Our Signature Santa Experience is So much more than portraits.
Your children will step into their very own Christmas story through multiple Christmas scenes filled with genuine interaction, laughter, wonder, and Christmas Magic!
A private, ONE HOUR experience
with Santa AND Mrs. Claus!
A private, ONE HOUR experience with Santa AND Mrs. Claus!
Classic Santa Sessions
November 7, 2026
One Day Only ~
Booking Opens Soon!
Booking Opens Soon!
Limited 2026 Dates Available
Booking Opens Soon!
Booking Opens Soon!
The Joy of Santa Experience™
Limited 2026 Dates
Booking Opens Soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Begin Your Family's Christmas Story?
Why Choose Lorraine Howard Photography?
Heirloom Holiday Artwork
The Joy of Santa Experience™
Classic Santa Sessions
The Joy of Santa Experience™
This session is unlike anything else in Middle Tennessee - it's more than portraits; it's a one-of-a-kind Christmas story.
How will Santa know about my child?
Can we take our own photos or videos during the Experience?
When will our finished portraits be ready?
Can we bring our pet?
What is the cancellation or rescheduling policy?
What happens if we're late?
What happens if my child is sick?
How do we choose our portraits and artwork?
Can we bring a gift for Santa to give our child?
What should we wear?
Can cousins be photographed together?
Can parents, siblings, and grandparents be included?
What if my child is shy or nervous around Santa?
Do we have to take all of our photos with Santa? Can we take some without him?
What is the difference between The Joy of Santa Experience™ and Classic Santa Sessions?
Where is The Joy of Santa Experience™ located?
Before The Joy of Santa Experience™, you'll receive a special questionnaire where you can share a few things you'd love Santa to know, such as your child's interests, Christmas wishes, accomplishments, favorite activities, or something they've been especially proud of this year.
We'll make sure Santa has those little details before your visit so he can sprinkle them naturally into the conversation. Imagine your child's face when Santa somehow already knows what they've been up to!
We'll make sure Santa has those little details before your visit so he can sprinkle them naturally into the conversation. Imagine your child's face when Santa somehow already knows what they've been up to!
We ask that phones,personal cameras and smart glasses stay tucked away during the Experience so your children can remain engaged with Santa and Mrs. Claus and Lorraine can capture those genuine moments without distractions.
But, don't worry, you'll still get a chance to capture a little memory of your own! At the end of The Joy of Santa Experience™, we'll give you a special moment to take a quick video as your children give Santa and Mrs. Claus their goodbye hugs. We ask that when you share to social media, please tag @Lorraine Howard Photography to share in the joy and fun!
But, don't worry, you'll still get a chance to capture a little memory of your own! At the end of The Joy of Santa Experience™, we'll give you a special moment to take a quick video as your children give Santa and Mrs. Claus their goodbye hugs. We ask that when you share to social media, please tag @Lorraine Howard Photography to share in the joy and fun!
Classic Santa Sessions: Your selected portraits will be professionally retouched and delivered within 5 business days of your session.
The Joy of Santa Experience™: Please allow 7-10 business days for your portraits to be beautifully edited. You'll then receive an online gallery to approve your selected images before heirloom products such as albums and fine art portraits are ordered.
Production time after approval will vary depending on the artwork you select, but our Santa Experience dates are intentionally scheduled with enough time for editing, approval, and holiday lab production. Your completed Christmas artwork will be ready before Christmas.
The Joy of Santa Experience™: Please allow 7-10 business days for your portraits to be beautifully edited. You'll then receive an online gallery to approve your selected images before heirloom products such as albums and fine art portraits are ordered.
Production time after approval will vary depending on the artwork you select, but our Santa Experience dates are intentionally scheduled with enough time for editing, approval, and holiday lab production. Your completed Christmas artwork will be ready before Christmas.
Absolutely! Pets are family too! We would love to include your furry family member in your Christmas portraits. Just let us know ahead of time that you'll be bringing a pet so we can prepare for their visit and make everything as smooth and comfortable as possible for everyone.
Because Santa and Mrs. Claus reserve these dates especially for our families, session and experience Fees are non-refundable. If an illness or emergency prevents you from attending, please contact Lorraine as soon as possible. When another appointment is available, we will do our best to move your session to another Santa date, but rescheduling is based on availability and cannot be guaranteed.
Please plan to arrive a few minutes early so everyone is ready when your scheduled time begins. Santa's days are carefully scheduled to give each family their full private experience, so arriving late may shorten the amount of time available for your session. If you know you are running behind, please contact us as soon as possible. We will always do our best to help, but we can't extend a session into the next family's reserved time.
Please don't bring a sick child to your Santa session. We want to keep Santa, Mrs. Claus, our team, and all of the families visiting us healthy throughout the Christmas season. If illness happens, please contact Lorraine as soon as possible. We will do everything we can to move your family to another available Santa date, but because dates and appointments are limited, rescheduling cannot be guaranteed.
Following The Joy of Santa Experience™, you'll return for a personalized Viewing & Ordering Appointment where you'll see your finished portraits for the first time and choose your favorites. Your $500 artwork minimum can be applied toward the portraits and heirloom products you love, including fine art portraits, ornaments, albums, and Signature Storybook Albums.
Classic Santa Sessions: Immediately following your session, you'll relax and view your images while they're still fresh from the camera. You'll select your five favorite portraits included with your session and have the opportunity to purchase additional images and keepsakes if you fall in love with more. The images you view are straight from the camera and will receive Lorraine's professional retouching and finishing before delivery, including your Signature Magical Artwork.
Classic Santa Sessions: Immediately following your session, you'll relax and view your images while they're still fresh from the camera. You'll select your five favorite portraits included with your session and have the opportunity to purchase additional images and keepsakes if you fall in love with more. The images you view are straight from the camera and will receive Lorraine's professional retouching and finishing before delivery, including your Signature Magical Artwork.
Absolutely. If you'd like Santa to surprise your child with a special gift, we'll provide instructions before your Experience for getting it to us discreetly so your child never sees the handoff.
Many families begin The Joy of Santa Experience™ in Christmas pajamas for that cozy North Pole feeling. Depending on your Experience, you may also bring a second outfit or festive winter accessories such as coats, scarves, hats, and gloves. We'll send you detailed wardrobe and preparation information before your session so you know exactly what to bring.
Yes! Cousin portraits can be such a special part of your family's Christmas memories. If your children and cousins are from separate families, simply book two sessions back-to-back. I'll happily set aside part of that time to photograph all of the cousins together, while still giving each family their own individual Santa portraits and experience.
For larger extended families or more than two family groups, please contact me before booking so we can make sure we reserve enough time for everyone.
For larger extended families or more than two family groups, please contact me before booking so we can make sure we reserve enough time for everyone.
Absolutely! Christmas memories aren't just for the kids! Parents, siblings and grandparents are encouraged to join in for select portraits. I especially love creating photographs of children with their grandparents, as those become some of the most treasured images from the entire experience.
For larger extended families or multiple family groups, please contact me before booking so we can make sure enough time is reserved for everyone.
That's completely okay! Every child responds to Santa differently. Some run straight to him while others prefer to watch from a distance first. Lorraine is a mom of eight and a former foster parent to 99 children, so she has years of experience connecting with children with all kinds of personalities and comfort levels. We'll follow your child's cues and never force an interaction.
Absolutely! We love creating beautiful portraits of your children and family on their own, too. Depending on your session, we may even begin with a few portraits before Santa joins in. This can also give little ones a chance to settle in and become comfortable before meeting Santa.
The Joy of Santa Experience™ is a private, one-hour Christmas adventure with Santa and Mrs. Claus featuring multiple scenes, activities, and an entire Christmas story captured through your portraits. Classic Santa Sessions are a shorter, 15-minute visit with Santa featuring one beautifully styled scene, five finished digital images, including 1 Signature Magical Artwork.
The Joy of Santa Experience™ takes place at Lorraine Howard Photography's studio in the Bellevue area of Nashville, Tennessee. We welcome families from Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, and throughout Middle Tennessee who are looking for something more personal and magical than traditional Santa photos.
Give your family more than Santa pictures. Give them a Christmas story they'll remember.
Our Santa Experiences are offered on a limited number of dates each year, giving every family the time and attention that makes these sessions so special. Choose the experience that's right for your family and get ready for a little Christmas magic!
Creating magical portraits is only part of what makes this experience special. The real magic happens when your children feel comfortable enough to laugh, play, wonder, and simply be themselves.
Lorraine Howard is an award-winning, Certified Professional Photographer based in Nashville, Tennessee, but her experience with children goes far beyond photography. As a mom of eight and a former foster parent to 99 children, she has spent years learning how to connect with children of all ages, personalities, and comfort levels.
Some little ones run straight into Santa's arms. Others need time to warm up, watch from a distance, or simply take things at their own pace. Lorraine knows how to read those little cues and meet each child where they are, allowing genuine moments to unfold naturally.
The Joy of Santa Experience™ is about more than creating beautiful portraits. It's about giving your family a Christmas memory your children will talk about long after the decorations are packed away.
Choose from beautiful options including:
Keepsake Ornaments ~ Fine Art Portraits ~ Holiday Cards ~ Heirloom Albums ~ Signature Storybook Albums
From a favorite ornament placed on the tree each Christmas to a custom storybook your children may one day share with their own families, your artwork is designed to become part of your family's Christmas traditions.
Heirloom Albums begin at $999.
Your Santa Experience doesn't end when the camera stops. These memories are meant to become part of your family's Christmas traditions for years to come.
Following your Experience, you'll return for a personalized Viewing & Ordering Appointment where you'll see your finished portraits for the first time and choose the artwork that best tells your family's Christmas story.
Your $500 artwork minimum may be applied toward any combination of portraits and heirloom products you love.
A beautiful, private visit with Santa, perfect for families wanting timeless Christmas portraits,
keepsakes, and a touch of Christmas magic.
- 15-minute private session with Santa
- One beautifully styled Santa scene
- 5 professionally retouched, high-resolution digital images including 1 Signature Magical Artwork
- Option to purchase additional images
- Optional keepsakes including ornaments, holiday cards, and fine art prints
Investment: $350
Paid in full to reserve your session
- Baking chocolate chip cookies with Mrs. Claus
- Storytime, Christmas wishes & the Naughty/Nice List check with Santa
- NEW! Become one of Santa's Helpers in his North Pole workshop
- Magical Sleigh ride through Santa's snowy outdoors
- Snowball fight with Santa & Mrs. Claus (and family members)
- A cookie feast + beautiful family portraits
- Your entire Christmas story transformed into Signature Magical Artwork!
Experience Fee: $395
Non-refundable and due in full to reserve your private one-hour Experience
+ $500 minimum artwork purchase
Portraits and artwork are selected separately at your personalized Viewing and Ordering appointment
Step into a Christmas story your family will never forget. From the moment you arrive, your children are whisked into a magical holiday adventure - baking cookies with Mrs. Claus, listening to Santa read stories, climbing into a magical flying sled, and even having a snowball fight indoors.
Create Cherished Memories
Experience the Joy of Santa Claus™
View the Experiences
More than portraits -
a one-of-a-kind Christmas story for your family.
Experience the Joy of Santa Claus™
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