Santa Mini Sessions in Nashville, TN: How to Book Your Spot

How to Book Santa Mini Sessions in Nashville, TN

It is officially time to start planning your family’s holiday photos, and I have a feeling you are here because you want something better than a rushed twenty seconds on Santa’s lap at the mall. Hi, I am Dolly DeLong, a Nashville and Franklin, TN family photographer, and every year I host a one-day Santa mini session event where children get real, unhurried time with Santa while I photograph every wide-eyed reaction in between.

If you have been wondering how to book Santa mini sessions in Nashville without the guesswork, this post walks you through my exact process. You will find the current year’s session details, the three steps required to hold your spot, what happens after you book, and how many images you receive. My booking system stays the same every year because it works, and I check every link and every form before sessions go live.

Ready to skip ahead? You can view available time slots and book your 2026 Santa mini session here. Spots are first come, first served.

What Are the Santa Mini Session Details for 2026?

The 2026 Santa mini sessions take place Saturday, November 7th, 2026 at Studio Ivoire in Franklin, TN. Each session is 15 minutes, costs $350, and includes up to 10 edited digital images.

Here is everything in one place so you can decide quickly:

• Date: Saturday, November 7th, 2026 (one day only)
• Location: Studio Ivoire in Franklin, Tennessee
• Session length: 15 minutes with Santa Scott
• Investment: $350
• What is included: Up to 10 professionally edited, high-resolution digital images delivered in an online gallery with a print release
• Upgrade option: Full gallery available for purchase after delivery
• Weather: This is an indoor studio, so the event happens rain or shine

Studio Ivoire is one of my favorite natural light studios in Franklin. The soft, elegant space gives these photos a warm and timeless look that fits right into your Christmas cards, your gallery wall, or your grandparents’ mantel. And because everything happens inside, a gray November Saturday will not change a single thing about your session.

Santa Scott has been bringing Christmas magic to families for more than 50 years. He is patient, warm, and genuinely wonderful with children of every age and temperament. I absolutely love working with him because he brings so much professionalism and joy to every client interaction! 

How Do You Book Your Santa Mini Session Spot?

Booking a Santa mini session takes three easy steps: select your time slot, sign your contract, and pay your invoice in full. Your spot is not held until all three are complete.

I want to be very clear about this part, because it is where families sometimes lose the time slot they wanted. 

Step 1: Select your time slot. Head to the Santa mini session booking page and browse the available times. Pick the one that works best for your family’s nap schedule, sports schedule, or general holiday chaos. Sessions are first-come, first-served. Usually all of my mini sessions are in the morning, so I try to be mindful of little ones’ nap schedules because, as a mom of three myself, I understand. 

Step 2: Sign your contract. As soon as you choose a slot, your session contract lands in your inbox. Read it, sign it, and send it back. This protects you, protects me, and takes about two minutes. Basically, it helps me know whether you would like me to post previews, and it sets expectations for what to expect. Please sign your contract. 

Step 3: Pay your invoice in full. Your invoice arrives alongside the contract. Payment is due in full to reserve your spot, and I don’t offer partial holds. For all of my minis, upfront payment is required. 

Until all three steps are finished, that time slot stays open for anyone else who wants it. So if you have your heart set on the 10:00 am slot before lunch and naps, please finish all three steps in one sitting. I have watched families select a time, walk away to make dinner, and come back to find it gone. Also, if you need to, try booking everything on your desktop computer just in case (but I have made everything accessible and easy for mobile purposes; just in case, I have found the user experience to be a bit more friendly on desktop when you are in the booking process!) 

What Happens After You Book Your Santa Mini Session?

Once your contract is signed and your invoice is paid, you receive a payment receipt and an automated welcome message with your next steps, including a questionnaire from Santa himself.

This is my favorite part of the process, and it’s why I stay so organized on the backend.

Right after booking, you’ll get a confirmation email with what to wear, when to arrive, where to park, and how to help your little ones feel excited instead of nervous about meeting Santa. If your family is still deciding on outfits, my post on choosing outfits for family photos walks through color palettes and coordination without the matchy-matchy look.

You also receive a separate questionnaire from Santa Scott. This is where you tell him your children’s names, their nicknames, what they are hoping for this Christmas, and anything else that helps him connect with them. Santa reads these ahead of time. When your child walks in, and Santa already knows their name and that they have been asking for a purple bike, the reaction on their face is the entire reason I built this event.

That questionnaire only reaches you after your contract is signed, which is one more reason not to let that email sit unopened.

How Many Photos Will You Receive From Your Santa Mini Session?

Every Santa mini session includes up to 10 professionally edited, high-resolution digital images delivered in an online gallery with a print release. You can upgrade to a full gallery after delivery.

Your gallery arrives as a private online link, and the print release means you can print your images wherever you like, from a local Nashville lab to a holiday card company. Ten images is plenty for a Christmas card, a few framed prints, and a round of grandparent gifts.

If you want every single frame from your family’s time with Santa, the full gallery upgrade is available once your gallery goes live. Details and pricing come with your delivery email, so there is no pressure to decide anything in advance.

Do Santa Mini Sessions in Nashville Fill Up Fast?

Yes. Santa mini sessions are a one-day event with a limited number of 15-minute slots, and the most popular morning times are usually claimed within days of going live.

I only host this event once per year, and the studio is only mine for half of the day. That means the number of families I can serve is fixed. Morning slots tend to go first because they line up with younger children’s best hours, and repeat families often grab their spot the moment booking opens.

I am not saying that to rush you. I am saying it because I would rather you know the real pace than assume you have weeks to think it over. If you are reading this and slots are still showing as available, that is your green light.

Why Families Choose a Private Santa Session Instead of the Mall

Private Santa mini sessions give children unhurried one-on-one time with Santa in a calm studio, rather than a brief, crowded visit with a stranger in a busy mall.

There is no line. No photographer is barking at your toddler to look up and smile. You’ll have a warm studio, a Santa who already knows your child’s name, and 15 minutes for your children to talk to him, hand him their list, and settle in.

We capture candid moments, the sweet interactions between your child and Santa, and posed portraits of the whole family too. If your two-year-old melts down and hides behind your leg, that is fine. Some of the most treasured photos I have ever delivered came from a hesitant kiddo peeking around a knee.

Here is what past clients have said about working with me:

“Dolly was a joy to work with! Her communication was excellent and very responsive. We are so happy with how our newborn family photos turned out.”

-Michelle Frazier

“My family had a wonderful photo session with Dolly. She made everyone feel comfortable, and it showed in the photos taken.”

-Taylor Davis

If a full-length session feels like more than your family needs this year, I also offer full family portrait sessions, and you can book them here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Mini Sessions in Nashville

How do I book my Santa mini session? To reserve your spot, complete three steps. First, select your preferred time slot from the available options. Second, sign your session contract. Third, pay your session invoice in full. Your spot isn’t officially held until you complete all three steps, so please don’t wait. You can sign up here. 

How much is a Santa mini session? The investment is $350. That includes 15 minutes with Santa Scott at Studio Ivoire in Franklin, TN, and up to 10 professionally edited, high-resolution digital images delivered in an online gallery with a print release.

What if my child is scared of Santa? That is completely normal, and Santa Scott is a pro at this. With more than 50 years of experience, he knows how to put nervous little ones at ease. We never force interactions, and some of the sweetest photos actually come from those hesitant moments.

Can I upgrade to the full gallery? Yes. After your session, you can upgrade and purchase the full gallery if you want every image from your family’s time with Santa. Details are sent with your final gallery delivery.

Where are the Santa mini sessions held? Studio Ivoire in Franklin, Tennessee, roughly 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Nashville depending on traffic. Parking and arrival details come in your confirmation email.

What should we wear for Santa photos? Soft neutrals, deep reds, greens, creams, and gentle textures photograph beautifully against the studio’s natural light. Your style guide arrives after booking, and my family photo outfit guide has more ideas.

How long until we receive our photos? Your online gallery is delivered after editing, with the timeline confirmed in your booking email so you can plan your Christmas cards accordingly.

Book Your 2026 Santa Mini Session in Nashville

Spots for the 2026 Santa mini sessions in Nashville and Franklin, TN are open now. Browse the available time slots, sign your contract, pay your invoice, and consider your holiday photos handled.

Book your Santa mini session time slot here.

Every year I watch a child walk into that studio, spot Santa across the room, and stop dead in their tracks with their mouth wide open. That look lasts about four seconds in real life. In a photograph, it lasts forever. These early years move so fast, and I am grateful I get to slow one small piece of them down for your family. I would love to photograph yours this November.

Curious about what to wear for your Santa Mini Session? ⬇️

What to Wear for Santa Mini Sessions in Nashville, TN

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