Sydney’s best Santa photo sessions fill up fast, and if you’re hoping to capture the magic of Christmas with your family, it’s crucial to act quickly. Here’s everything you need to know to find and book the perfect Santa studio photos in 2024, along with tips on securing great deals and offers. We recommend booking your spot as soon as dates are released. Many venues offer early-bird discounts or exclusive promotions, making it worth your while to stay ahead of the crowd. You can usually book online or via the venue’s app—just make sure to check cancellation policies in case plans change!

From iconic shopping centres to professional photography studios, Sydney offers numerous spots for Christmas family photos. Look out for festive setups featuring beautifully decorated trees, Santa’s sleigh, and even some playful elves!

Please find our comprehensive list below, in alphabetical order.

Broadway Sydney, Ultimo, details tbc.

Castle Hill Cultural Centre, Castle Hill, details tbc.

Central Coast Santa, North Avoca Beach, selected dates from 16/11-8/12, from $90. Something a little different than the traditional Santa photos, with no waiting in line for hours at stuffy shopping centres. All Central Coast Santa sessions are pre-booked, so just head down to the beach and create some lasting memories with family, friends and pets, in a relaxed and fun environment. There is a photo package for everyone. Receive your photos through digital download, or take a pick from their vast range of printed, acrylic and canvas package options. Pet-friendly.

The Christmas Portal, Alexandria, Get your jingle on and book now to save.
Offer ends 31 October or until sold out: all weekday tickets $79 and all weekend tickets $99. Then weekday | child $99 + adult $109 and weekend | child $119 + adult $129. This venue is quite different to the others on our list. It’s so much more than ‘just’ Santa photos. Adventure to the heart of Christmas magic where elves and fairies will take your family on a theatrical journey through a white Christmas wonderland. Make precious memories in the enchanted forest with unique characters, cinematic scenes, indoor snow play and all the festive trimmings over 2 – 3 hours.

Club Central Menai, Menai, details coming soon.

Cronulla RSL, Cronulla, Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays from 30/11 – 22/12, $85. Get ready for a jolly good time at the 2024 Santa Photos – “Christmas by the Sea” event! Join them for a festive experience like no other. Take your little ones (and fur babies) to meet Santa Claus himself and capture those precious moments with a bunch of professional photos sent to you digitally (between 15-25 photos will be sent to you). Their talented photographers will make sure to capture the holiday spirit in every snapshot. Immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of “Christmas by the Sea” as you enjoy the stunning coastal views of Cronulla. You’ll feel like you’re celebrating the holidays in a true beachside paradise! Don’t miss out on this special event and wonderful Santa experience. Book your photo session with Santa now for $79 (+ booking fees) to receive ALL digital images.

Crowne Plaza Coogee, Coogee, selected dates from 9-23/1, $84.96. Book your photo session with Santa now to receive ALL digital images on the day. This year’s Santa will be visiting Coogee with a brand new theme “BAKING MEMORIES WITH SANTA”. You can expect to see:

• Santa cooking in the kitchen
• Props
• Matching family Christmas tops/aprons
• Furry friends welcome
• Corporate bookings welcome

David Jones, CBD, 6/11-24/12, from $25.95. As shown in the above photo. Enjoy a magical Christmas experience like no other and discover multiple package options including Santa Pawtraits, Sensitive Santa and standard sessions. Recieve your photo with Santa in a custom sleeve and a complimentary Santa Hat. Sensitive Santa and Pet sessions also available.

The Enchanted Trove, Campbelltown, selected dates from 4/11-16/12, from $180. Their professional photo studio will transform into Santa’s Palace, with snow-topped trees, whimsical décor and neutral furnishings. In 2023 they were announced as one of the Best Santa Photo Studio experiences in Sydney, and we know 2024 will be no different. Their set this year will have some changes to keep it interesting but will stick to the same frosty forest colour pallet. Keep an eye out on their socials towards the end of the year for the big reveal! During your private and personalised experience, you will meet their jolly characters and be immersed in the magic of Christmas. On the day, you will:

• Meet The Christmas Fairy, an Elf, & Santa Claus himself.
• Find your child’s name on Santa’s list.
• Enjoy a 15-minute private session in our photo studio, where our team will capture candid shots and assist your group with various poses.
• Receive EVERY high-resolution quality photo we take on the day on a complimentary themed USB.
• Receive a set of professional quality prints of your favourite photo in various sizes to gift to relatives or divide amongst co-workers easily.
• Children receive a small keepsake gift from Santa to take home.

The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria, details to come.

James Mills Photography, details to come.

J Roberts Photography, Long Reef Beach, selected dates from 17/11-23/11, $85. Celebrating their 10th Year of Aussie Santa Photos. This festive season, take the whole family to experience the true spirit of an Aussie Christmas with Santa at the beach! Santa will be making his annual appearance at the stunning Long Reef Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, for your family to come down and capture the essence of Christmas in Sydney. Say goodbye to long queues! These pre-booked sessions are a breezy 5 minutes per family, giving you all the time you need to capture the perfect festive moment. And the best part? You’ll receive 3 high-resolution images, ideal for sharing with loved ones or turning into the ultimate Christmas card. So, grab your sunnies and join us at Long Reef Beach this November and December for a truly special Santa photo experience.

LC Photo, Penrith, from $90. You will arrive at our fully decorated studio, greeted by Santa’s elves or by Mrs Claus herself! You get a wonderful photography session in our amazing set with (or without) Santa and/or Mrs Claus or just beautiful Christmas photos of your family. Each child will receive a gift from Santa or Mrs Claus or if you booked a No-Santa session, he will have left a gift to take home! (While stocks last). ALL the professionally edited digital images from your session will be provided via their private download gallery.

Let’s SEA Santa, Turimetta Beach, selected dates from 30/11-15/12, $90. 2024 will be their 11th year in a row spreading Christmas cheer and capturing magical moments for Northern Beaches families and they couldn’t be more excited! Their aim is to make your 10 minute Santa Session as fun and relaxed as possible. They’ll have some props on hand but make sure to take your own if there’s something special you want to put on. They love it when families get creative! They’ll be blowing bubbles, singing Jingle Bells and doing all they can to make your little humans smile. For the little ones who are a bit unsure and not too keen on the big guy, Santa has perfected what we call the ‘Santa photo bomb’. We wave goodbye to Santa as he walks away for a bit and while we’re taking photos of just your family, he sneaks back in and your little person is none the wiser!

Macquarie Centre, North Ryde, details to come.

Martinette, near Galston (details will be provided after you book. Their locations are a secret), 15/10-20/12, from $285. NB – Santa’s not there, but there are reindeers! Their sessions are best suited for children 2 and up.

Myer, CBD store only. Santaland bookings are free. If you would like to purchase the professional photos taken on the day, printed photo packages start at $27.50. You may also add-on a digital version of your photos for $12.95 with any printed package purchase. Jump on our train to the North Pole and take some fun photos in front of our green screen. You’ll be able to do some colouring, post a letter to Santa, and of course, meet Santa himself and take a magical family Christmas photo. Tip: Don’t wear green if you want to get some great green screen photos. Special Sensory and Santa Paws at Myer sessions also available.

Naomi Reiter Photography, Roseville, details to come.

Noemie V Photography, Gladesville, selected dates from 8/11-24/11, from $250. Celebrate the Magic of Christmas with Noemie V. No Santa, but her setup looks amazing.

QVB, CBD, selected dates from 9/11-24/12, Adult/teenager (13 years or over) $95, Child (1 – 12 years) ticket $75. Under the glistening chandeliers of the iconic Tea Room QVB, book your table for a magical, memorable and intimate Santa Experience. Indulge in a bespoke Christmas-themed Traditional High Tea and have your memories captured with their professional photography of your special moment with Santa himself.

Revesby Worker’s Club, Revesby, details to come.

Rouse Hill Town Centre, Rouse Hill, 4/11-24/12, details coming soon.

Santa in the Paddock, Arcadia, 22-24/11 only at this stage, from $185. Create some Christmas moments with Santa, country-style. Visit Santa in beautiful Arcadia to capture your precious moments of the festive season. Set on five acres, there will be two festive themes. The session will be shot by a professional photographer in an interactive setting.

Santa in the Park, Kellyville, details to come.

Santa on the Beach, North Curl Curl Beach, North Avoca Beach, Norah Head and Umina. Plus they are adding premium sessions at Q Station this year. Selected dates from 9/11-8/12, from $89. Looking for a fun, classic Australian Christmas photo that the whole family (including the dog) will love? You’ve found it!

Santa in the Gardens, Ku-Ring-Gai Wildflower Garden in St Ives, details to come.

Santa Haus, Tuggerah, selected dates from 19/10, from $132. Capturing the very essence of Christmas tradition.The original Santa on the Beach photography. Santa Haus has been part of the magic of Christmas for more than 10 years as the original Central Coast Santa on the Beach photography. They have rebranded and expanded to bring you more Santa magic with personalised Santa letters, Christmas decorations, keepsakes and gifts, making your photo sessions a magical experience. They offer new Christmas themes for our photos every year, whilst keeping our very special Santa, Roy and Santa Bruce. Watch your family grow up year after year and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Santa at the Summit, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Every Sunday morning (Summit Climbs before 11am) from 3/11 – 22/12, from $364 adults, from $149 children (8-15 years), family tickets save 15%. The festive season is Claus for celebration as Santa graces us with his presents at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, ready to pose with Climbers for an unbeatable festive photo! Climbers can tick off Sydney’s must-do experience AND pose for a festive photo with the big man himself, 134 metres above the Harbour on the iconic arches. It’s a fun twist on the typical Aussie beach Christmas snap or the usual shopping centre backdrop, don’t you think. An iconic Santa photo to share with loved ones near and far, and one that’s sure to go straight to the pool room. All you need to bring is a frankincense of adventure!

Santa by the Surf, North Bondi, Bronte and Watson’s Bay, details coming soon.

The Santa Studio, Gymea Bay, The Santa Studio offers private, pre-booked photography sessions in a one of a kind, interior designer built and styled Christmas studio based in the Sutherland Shire. Bookings open NOW for sessions from 1/11 – 24/12. Packages available from $65 (introductory offer – available for a limited time only) to $150 with pet-friendly and sessions without Santa also available.

Christmas at the NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere, Kick off Christmas with family-friendly activities including steam train rides and Santa appearances at the NSW Rail Museum. Details coming soon.

Santa’s Vintage Electric Train, Travel aboard a vintage electric train along the Sydney Trains network from Central Station with Santa. Details coming soon.

Top Ryde Centre, Top Ryde, Details coming soon.

Winston Hills Mall, Winston Hills, 17/11-24/12, details coming soon.