When did it become a fad for malls to put out pricey Santa photos?

[DodgerGirl]

Ever since it was announced years ago that Macy's in New York would start taking reservations to get photos with Santa I noticed that once this fad begun malls would begin doing this too every year and I can't figure out why Santa photos for kids have gotten pricey and more pricey every year? I remember when I was a little girl Santa photos used to cost a dollar and now it seems that every year Santa photos cost $60 to $70 and I cannot see what makes a Santa photo special that makes it worth $60 at the malls. And I remember when they would give kids little treats and a candy cane along with the photo but I think the malls are trying to charge people a lot for Santa photos by getting them to buy things such as photo ornaments and photo mugs along with the photo. If Santa photos were not so pricey today the malls could make more money every year by lowering the prices

 

[nw6675]

I think it is just like Disney or any business - if people are willing to pay it, then they'll charge it. If you have one near you, Bass Pro Shop and Cabela's usually do free pictures - you get a free 4*6 and then you can purchase. I think you are purchasing the digital download, not packages. I can't quite remember, but this link has more info.

We actually got an excellent pic of my daughter with Santa at Bass Pro a few years ago.

 

[sam_gordon]

@eksmama01 has it exactly right... supply & demand. Parents want that "keepsake" of little Johnny or Suzy sitting on Santa's lap AND they're willing to pay for it. Why shouldn't the malls charge for it? And charge as much as people are willing to pay? They have to pay for Santa, pay for the helpers, pay for the camera gear, etc, etc. You expect a business to LOSE money when they don't have to?

 

[PollyannaMom]

I agree that the malls will charge whatever they can get people to pay.

But putting on a lower-cost option at a local Y or someplace might be a great project if you're looking to organize something for families on a budget! Maybe you could get photography students as volunteers?

 

[slo]

Back when my girls were little, I paid about $25 for a 5x7 with 4 wallets and I thought that was ridiculously expensive, but I still paid it. If I had little ones now, and it was $70 I would pay it, and then I’d be crabby about it - LOL! I love all my pictures of the girls with mall Santa

ETA….My thoughts on why it’s so expensive is definitely the demand first, then the amount it costs the gentleman playing Santa (I’m sure they want the pay to be worth their while), the staff to run it and the props (our malls props are pretty nice) and the technology to take nice photos - all this stuff adds up. Do I think it adds up to require as much as they charge? No, but it’s a business and businesses are in the business to make money.

 

[RedAngie]

There are local places, like say an Elks Club, where a volunteer Santa poses for photos with kids for free or a small donation. You use your own camera.

Granted, it’s probably for only a few hours one day, and it’s not as elaborate as a professional mall setting, but it’s an option.

 

[MamaMermaid]

We pay. It's a big price tag but it's worth it. We actually have stopped going to the mall and instead go to our local Zoo. They have an AMAZING Santa. Hoping he's there for many years!

 

[RUDisney]

I agree that the malls will charge whatever they can get people to pay.

But putting on a lower-cost option at a local Y or someplace might be a great project if you're looking to organize something for families on a budget! Maybe you could get photography students as volunteers?

There are plenty of places around our town that have Santa available for photos. Most of them, you will take yourself. One local floral/greenhouse has reindeers that will pose with Santa and your children and you take the photo. A local photographer takes pictures in his studio with a nice backdrop for free. You get one free 5x7. He does the same thing on Halloween so you can get a professional print of Junior in costume for free, too.

I would not take my kids to the mall for $70 prints, but I would definitely take them to one of my other options. Has the quality of the Santa/costume improved for $70 prints?

 

[mjkacmom]

There are plenty of places around our town that have Santa available for photos. Most of them, you will take yourself. One local floral/greenhouse has reindeers that will pose with Santa and your children and you take the photo. A local photographer takes pictures in his studio with a nice backdrop for free. You get one free 5x7. He does the same thing on Halloween so you can get a professional print of Junior in costume for free, too.

I would not take my kids to the mall for $70 prints, but I would definitely take them to one of my other options. Has the quality of the Santa/costume improved for $70 prints?

I don’t remember what I paid every year, but my mall Santa was amazing. He was there every year, and most families went to that mall for Santa pictures. It was sad when he passed away.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I agree that the malls will charge whatever they can get people to pay.

But putting on a lower-cost option at a local Y or someplace might be a great project if you're looking to organize something for families on a budget! Maybe you could get photography students as volunteers?

That's a really good idea for fundraising!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Ever since it was announced years ago that Macy's in New York would start taking reservations to get photos with Santa I noticed that once this fad begun malls would begin doing this too every year and I can't figure out why Santa photos for kids have gotten pricey and more pricey every year? I remember when I was a little girl Santa photos used to cost a dollar and now it seems that every year Santa photos cost $60 to $70 and I cannot see what makes a Santa photo special that makes it worth $60 at the malls. And I remember when they would give kids little treats and a candy cane along with the photo but I think the malls are trying to charge people a lot for Santa photos by getting them to buy things such as photo ornaments and photo mugs along with the photo. If Santa photos were not so pricey today the malls could make more money every year by lowering the prices

You don't have to buy the expensive package if you don't want to. They'll sell those if you want em. But ours were something like $20 for 2 sheets. And for those two sheets we chose an 8 by 10 for one and wallets for the other. BYW they'll do Xmas cards for you, put the picture on a coffee mug, all kinds of stuff.

 

[Dan Murphy]

the gentleman playing Santa

Playing Santa? What's this 'playing' stuff you speak of?

 

[JaxDad]

Playing Santa? What's this 'playing' stuff you speak of?

 

[Disney Ron]

There are still malls?

 

[mom2rtk]

I don’t remember what I paid every year, but my mall Santa was amazing. He was there every year, and most families went to that mall for Santa pictures. It was sad when he passed away.

Stop the presses..... Santa died? How did I miss this?

 

[mom2rtk]

Our mall didn't charge for a visit. They only charged for photos. They used to let you take your own, because people didn't walk around with a camera in their pocket. Once cell phone cameras became a thing you had to ante up for their package if you wanted to take any of your own (mine were always better than what they took, so I paid mostly just so I could use my own camera).

One mall (RIP) even used to have a witch at Halloween to take photos with. I miss those days.

 

[disneychrista]

I never bought photos of my daughters with the mall Santa. Am I a bad mom?

 

[barkley]

i don't know that i would want to memorialize the current 'santa behind plexiglass' moments kids are experiencing (at least that's the only type of mall santa photos you've been able to get in our neck of the woods the last couple of years-IF an individual mall was even doing santa meet and greets at all).

 

[Buzz Rules]

I miss when Christmas wasn’t commercialized and celebrated the way it’s supposed to be. *sigh*

 

[Mysterian]

You need to make that $60-70 worth it by bringing in some friends to create a whole tableau around that mall Santa. Just like the Splash Mountain photo gimmicks.

Extra points if mall Santa looks incredibly uncomfortable in the photo, as he begins to question which path led to that moment in his life.