Question about Santa Etiquette?

[staci]

Ok, Ds loves Santa. Anything in a suit really. He would go see him each time we were at the mall if I would let him.

At our mall it cost like 13 bucks to get your picture on Santa's lap. A friend of mine insists that it is perfectly fine to have the child sit on Santa's lap, but not purchase a photo or pay anything. She also occasionally brings her own camera and takes a photo. So what do you guys think? If she is right, it sure would save me some cash!

Is it ok to visit Santa without buying a picture?

Is it ok to take that one step further and take your own photo?

If you pay for one picture from them, can you also take your own photos on your own camera?

What do you think is good Santa etiquette?

 

[AC7179]

I vote yes for talking to Santa without buying a picture, but no for taking your own picture.

 

[ChristmasElf]

I ntake my own picture every year with a digital camera. I then make sure I buy the cheapest smallest picture they sell so no one gets mad at us.
My picture usually always comes out better as well. (If I do say so myself)

 

[GJM]

The Santa my DS goes to at the mall, you are allowed to take your own pictures. This year they had a sign up that you are only allowed to take 3 of your own pictures.

This is the 7th. year my DS has taken his picture with this Santa. It is so cool to see how much he has changed over the years.

 

[aprilgail2]

Its fine just to go up and sit on their lap and tell them what you want for Christmas but there are signs all over the place on ours saying you can not take your own pictures.

 

[AmoDolphin]

Our place doesn't mind if you take your own pictures, and we do it every year.

 

[justhat]

Ours have signs that say "there is never any charge to visit with Santa" so I would definitely let him go as many times as he wants. I don't think I'd take my own photo though. We buy a smaller package from them cause we just need a few photos. I guess I we needed a lot then I'd take my own and print them.

 

[summerrluvv]

It's 19.99 for a picture here, so DS just sits on santa's lap and gets a coloring book. He has been twice so far this year LOL. The "elves" don't mind that we aren't purchasing. I see a lot of families not getting pictures. Isn't that what Santa is there for? So the kids can tell him what they want?

 

[kristen821]

Last year the cheapest picture we could get was $15.95 and that was for one 5x7 so I definately think it is ok to take your own picture. They charge way to much and it is a very poor quality picture.

 

[staci]

Thanks for all your input! Its interesting to hear all the different perspectives. I think I will go snoop around and see if I see any signs ; I dont remember any last year.

 

[Sparx]

Well... I can't remember takinga picture with santa when I was little. I was actually scared of him. The santa at the mall walks around and talks to kids when he's not taking pictures. I actually talked to him for a few minutes about bath and body works on the last trip to the mall. You shoudln't have to pay to see santa, but I don't know about taking your own pictures.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Around here people take their own pictures. I have often thought that if they would make the picture prices reasonable--it doesn't cost them much to print the pics, more people would probably buy them. $16 for two 3 x 5's is ridiculous when they probably cost a buck at most to print. If they charged $3 or 4 they would sell a lot!

 

[Jackie0824]

We never buy the pictures from Santa. Sorry, they are just too darn expensive for me. We always use our own camera. We asked first though. This year my kids have seen Santa at the school, and at a girlscout CHristmas party. The baby, however, is VERY afraid of the big jolly guy this year, so we wont be taking her picture with Santa at the mall.

 

[Kimberle]

We have 3 local malls with Santa. Unless their is a sign, it is perfectly OK to take your own picture. If you are unsure, just ask the "elves". When Brittany was younger, she, too, had to visit Santa every trip. That too is perfectly fine. Now, I take her once a year, buy a small picture package, and take a couple of my own. Santa this year had Mrs Clause to help the children. After our "standard" photo, I asked if she would pose with Brittany & Santa so I could take a picture. She was delighted to!

When in doubt, just ask! No reason to purchase tons of unnecessary pictures.

 

[staci]

Thanks everyone!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Don't know about the santa at your mall, but at WDW, Santa is accompanied by a photopass photographer, who will be happy to take a picture for you (no obligation to buy), but also doesn't mind if you take your own pictures

 

[bigbabyblues]

We've seen Santa at the mall the last 2-3 years, once I bought the small picture package, the other time(s?) I didn't.....the people working never seem to mind if we don't want the pictures. I saw a few people taking their own pics, and someone asked and they said it was fine.