A magical Santa experience your children will remember long after Christmas

There is something extra special about seeing Christmas through a child's eyes.

For one day only, Santa will be visiting the Hilary Avalos Photography studio for Limited Edition Santa Sessions 2026—a personalized holiday photography experience designed to be about so much more than taking a picture with Santa.

Your children will have their own private time with Santa, share their Christmas wishes, enjoy cookies, search for their names on Santa's nice list, listen to a Christmas story, and receive a special gift before they leave. Throughout the experience, Hilary will be there capturing those genuine expressions, little interactions, and moments of excitement that make the Christmas season so memorable.

If you're looking for Santa photography in Orange County, this is a holiday experience your family won't want to miss.

The Santa Experience

These aren't traditional Santa mini sessions where children simply sit beside Santa for a quick photograph.

The Santa Experience gives your children time to interact with Santa and enjoy the magic of the season while Hilary captures beautiful portraits naturally as the experience unfolds.

Each family receives a private 15-minute session with Santa. During their time together, children can:

• Share their Christmas wishlist with Santa
• Enjoy real cookies
• Look for their names on Santa's nice list
• Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
• Spend time talking and interacting with Santa
• Receive a small gift from Santa
• Take home a Christmas book with a personalized handwritten message from Santa

The goal is simple: create beautiful photographs while giving your children a Christmas memory they can actually experience and enjoy.

Limited edition Santa sessions in Orange County

Santa will be at the Hilary Avalos Photography studio for one day only: November 7, 2026.

Because these are limited-edition sessions, there are only a select number of appointment times available. Sessions are booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

2026 Santa session details

• Date: November 7, 2026
• Session length: 15 minutes
• Session fee: $275 + tax
• Included product credit: $200
• Location: Hilary Avalos Photography studio, Orange County

Your session fee includes:

• A private 15-minute Santa Experience
• $200 product credit
• Santa's favorite Christmas book
• A personalized handwritten message from Santa in the book
• A small gift from Santa

Parents are welcome to participate, and sessions are designed for immediate family members. Cousins who would like photographs together are welcome to book back-to-back sessions.

What makes these Santa sessions different?

The best holiday photographs aren't always the perfectly posed ones. Sometimes they're the little moments in between—the look on your child's face when Santa reads their name, the excitement of sharing a Christmas wish, a smile while enjoying a cookie, or the quiet concentration of listening to a favorite Christmas story.

That's what makes the Santa Experience different. Rather than rushing children through a quick photograph, the session gives them time to interact with Santa while Hilary photographs the experience as it naturally happens.

Hilary's approach is especially well suited to children because she creates a relaxed environment and knows how to work patiently with little personalities. Families who have experienced her Santa sessions have shared how much their children enjoyed the experience and how special it was to have photographs that captured more than simply a posed picture with Santa.

A Christmas experience for your whole family

Parents are welcome to join their children during the Santa Experience. Immediate family members may participate, making this a wonderful opportunity to create updated Christmas portraits while also documenting your children's relationship with Santa.

If your children have cousins they would love to photograph with, cousins are welcome to book back-to-back Santa sessions so everyone can enjoy time with Santa and capture photographs together.

What is included in the Santa session fee?

The $275 session fee, plus tax, includes the 15-minute Santa Experience, a $200 product credit, a Christmas book with a personalized message from Santa, and a small gift from Santa. The session fee does not include finished portraits or digital files.

After your Santa session, you'll return to the studio the following week for a private ordering appointment. During this appointment, you'll view your finished photographs and choose the artwork you'd like for your family.

Portraits begin at $190 for an 8x10 archival mounted print. Additional artwork options include holiday cards, albums, framed portraits, and custom keepsake pieces. A velvet Storybook with a custom story begins at $1,290. A complimentary digital file printable up to 8x10 is included with each portrait purchased.

Your Santa photographs become part of your family's Christmas traditions

One of the most meaningful parts of a holiday photography session is what happens after the photographs are taken. Instead of leaving your images on a phone or computer, you can choose artwork to display throughout your home and bring out year after year.

A framed Santa portrait can become part of your Christmas decorations. An album can hold years of holiday memories. A storybook can become something your children look through every Christmas as they grow.

These photographs aren't just about documenting what your children looked like in 2026. They're about remembering who they were at this age—their excitement, their personalities, and the way they experienced Christmas.

What to bring to your Santa session

Because the Santa Experience is designed to be interactive, you don't need to bring a lot. Your children can come ready to enjoy themselves and spend time with Santa.

You may also bring a wrapped gift before your appointment if you'd like Santa to give it to your child during the session. Gifts can be dropped off at the studio ahead of time so Santa can have them ready.

Most importantly, bring your children's Christmas spirit!

Santa photography for Orange County families

Hilary Avalos Photography is an Orange County family photographer serving families throughout the surrounding communities, including Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, and San Juan Capistrano.

If you've been searching for Santa photography in Orange County, Santa mini sessions in Orange County, or a special Christmas photography experience, the Limited Edition Santa Sessions are a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season.