Santa Session

Daniel & Santa

I am totally in love with this shot! So sweet!

Laura Ann & Santa


We have never had any professional Santa pics before & I have really been wanting to do some while my kids are still at the 'magical' age.  I was beyond thrilled when Stephanie Benzaia decided to do them this year.  She did this session at a farm of some friends in Helena.   It worked out perfect because we were going to Tuscaloosa today & just stopped there on our way.  The farm was beautiful & Daniel & Laura Ann loved everything it had to offer......barn, lots of animals, a lake, even a playground!  We got there a few minutes before Stephanie & Santa was already there, so I whipped out my camera & starting taking pictures.  I love the ones I got & can't wait to see the ones Stephanie got!
Ok, on to Santa.......he was THE SWEETEST MAN EVER!  He just totally hung out with Daniel & Laura Ann for 45 minutes!   He was so relaxed with them.  Daniel, of course, ran straight to him for a hug, but Laura Ann wrapped around Dan.   When she finally got down to go pet the horses, Santa just eased in beside her & starting talking to her about the horse.  She didn't even realize that she had dropped her shy act!  Ha! 

Daniel talked his ears off the entire time.....about everything he could think of.........his friends, his church, his school, sports, Jingle (our elf) & he even threw in the story about me almost burning the house down this past summer when I left chicken cooking on the stove while we went out to eat(sorry, I don't think that ever got a blog post, but we came home to a house full of smoke & a burnt chicken smell that lasted a good week!).  Santa listened attentively to it all & told some stories of his own when Daniel was taking breaths.  His response to the burnt chicken story was a story about the time Mrs. Claus overflowed her bathtub into the elves' toy shop.  It was a good one!   He talked some about his elves too & Laura Ann was all into that.   She asked him when he was sending Jingle.   Santa had a great response, "I'm not sure yet......don't know when his job will be finished in the toy shop.......elves leave at all different times.   It will be soon though, probably a couple of weeks."  Good answer, Santa!!  Stephanie really didn't have to say a word to Daniel & Laura Ann.......she would just tell Santa to walk over here, or sit over here & he would handle Daniel & Laura Ann.  And who doesn't do exactly what Santa says!?!?  I highly recommend having him around for photo sessions!  Ha!  Anyway, it was probably one of the best '45 minutes' of Daniel & Laura Ann's little lives.....no kidding!   I so wish I had videoed the whole session!

*I will post Stephanie's pictures when I get them*