hill Resort + a gorgeous sunset + incredible food = an evening I didn’t want to end. 🧡 Had the best time covering this event for ABOG (Dallas, TX). The boho vibes were unmatched and decor was beyond. This is what happens when a great group of people gathers in a beautiful place.
This is just me being sarcastic - but some might be a little true. 😂

Top 5 Horror Movies for a Photographer

• can you send the RAW files
• wind. just. wind
• wearing neon orange at sunset
• the tide is too high
• making videos while being a photographer
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.

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ

Session by appointment only

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