Storybook santa experience

Sorry I know Christmas is over! Early booking for next year is tomorrow. The twins will be just shy of 2 next Christmas is it worth the money?

Storybook santa experience

DD just turned 2 in Dec. and was TERRIFIED of Santa. She liked him at a distance but up close was a no go. I would have been pi$$ed if I spent all that money for her to freak out.

Storybook santa experience

My daughter was a little scared at 3 but we got awesome photos when she warmed up. We didn’t do it this year and dd has been begging us to make sure we sign up this year. Every time we drive by she begs to see that Santa. When I did it the price was $250 or $350. I did the $350. Now it’s $295 and usually $50 upgrade for all Photos.

I’m signing up tomorrow. My girls will be 1 and 5 next year.

Re: Storybook santa experience

DS turned 2 in October and was NOT a fan of Santa. I guess it depends on the child, but I think they're still a little young to grasp the concept at 2. I'm debating whether to book it this year (he'll be 3 and 2 months) or waiting until he's 4 - since it's pretty pricey!

Storybook santa experience

I did it two years because last year DD3 wasn't born yet and because my girls liked the experience. My 5 year old and 3 year old really liked it again, but my 1 year old wouldn't go near Santa. I felt like my older girls didn't get the full experience with Santa either because they tried to hide him from the baby (kept him completely out of the room in the beginning). I don't really care for the pictures, although some might love them. I just don't like all the sparkle effects they add. This year, when they asked for any requests, I requested they don't add those, but my pictures were full of them. The angles on our pictures weren't good this year either and they can be sloppy with editing (have some of their photography equipment showing in one of last year's photos). So, my opinion is if you are looking for fabulous photos, maybe look for a mini session with a photographer you like. If you want to get some one on one time with Santa in a cute studio with the "magical" looking photos, do the Storybook Experience. It's fun and I might give them another try while the kids are still little and believe in Santa. I haven't decided.

Storybook santa experience

Thank you for the feed back. I wish I did it this year, they were 11 months at Christmas. I feel like next year they may be scared. Maybe we will just have to wait unt 4-5 I don’t want to spend all that money for them to be sad.

Storybook santa experience

My son was petrified at 2.5. This year, at 3.5, he’d wave from a distance, but was still scared.

Re: Storybook santa experience

They will probably be scared to death at that age. I would wait

Re: Storybook santa experience

My son was a little younger this year (17 months) but he was terrified of Santa. I'd probably wait b/c I wouldn't want to risk all that money.

Re: Storybook santa experience

I've been wanting to get these done for years (even though IMO the quality has gone down a bit).
At 2 DS was terrified of Santa. At 3 he finally started to like Santa, but it would depend on what the Santa looked like. I think I'm gonna book for next year too.

Storybook santa experience

Is it just me or does any one else find the insane amount of editing and/or graphic design work to make the photos (and people in them) look really creepy?!?!

Message edited 1/6/2018 10:06:36 PM.

Re: Storybook santa experience

Re: Storybook santa experience

Re: Storybook santa experience

Posted by Naturalmama

Posted by RainyDay

Posted by MrsM84

Is it just me or does any one else find the insane amount of editing and/or graphic design work to make the photos (and people in them) look really creepy?!?!

You aren't alone.

Agreed. A friend of ours did it this year and used the photos on her Christmas card. DH was the one who opened the envelope, and calls out to me, "Hey, why do K & J's kids look like they are in Village of the Damned?

Re: Storybook santa experience

I personally have never done it. I have friends who have and I feel like the editing is getting more intense year after year. Some of the pictures I saw this year were really bad- I much prefer a beautiful portrait without the ‘fairytale’ editing. I wonder if you can request no fairytale editing because the experience is cool but the photos are creepy.

Re: Storybook santa experience

Posted by Naturalmama

Posted by RainyDay

Posted by MrsM84

Is it just me or does any one else find the insane amount of editing and/or graphic design work to make the photos (and people in them) look really creepy?!?!

You aren't alone.

Agreed. A friend of ours did it this year and used the photos on her Christmas card. DH was the one who opened the envelope, and calls out to me, "Hey, why do K & J's kids look like they are in Village of the Damned?

Re: Storybook santa experience

Posted by MrsM84

Posted by Naturalmama

Posted by RainyDay

Posted by MrsM84

Is it just me or does any one else find the insane amount of editing and/or graphic design work to make the photos (and people in them) look really creepy?!?!

You aren't alone.

Agreed. A friend of ours did it this year and used the photos on her Christmas card. DH was the one who opened the envelope, and calls out to me, "Hey, why do K & J's kids look like they are in Village of the Damned?

OMG! Too funny. DH refers to the kids in the overly edited photos as the Children of the Corn. They should totally get together to hang out. Sounds like they'd get along great!

Re: Storybook santa experience

Not my style. At all.
But I have seen them done with more natural editing. Maybe you can request it be less edited? Not sure

Message edited 1/7/2018 10:26:30 AM.

Re: Storybook santa experience

We took my DD last year. She was just shy of 2.5. She was fine in the lobby area, playing with the toys, but she started crying hysterically as soon we were brought back to the studio area. Santa was nowhere in sight and she was still crying. We were able to get some pics of her in the workshop and a couple different backgrounds but we got ZERO pictures with Santa. So, for $300, it was not worth it for us. Maybe I'll try again when she's 5.
ETA: I also feel like they started over-editing. I noticed last year that the pics weren't as nice as when they first started out.

Message edited 1/7/2018 2:31:24 PM.

Storybook santa experience

I always wanted to do it but thought it was so expensive. . DS was 2 when we did his shoot in November and he was not interested at all so I was happy I didn’t waste my money. I think I’ll wait until him and DC#2 are older.

Storybook santa experience

I don't think it's expensive in the grand scheme of photography. I mean, most people pay $250+ for a photoshoot of their kids in an outdoor setting, etc. right? This seems like a nice, personalized setting, and you get to see Santa to boot! My kids are too old....some of the pics are a little creepy to me, but, if they were little, I would probably do it!

Re: Storybook santa experience

I’m not a huge fan of the look either, but I agree with pp that age 2 would be rough. The photographer we use does beautiful more natural Santa visit photos, and she has also recommended waiting til about age 4-5.