As per the last few years, we will use Raby Bay Beach 1 and 2 for our shoots due to a few reasons.  One being that Wellington Point is so busy, and families in the past have got confused about which beach they are booked in at.  If you book in at Beach 1 and turn up at Beach 2, it’s a short walk to get to the right place so it makes it easier and way less stressful for our families.  (We use two beaches with two set ups during peak periods to fit in more families so no one misses out). It’s also less of a hike for us ladies to get our photographic gear and props to the beach from the carpark.  Parking is much better at Raby Bay, and the beach looks better when the tide is out as the water doesn’t disappear so much like it does at Wellington Point. 

Yes of course Santa is in all our session packages.  If you would like a photo without Santa that is possible but he will be on the beach with us to meet you and your children and pets.

The photos can be made into photo cards for Christmas, printed large for your wall, turned into canvases or any range of photo gifts that are available such as from Harvey Norman, Kmart, Big W or online.  You can also share them on Social Media such as Facebook or emailed to friends and family overseas.

Our Large Group Sessions accommodate 9 and over people with a 20 minute session and minimum 12 images. Dogs aren’t counted as people.

Yes you can.  Just book the portrait session in the gift recipients name on the form and pay through TryBooking as normal. Make sure you include the recipient’s name and email address rather than yours, so the email link to the images can be sent to them.

You will be contacted about an alternative date so please make sure you put in your correct mobile phone number.  We will endeavour to transfer your booking to suit you.  You will be given the address of the studio upon contact to change your beach booking. Please monitor your phone to take our call to make it easier for us to contact you. We may also issue a notice on our Facebook page about an impending weather event but you will be contacted to reschedule. If it’s just raining a tiny bit or is windy we still shoot.

TryBooking is a great system so you should have no problem paying with them.  Please note if you do change your booking and get a refund, you will have to pay the small TryBooking fees again if you rebook and a $10 automatic admin fee will be deducted from any refunds given as we have to do the process manually.

Contact us via email or Facebook Messenger as we will be opening up new days as spots fill up especially closer to Christmas.  If all the available spots fill, leave your name with us and we will put you on our waiting list.  If anybody cancels, we will contact you first to offer you the available spot. Sometimes we offer available spots on our Facebook page so if you watch this and set up notifications, you might be lucky to get a spot quickly.

We love dogs in our photos and in previous years we photographed Santa with some very cool cats, a bird and many Guinea Pigs. Images can be seen on our Gallery page. Dogs must be under control at all times on a leash, and you clean up any mess they make, but they are welcome to be in the photos with you, your family and Santa. They are welcome at both Beach 1 and Beach 2 at Raby Bay but must not go on the sand.  We will be set up on the grass area so dogs can join us.  Inspectors do patrol the area issuing fines even on Sunday afternoons. Photos with just your pet and Santa are fine too.  Just ask at the time of your photo shoot.

You are welcome to contact us about an alternative date for your session or you can gift the session time to another party.  We will happily refund if we have at least 24 hours notice and can rebook the spot.  If your spot cannot be filled, the team will not be able to provide a refund as we have costs of Santa and his elves to cover. If you fail to give any notice and just don’t turn up your monies will be not refunded as we won’t be able to rebook the session.

https://santabeachphotos.com/terms-and-conditions

Please see information on What to Wear for your portrait session located on the Session Information page.

 

You are welcome to bring cute costumes, hats, outfits or props for your family members or pets as long as they don’t get in the way or are too large. Reindeer ears for dogs are fine.  Some families like to style their Christmas session with a Hawaiian theme or by bringing large lollipops, ice blocks or glasses of fake wine for Santa to pose with.  Fishing rods, cricket sets and picnic set ups are also fun.

You can share a session with another family so book a 20-minute session, be photographed for 10 minutes each as well as a large group together and save money. Only one photo link email will be sent to the person who does the booking, but you are welcome to share this link with other people in the images.

Click on BOOK NOW and then select an available link.  You will be taken to the TryBooking website which is secure for payment.

Yes if you have more than 8 people in your staff, you can book a 20-minute session, have a large staff photo then change clothes and have a family photos too. A great idea for your end of year staff newsletter or social media pages.

After your portrait session, within 3 to 4 days, depending on how many shoots we have undertaken, we will email you a private Google Photos link so you can receive your images quickly. Please make sure you have given us your correct email address.  If images aren’t received within 3 to 4 days, please contact us after first checking your junk mail folder.  You are responsible for downloading, storing and backing up your images but we do keep copies.  The Google Drive delivery method is just temporary storage, not long term, and will be cleared out in January.

No Photoshop will not be used but light editing is undertaken on the images.

Yes Santa doesn’t mind taking a break from all the photos if you would like just a beach family photo. If you would like a photo with just your pets and Santa we will happily do that for you as well.  Just request this at the time of your shoot in person and we will accommodate you.

Yes our photographers and Santas have blue cards but they aren’t technically necessary as the children are never alone with our Santas.

Parking can be a little hectic at times close to Christmas and on the weekends, but there is plenty of parking usually available at Raby Bay in the designated spots and on the sides of the road.

Please try to book two small group spots back to back.  If this is not possible, contact us to be put on the waiting list in case a large group cancels, or watch our Facebook page for vacancy announcements.

What do we bring?

You may need to bring water and sunscreen plus any props you would.  Sunglasses help if you are booked when the sun can still be hot and bright.

Definitely turn up in the right place on the right day and early for your session.  Allow for crazy Christmas traffic and parking.  Make sure your children especially babies are well fed and rested so they will settle for their photos with Santa.  You can bring dog treats for your dog if they need some help posing in the right position.  Some thought to your outfits and props is always welcome and look great in photos.  Talk to your child first if they are afraid of Santa or if you think they might burst out crying.  Our Santa’s are wonderful and love children, however time is limited, so if your child spends 10 minutes crying then the photography will be difficult. The team are all mothers/grandmothers and know children are sometimes afraid of Santa.  If you pre warn us on the day, we can get Santa to hide behind you doing a thumbs up while your child is having a family photo with you. This is one way we work with the situation and have other tricks up our sleeve too.  We welcome children with special needs and have lots each year we enjoy seeing.  We always work hard to get smiles, but a lot depends on the people we are photographing, so big smiles and great attitudes definitely help get the best out of the experience. We also have no control over the weather, so if it’s very windy we will shoot, ask you to look after your own hair, and just bring a smile and put it down to crazy family Christmas memories in Queensland with our wild weather.

Please contact us here and somebody will respond as soon as possible.