Taking pictures with Santa has been a cherished tradition in our family for years, basically the Super Bowl of Christmas parenting. As a kid, I’d scribble out my Christmas list with the bold confidence of someone who truly believed Santa could deliver both a pony and a trampoline. Then I’d hop onto his lap and unload every hope and dream I had for Christmas morning. Pure, unfiltered magic.

Now that I’m a mom, the magic hits a little differently. My kids still get that sparkly-eyed excitement while I get the privilege of wrestling them into presentable clothes, bribing them with snacks, and whisper-threatening them in a mall line that stretches all the way to June. Or we splurge on a 10-minute photo session that costs more than my first car and ends with at least one child screaming like Santa just announced Christmas was canceled.

But this year, we tried The Santa Experience, a glow-up version of traditional Santa photos, and it did NOT disappoint. Honestly, it may have healed some of my mall-Santa trauma.

Our family of four booked the full one-hour session. As soon as we walked in, an elf greeted us at the door holding a sign with our name on it, casually perched in a sleigh like we were VIPs arriving at the North Pole Awards. My kids gasped, “HOW DID SANTA KNOW WE WERE COMING?” Meanwhile I’m thinking, “If Santa’s been tracking us, does he also know how many times I reheated the same cup of coffee today?”

After a mini sleigh photo shoot, the kids dropped their letters into a magical North Pole mailbox, and then we were whisked into Mrs. Claus’ kitchen. She welcomed them like she had waited all year for our children. There were aprons, chef hats, and enough frosting to put someone in a sugar coma. Mrs. Claus had one rule: “Use as many sprinkles as you want.” And trust me, they did.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get cuter, mysterious workshop noises echoed from the next room. An elf popped around the corner and asked if we’d help make toys. As if my children would ever turn down the chance to wield markers and stickers like tiny, chaotic engineers.

Inside the workshop, wooden toys and crafting supplies were spread out like Santa’s version of an all-you-can-eat buffet. The boys each picked a wooden truck and decorated it with the seriousness of seasoned toy designers. The elves praised their creativity and even listened to my seven-year-old passionately explain his “improved toy efficiency design,” which could honestly land him an internship at the North Pole.

Then it was time for the main event: Santa himself.

He greeted the boys by name, and they just about levitated. They climbed onto his lap and whispered their Christmas wishes with the intensity of diplomats negotiating world peace. Santa presented them with official certificates verifying their place on the Nice List. The kids nearly cried tears of joy, then immediately shot my husband and me a look that clearly meant, “Perfect. We’re off the hook till January.”

We wrapped up with family photos across three different Christmas-themed backdrops, each one worthy of a holiday movie poster. Santa even shared a little of “his magic,” and I watched my kids nod solemnly like they had just received classified elf information.

The session ended with goodie bags and their freshly decorated cookies, which they immediately inhaled before we even reached the car. By the time we buckled them in, they had frosting on their cheeks, sprinkles in their hair, and the pure joy of children who just lived their best Christmas lives.

We left feeling genuinely cared for, like this wasn’t just an event but an experience crafted with heart, whimsy, and enough holiday charm to make even the grumpiest adult believe in magic again. On the drive home, the kids were already asking if we could come back next year.

Our digital gallery arrived in less than 48 hours, and the photos were everything you’d want for Christmas cards, family prints, or social-media-worthy bragging. As a mom who hears, “Ugh, not again,” every time I even think about family pictures, it was nice to end up with a fun memory for them and a keepsake for me.

The Santa Experience takes place at Durant Studios at 3100 Business Park Drive, Suite 200, Goodlettsville, TN. You can check out their package options online. I highly recommend the Full Session if you can swing the $300 investment. They also offer a $100 Mini Session, perfect for quick Santa visits and a few family photos.

If you’re hoping to go this year, book ASAP. Seriously. I checked availability while writing this, and openings are disappearing faster than candy canes at preschool snack time.

When I spoke with one of the creators, he told me something that stuck with me: “Children are only little for so long. You get a handful of Christmases where the magic feels real. That’s why we created The Santa Experience, to capture that fleeting joy and hold onto it a little longer.”

And honestly, that’s exactly what it did for us. It gave us an hour where the world felt a little softer, the magic felt a little stronger, and the wonder in my kids’ faces reminded me why Christmas has always been my favorite season.

If you’re looking for a memory, not just a photo, this is it.

‍Book your session here.