Looking for a Central Coast Santa photographer or a festive photographer? You’ve come to the right place.
We’ve found the best-of-the-best Central Coast Santa photos and Christmas Mini sessions – all taken by talented local photographers on the Central Coast and the surrounding region! Many of these photographers offer Sensitive Santa sessions. Plus, we’ve found spaces where you can bring your fur babies along for a snap too.
Christmas photos are a wonderful annual tradition and each year we’re blown away by the stunning backdrops, festive flair, and Christmassy creativity brought to us by the Central Coast’s many talented photographers. And with 14 incredible settings to choose from, 2023 promises to be no exception!
This year you’re spoilt for choice of where to get your Central Coast Santa photo. You can visit Santa in a snowy wonderland, at a historic homestead on a farm, in a fig tree-dotted park, fireside in a cosy loungeroom, or at your own school!
Or, you can opt to forgo Santa – and the risk of tears – and instead get some festive photos taken that shift the focus from Saint Nick and onto your kids. We’ve found myriad stunning festive scenes for you to choose from and this year you can have your snaps taken in a pine forest, in a cup of hot cocoa at a gingerbread house or surrounded by baubles in the bush.
All of these Santa and festive sets are all so beautiful, the only tricky part is deciding which one to do…
We’ll be adding even more Christmas and Santa photographers over the coming weeks, so bookmark this page and keep checking back. In the meantime, enjoy browsing through these gorgeous images that set the scene for a very Merry Christmas indeed!
Jump To…
Natural Lights Photography – Festive Photos and Santa Sessions
This year, we’re excited to announce that Danielle of Natural Lights Photography has three locations to choose from. Two locations – a farm and park – come with old Saint Nick, while the bush location forgoes Santa to keep the focus of the imagery on you and your family.
Natural Lights Photography – Festive Family Sessions
Nestled in the heart of Catherine Hill Bay, Natural Lights Photography’s gorgeous Winter wonderland-style setting makes a perfect location for Christmas photos!
Talented photographer Danielle spends 30 minutes with every family to ensure she captures your kids’ beautiful, real and honest moments in this gorgeous outdoor setting bedecked with glitter and baubles!
Danielle has a wonderful way of ensuring she captures images that are timeless and that can be used as both an annual account of your growing kids as well as the perfect Christmas card photo. They keep the focus on your beautiful family, so the end result is a series of stunning snaps you’ll want to frame and hang on your wall.
All that’s left for you to do is to get dressed in your favourite red party dress, angel wings, or twinkling Rudolph nose and head to Catherine Hill Bay where you’ll find an enchanting scene just waiting to be explored.
Sensitive Santa sessions and pet sessions are also available.
Natural Lights Photography festive family photoshoot
Cost: This is a 30-minute on-location photoshoot. The package includes 7 digitally downloadable images and 3 matted gift 5×7 images – all within a password-protected gallery. $249
When: Every Saturday and Sunday from 14 October until 17 December 2023! Bookings essential.
Location: Catherine Hill Bay.
Dogs are welcome too!
More info: Sensitive Santa sessions and pet sessions are also available.
Contact: Danielle on 0410 117 328 or [email protected].
Website: https://nlphotography.com.au/christmas-photos/
Natural Lights Photography – Santa at the farm
The historic Tocal Homestead and surrounding grounds is a stunning wedding venue, but for a few months each year, Santa arrives to take photos with Natural Lights Photography. It’s a green farmscape dotted with mature fig trees, wooden barns and a dam, and it makes for a scene that’s beautifully rustic and elegant. It’s like nothing else we’ve seen before.
Cost and who: $65. Each family of up to 5 members per session can spend up to 5 minutes with Santa. (If you would like more than 5 family members to attend, or would like more time with Santa, please book multiple tickets).
The package includes 5 digitally downloadable images – all within a password-protected gallery. You can of course purchase more images, prints and wall art if you wish.
Sensitive Santa sessions and pet sessions are also available.
Location: Tocal Homestead, 957 Tocal Road, Paterson.
When: Every Sunday from 12 November until 3 December 2023! Bookings essential. Hurry, these sessions are selling out super fast.
Natural Lights Photography – Santa at the park
Ray Lawler Reserve, commonly referred to as Morpeth Common, is a beautiful park in historic Morpeth and makes a gorgeous backdrop for Natural Lights Photography’s Santa snaps.
This lovely parkland has a small pond, a shaded playground and lots of picnic tables, so we recommend you bring a picnic rug and basket of food and make a beautiful day of it. After all, when you’ve made the effort to get the family out of the house, you want to make the most of it.
Cost and who: $65. Each family of up to 5 members per session can spend up to 5 minutes with Santa. (If you would like more than 5 family members to attend, or would like more time with Santa, please book multiple tickets).
The package includes 5 digitally downloadable images – all within a password-protected gallery. You can of course purchase more images, prints and wall art if you wish.
More info: Sensitive Santa sessions and pet sessions are also available.
Location: Morpeth Commons, Edward Street, Morpeth.
When: Saturday 18th November and Saturday 25th November 2023. Bookings essential.
LookPro Photography – Santa snaps that raise money for your school!
Looking for an affordable, fun and unique Santa photo experience that gives back to your school community?
Santasnaps.com.au is a fundraising initiative of local school and sports photography group LookPro Photography, and they’ve created a Santa photo experience that we know Central Coast families are absolutely going to love.
Santasnaps is a fundraiser for local Central Coast primary schools – with 20% of all profits going to the hosting school’s P&C. AND everyone is welcome to attend – not just families who attend the school that’s hosting!
This year, LookPro Photography is setting up stunning loungeroom scenes in the halls of Warnervale Public School, Narara Public School, Umina Beach Public School and Ourimbah Public School – your family can visit any of these schools to get your Santa snap taken.
The other thing we love, and that we know you’ll be excited to hear about too, is that there’s no pre-payment. Your photos are available to view online before you buy, so there’s no pressure to purchase should your family be crying, squinting, or having a bad hair day!
And, triple bonus, the photos are available to view super quickly – within 48 hours (usually the next business day). From there, you can download the digital versions instantly, and any orders of prints or photo gifts will be mailed out that same day – for FREE! No more waiting weeks and weeks to see your snaps and then missing Australia Post’s Christmas deadlines.
We think LookPro Photography may have been looking at our Christmas photo wish lists because this ticks so many fabulous boxes for us… it’s affordable, it’s fast, it’s quality and it gives back to our schools. All in all – It’s pretty special!
PS. Want your school P&C to get LookPro Photography to do some Santa snaps – share this feature with them and ask them to get in touch. 2023 bookings are now full, so we recommend you contact them now to get the ball rolling for 2024.
LookPro Photography’s Santa Snaps
Cost: Have a five-minute photo session with Jolly Santa John. No upfront fees. Get your photos snapped, view them online and then decide what you’d like to purchase. There are four packages to choose from:
+ Single Santa Photo – 1 8×12″ Santa photo, $34.99.
+ Santa Prints Pack – Choose a single Santa Photo from your picture set. Get 1 8×12″ print, 1 6×9″ print, 1 4×6″ print, $49.99.
+ Multi-pose Pack – Choose multiple poses from your picture set to mix and match your photos. Get 1 8×12″ print, 1 6×9″ print, 2 4×6″ prints, $59.99.
+ Value Prints + Digital Pack – Choose multiple photos from your picture set. Get 1 8×12″ print, 2 6×9″ prints, 2 4×6″ prints, + all of your photos as digital downloads, $79.99.
PLUS Christmas cards, canvas, acrylic and Chromaluxe products are also available.
When and where:
+ Warnervale Public School (Warnervale Road & Minnesota Rd, Hamlyn Terrace) | Saturday 4 November 2023
+ Narara Public School (90 Newling Street, Lisarow) | Saturday 11 November 2023
+ Ourimbah Public School (121 Pacific Highway, Ourimbah) | Saturday 18 November 2023
+ Umina Beach Public School (Sydney Avenue, Umina Beach) | Saturday 25 November 2023
Sensory sessions: 3pm-4pm is the recommended time for sensory sessions.
Pets: Family dogs are allowed at all sessions except for Warnervale. Please note though that dogs must be clean, quiet, kept on a lead and controlled at all times; owners are responsible for the dog’s behaviour and it is at the discretion of the school whether any – or a particular dog – is permitted.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: https://www.lookpro.com.au/santasnaps/
Whiteman Photography Santa Sessions
Whiteman Photography and Santa Trevor are back again this Christmas with their brilliantly fun home studio mini sessions. With every session you have access to two different sets – a cosy log cabin and a snowy winter scene where Santa will happily roll around in the snow with your kids! Can’t decide which one you prefer? You can get images for both!
Each session runs for 20 minutes, giving the kids heaps of time with Santa. We absolutely love this, as we think so much of this experience for kids is the wonder of meeting Santa himself. Twenty minutes gives your kids ample time to have a chat with Santa and tell him what toy they’d like to discover under the tree. It also means that there’s plenty of time for babies, anxious children and kids with special needs to warm up to Santa and to feel more comfortable in his presence, so you’ll likely get a photo with smiles than tears and a stack of beautiful images.
Whiteman Photography
Cost: Studio Sessions are 20 minutes long, include use of both indoor scenes and access to a client gallery of approximately 20 Images. Single sessions limited to 9 people; if you have more than 9 people, you must book 2 sessions.
+ Indoor Studio Santa – Base Package $110: includes 2 high-resolution digital downloads of the client’s choice from their gallery, with the option to purchase additional images for $20 each.
+ Indoor Studio Santa – Full Gallery Prepaid Package $160: includes high-resolution digital downloads of all the images in the client’s gallery.
When: Every weekend from October 22nd to December 16
Location: Charmhaven
Dogs are welcome too!
Contact: Call 0401 414 804, email [email protected] or visit their Facebook page.
Website: https://whitemanphotography.setmore.com/
Jessie Walker Photography – Christmas Mini Sessions
This year, we’re excited to announce that Jessie of Jessie Walker Photography will be running three Christmas minis sessions, each with a completely different theme! You can have your snaps taken at a Christmas Tree Farm, in a bath of hot cocoa or in front of a festive fireplace.
Jessie Walker’s Christmas Tree Farm Sessions
Jessie’s bringing her renowned Christmas Tree Farm sessions back, but this year she’s offering two wonderful locations: Kulnura and Dural. The photo sessions are held throughout November over sunset and the combination of this gorgeous setting and Jessie’s talent ensures you come away with images that will take pride of place all year round!
Jessie Walker’s Christmas Tree Farm Minis
Price: $290 for a 15-minute session including 12 images.
Location: Kulnura Christmas Tree Farm, 59 Yorky Waters Rd, Kulnura | When: Midweek and weekends available. 9, 11, 14, 16, 18 November 2023, from 5.45pm – 7.15pm.
Location: Dural Tree Farm, 879 Old Northern Rd, Dural | When: Midweek and weekends available. 4, 5, 7, 12 November 2023, from 5.45pm – 7.15pm.
Contact: Jessie Walker, 0434 011 225, [email protected]
Website: https://jessiewalkerphotography.com/mini-sessions
Jessie Walker’s Studio Christmas Mini Sessions
Jessie has a brand-new studio in Toukley, and this year she’s offering festive photo sessions for your family that come with that bit EXTRA. Jessie’s in-studio sessions allow clients access to her client wardrobe – a stunning array of flowing dresses, kids overalls, linen shirts and even festive attire that ensure you’re looking sensational and your images are both frame- and Insta-worthy.
Jessie Walker’s Studio Christmas Minis
Price: This 20-minute session with access to Jessie’s stunning client closet (more than 80 women’s dresses, men’s outfits, kids clothing plus festive garb). Festive fireplace setting plus a blank wall setting will be used. Package includes 10 hig-res digital images. $250.
When: 19 November 2023 only. Only three sessions remaining.
Location: Toukley studio.
Contact: Jessie Walker, 0434 011 225, [email protected]
Website: https://jessiewalkerphotography.com/mini-sessions
Jessie Walker’s Hot Cocoa Sessions
Jessie’s adorable hot cocoa session is like nothing we’ve seen before and just too cute for words. It brings the magic of a snowy European Christmas to life with a fun gingerbread house backdrop, “snow”, and – get ready for it – a giant cup of hot chocolate for your tiny tot to bathe in! Marshmalllows included!
Babes and toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years can sit in the hot cocoa and older siblings (or parents) are welcome to play in the surrounding snowscape. And, because we know you’re curious, yep, the tots actually get to bathe in non-dairy long life chocolate milk mixed with warm water! So not only does it make the cutest of pictures but it also tastes yummy should they drink a little bit and it’ll make their skin super soft too.
Jessie Walker’s Hot Cocoa Sessions
Price: This 30-minute session includes 10 hig-res digital images. $210
When: 25 November 2023 only. Sessions between 9am and 3:30pm.
Location: Toukley studio.
More Info: Siblings are welcome to join, but would be sitting or standing next to the teacup. Children must be able to sit unassisted and aged between 6 months and 3 years to be in the teacup.
Contact: Jessie Walker, 0434 011 225, [email protected]
Website: https://jessiewalkerphotography.com/mini-sessions
Dear Juniper Photography Christmas Minis
Looking to treat your family to a beautifully updated family photo album but with a stunning Christmas twist? Check out these Christmas Mini sessions from Dear Juniper Photography! This year you have two gorgeous outdoor settings to choose between: Kulnura’s Christmas Tree Farm or the Firescreek Winery in Holgate.
Dear Juniper’s Kulnura Christmas Tree Farm sessions
At the Kulnura Christmas Tree Farm, you and your munchkins will get to have your photos taken in among the pines. This gorgeous natural backdrop allows you to come away with images that’ll take pride of place in your home all year round and not just once a year!
With a bunch of fun Christmas props to choose from, these sessions promise to be a heap of fun for families, and being just 10 minutes long, they’re awesome for little people with a short attention span too! Plus, there’s the added bonus of having lots of room to run amuck or play hide ‘n’ seek among the Christmas trees!
Dear Juniper Photography’s Kulnura Christmas Tree Farm sessions
Price: $180 for a 10-minute session. Delivery of at least 5 high-resolution edited images (full gallery will be delivered with no additional fee). A $100 non-refundable booking fee is required at the time of booking (transferable to another shoot or gift voucher). Full payment due by the end of October 2023.
Location: Kulnura Christmas Tree Farm | When: Sunday 19 November 2023.
Dogs are welcome to Kulnura Christmas Tree Farm too! (on leads please).
Contact: To book, contact Katie on [email protected] or 0423 623 418.
Website: www.dearjuniperphotography.com
Dear Juniper’s Firescreek Winery session
We’re very excited to hear that Katie of Dear Juniper Photography is using Firecreek Winery in Holgate to capture Christmas Minis this year, as it’s an absolutely stunning venue. The photos will be taken in the late afternoon/early evening to make the most of the “golden hour” and the beautiful dappled light this affords Katie’s gentle, honest, journalistic-style imagery.
Dear Juniper Photography’s Firescreek Winery session
Price: $180 for a 10-minute session. Delivery of at least 5 high-resolution edited images (full gallery will be delivered with no additional fee). A $100 non-refundable booking fee is required at the time of booking (transferable to another shoot or gift voucher). Full payment due by the end of October 2023.
Location: Firescreek Winery in Holgate | When: Sunday 26 November 2023.
Contact: To book, contact Katie on [email protected] or 0423 623 418.
Website: www.dearjuniperphotography.com
Kendell Tyne Photography – Christmas Minis
If you’re a Christmas nut, you won’t want to miss these sessions from talented local photographer Kendell Tyne.
Get ready to strike a pose as Kendell’s confetti cannon adds an explosion of joy and sparkle to your photos! That along with an over-the-top festive balloon Installation means these Christmas minis are sure to drop jaws on your Christmas card this year!
This delightfully fun festive session is one that’s sure to delight. We can’t wait to see Kendell capture those joyful giggles and teethy grins. This is a photoshoot that promises festive frivolity and a party atmosphere.
Kendell Tyne Photography
Price: $199 for a 10-minute session. 5 edited digital images – gallery upgrades available.
Location: The Studio Co. 13 Kerta Road, Kincumber.
When: 18 and 19 November 2023.
Contact: To book, contact Kendell on [email protected].
Website: http://www.kendelltynephotography.com/
Imy & Me Photography – Personalised Santa sessions
If you’re looking for a magical Santa experience as well as some beautiful Santa snaps, then you’ll absolutely love your photo session with Imy & Me. We think the experience she’s created is very, very special.
Most kids don’t really care about the Santa “photo”. For kids, it’s about the magical encounter of meeting Santa himself. When kids come face to face with the jolly man in the red suit, it’s a moment filled with awe and wonder: a moment when they’re excited and nervous and have little butterflies in their tummy, as they can’t quite believe that he’s there.
And this is where Imy & Me’s Santa sessions come unto their own. As, while Kirsty’s sessions allow kids time to whisper their wishes in Santa’s ear, to experience the warmth of his kindness and the twinkle in his eye, she also ensures that this experience is personalised.
What does that mean, you ask? Well, before your photo session with Santa, Kirsty sends parents an email asking for your children’s names, what they’ve achieved this year, what’s on their Christmas wish list and what their plans/hopes/goals are for the following year. When your family comes in to meet with Santa, Santa will show kids his special “Magic Book” and inside will be these beautiful details of your children so Santa can then have a real and personal chat with your kids about the year they’ve had and the year ahead.
We get teary just thinking about how wide-eyed and special your kids are going to feel when Santa asks them how their soccer final went, or if they’re enjoying their dancing classes, or what colour bike they’d like, without any prompting first. And if you have a little non-believer or a child who’s starting to question whether Santa is real, this is a beautiful way to extend the magic.
Kirsty’s images capture this moment – when Santa is showing the kids their profile in his “Magic Book”. It’s a photo you’ll treasure as it’s sure to capture a magical moment in time when your kids make a genuine connection with Santa… it gets us all teary just thinking about it.
There are two options available. Both experiences include a personalised profile in Santa’s Magic Book. In the Santa Experience at Ourimbah, though, you get something a little extra – and extra special! Santa will record a personalised video for you. This video will be emailed to you to be shown to your kids on Christmas Eve. It may be Santa telling your kids that he has their gifts packed in his sleigh or that he had a lovely time meeting them. How special is that!
Scroll down to see the decor of both locations.
Imy & Me’s Santa Experience: Ourimbah Studio
Come and meet Santa at Imy & Me Photography’s studio in Ourimbah.
Imy & Me Photography’s Santa Experience
Price: A 15-minute interactive session with Santa, including portraits. A personalised video message from Santa for your child to view on Christmas Eve, a personalised profile in Santa’s Magic Book plus 5 high-resolution digital images. Each child gets a gift. Extra digital images are available at an additional charge. $175.
Location: Imy & Me Ourimbah Studio, 58 Coachwood Drive, Ourimbah.
When: 26 November and 3 December 2023. Further sessions may be added if there’s demand; if there aren’t any sessions that suit your availability, get in touch with Kirsty on 0414 726 206 to discuss.
Pets are welcome too!
Contact: To book, contact Kirsty on [email protected] or 0414 726 206.
Website: https://www.imyandme.com.au/
Imy & Me’s 2023 Glasshouse Christmas Portrait Session
Come and meet Santa in this stunning Glasshouse in Cooranbong. Hurry, there are very limited sessions here, so jump on these super fast.
Imy & Me Photography’s Glasshouse Christmas Portrait Session
Price: A 10-minute portrait session with Santa at a private location in Cooranbong. A personalised profile in Santa’s Magic Book plus 5 high-resolution digital images. Each child gets a gift. Extra digital images are available at an additional charge.
Location: Wilde Women Studios & Farm-Glasshouse, 172 Mount Nellinda Road, Cooranbong.
When: 18 November 2023. Further sessions may be added if there’s demand; if there aren’t any sessions that suit your availability, get in touch with Kirsty on 0414 726 206 to discuss.
Pets are welcome too!
Contact: To book, contact Kirsty on [email protected] or 0414 726 206.
Website: https://www.imyandme.com.au/
Central Coast Santa
Central Coast Santa is back again this year with their awesomely fun set that’s packed with festive decorations, glittering Christmas gifts, and a super comfy couch where you and your family can have your very special pics taken with the big man himself!
Not only that, but it all takes place at North Avoca – one of our favourite Central Coast beaches. This setting epitomises Aussie Christmas vibes – Santa’s barefoot and he’s ditched his heavy winter coat for some comfy overalls far better suited to the Australian summer. It’s fun, laid back and oh so very cool – it’s the type of setting your teenage kids won’t groan at. AND it’s a Santa snap that’s absolutely guaranteed to make you the envy of all your northern hemisphere friends and family!
Families can choose from a number of photo packages – from a simple digital download to a vast range of printed, framed and canvas package options.
Central Coast Santa
Price: Digital package – 3 high-res photos, $90 | Print and Frame packages available from $165 | Canvas packages available from $165.
When: Saturday November 18th & Sunday November 19th, Saturday November 25th & Sunday November 26th, Saturday December 2nd & Sunday December 3rd, Friday December 8th, Saturday December 9th & Sunday December 10th, Saturday December 16th & Sunday December 17th, Friday December 15th, Wednesday December 2oth. | Weekends – 8am till 7pm
Weekdays – 2pm till 7pm | see website for available times.
Location: North Avoca. Specific address details will be emailed to you when you make your booking.
Pets are welcome too!
Contact: Call 4367 8499 or Email [email protected]
Website: https://centralcoastsanta.com.au/
Local Favourites Not Doing Santa Pics in 2023
We often get enquiries from people asking if certain photographers are running their Santa and festive sessions each year, so we’ve started compiling a little list of past favourites who are sadly no longer operating.
Santa on the Central Coast
Santa on the Central Coast has been taking gorgeous Santa snaps for many years, and they’ve long been popular for their beach, bush and garden settings. Sadly Simone and Mel have made the difficult decision to not do Santa photos any longer.
Soul Story Photography
Renee’s studio festive photos have wowed families with their beauty and whimsy, but sadly, Renee has decided to move into another field.
Brilliant Santa on the Beach
For all of those people enquiring, the very special team behind Brilliant Santa on the Beach are no longer taking Santa snaps. These guys donated all proceeds from their photoshoots to Aspect Central Coast School, so they were pretty spesh.
Santa on the Sand
This wonderful fundraising event has now retired. Michelle said, Santa and his wonderful Elves “unfortunately don’t currently have the time in their busy work schedules to give Santa on the Sand the love it deserves.
We are so grateful to all of you for being part of this since 2011, raising over $22000 for St Vincent de Paul, helping local families make ends meet at Christmas… We absolutely loved every minute of sharing this with you all and watching your families and fur babies grow!”
This feature was created in partnership with Natural Lights Photography, Central Coast Santa, Jessie Walker Photography, Imy & Me Photography, Whiteman Photography, Dear Juniper Photography and Kendell Tyne Photography.
+ Want your photos or business to be included too? Reach out to our advertising team on [email protected].
Don’t let your friends miss out! Click below to share these gorgeous Christmas photo sessions with them.
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Header image: Whiteman Photography
Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
