Families looking for something beyond the traditional mall Santa photos have a unique opportunity this holiday season. Indianapolis family lifestyle expert Katy Mann, founder of Indy With Kids, recently joined Fox59’s Indy Now morning show to share her personal experience with a magical holiday photography session at Pixels by Emily, a boutique photography studio in Mahomet, Illinois.
This isn’t your average sit-on-Santa-lap photo. Instead, it’s an immersive 45-minute private session where children step into a North Pole setting, interact with Santa, and create memories that are documented in heirloom-quality portraits.
More Than a Photo Shoot
Mann explained that the experience goes far beyond taking a few pictures. Each family receives a golden ticket invitation to the North Pole in the mail before the session. On the day of the visit, families are greeted by an elf and escorted into a private holiday wonderland. From there, kids move through different activities with Santa—sharing milk and cookies, looking for their names on the Nice List, painting a magical masterpiece, showing Santa their location on a globe, and even nodding off in a cozy moment beside him.
“What I loved about this photography experience is that that’s not what it was about,” Mann said. “It was about the kids spending time with Santa and experiencing things with him. And then the photographer was just capturing these authentic expressions of joy and wonder.”
Capturing Childlike Wonder
For Mann’s family—whose children are ages 14, 12, 10, and 8—the session captured a range of magical moments. One portrait in particular stood out. “There’s one where my daughter has her hand on her chest, just full of childlike wonder—even at 12 years old. That’s something you can’t stage,” Mann explained.
The images, which have been described as Norman Rockwell-esque, are printed as canvases, fine art pieces, or custom storybooks. Mann’s family opted for a storybook of their Santa experience, complete with their children’s names woven into the narrative. “My mother-in-law told me the kids are going to fight over it. She said we’ll need to put it in the will,” Mann said with a laugh.
A Holiday Getaway Close to Home
Mahomet, Illinois, is just a two-hour drive from Indianapolis. Families can make the trip in a single day or turn it into a weekend getaway. Mann’s family opted for an overnight stay, giving them time to explore additional local attractions.
One nearby favorite is Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch, located just 20 minutes from the studio. “You can meet the reindeer, you can kiss the reindeer—it’s just so fun,” Mann said. “It really adds to the holiday spirit.” The Champaign area also offers a children’s museum and other family-friendly stops, making it easy to plan a full weekend of holiday fun.
Why It’s Worth Booking Early
Because every session is private and highly customized, availability is extremely limited. Families are encouraged to book early—both for this year and even for the following holiday season. “Book now, because there are only so many slots, since this is a private curated experience,” Mann advised.
The studio encourages families to provide their own wardrobe, allowing them to tailor the look of their photos. The result is a set of timeless portraits that feel like art pieces rather than posed snapshots. “It didn’t feel like a photography studio experience,” Mann said. “It felt like a magical memory we were just lucky enough to have captured.”
Heirlooms for a Lifetime
For Mann, the experience was less about photographs for a holiday card and more about investing in pieces her family will cherish for decades. “Seeing my kids connect with Santa—laughing, dancing, and just being in the moment—those are memories we’ll cherish forever,” she said.
The portraits, whether displayed as framed canvases or bound into a custom storybook, become lasting family heirlooms. As Mann summed it up, “What about those timeless pieces that you want to have displayed in your home—those heirlooms? This is it.”
Make It Part of Your Holiday Tradition
For Indianapolis families looking for something new this Christmas, a drive to Mahomet offers a chance to create holiday magic in a whole new way. With interactive time with Santa, authentic moments captured in a storybook style, and opportunities to add on festive activities like visiting real reindeer, the experience can become a beloved holiday tradition.
Reservations for Pixels by Emily’s Santa Experience can be made at pixelsbyemily.com. Families are encouraged to plan ahead, as sessions for this year fill up quickly and next year’s calendar is already open.
