Your Experience
We’re here for the young and old alike! So that means parents, we might have you get into a few shots with your kiddos or let THEM take some pictures of YOU.
Do you offer prints? Can I take my own pictures?
We do not offer prints, just digital downloads. Your costs cover the whole experience which includes us documenting your time with photographs so we ask that NO personal photos be taken.
Enjoy this time with your family. Let US worry about capturing those moments. You'll get various poses and combinations of individuals in photos. You won't be limited to just a few shots of your entire group or individuals.
How much does a visit cost?
Depending on the appointment you have scheduled, you will be charged accordingly as pricing is determined based on the number of images that will be sent and how many people/families we are photographing. We typically send between 4-10 images per appointment. More pricing details can be found here. Your final digital photographs include the copyright permissions to print as many as you would like! If you have varying groups coming for pictures, we need to be sure we have enough time to visit and photograph everyone so follow the correct link for your group.
Why have I not received an e-mail from you with instructions after I made my appointment or an e-mail with my pictures?
Some of our friends have reported not receiving an appointment confirmation e-mail or an e-mail from us which included a link for their images. If you haven't received an appointment confirmation, double-check to be sure you typed your e-mail correctly.
If it's receiving your images, apparently, some of our e-mails have been landing in Spam/Junk folders so be sure you're checking there for an e-mail from woodlandwasanta@gmail.com or Santa Brian before contacting us.
I see I can schedule an appointment. Do I HAVE to make an appointment or can I walk in? Where can I book an appointment and should we show up early for our appointment?
We take appointments ONLY. We do NOT accept walk-ins. Before booking, be sure that you're not scheduling a time that any littles usually take naps, get fed, etc. We know WE'RE happier when we're fed and awake so we want our friends visiting us under the best possible circumstances!
We do request you try to show up and be ready 5 minutes prior to your appointment in case we end up being ready for your family early. We finally switched to appointments in 2018 after having a 3-4 hour wait to see Santa one day. We are pretty good about sticking to our scheduled appointment times but we occasionally fall behind. Since this does happen, please don't schedule your appointment right before you have to be elsewhere. We don't want you to feel rushed through your appointment if you have a later engagement.
Sometimes, we have to take a bit of extra time to be sure the little kiddos who come visit us aren't scared before we take a picture! In that case, be sure you have a few snacks for your kiddos munch on while they wait and maybe a toy or two so they stay entertained. We always have some padding time built in throughout our day but we can't plan for everything. The link for appointments is here.
If you have made an appointment in the past and not shown up for it without calling us within 48 hours of missing your appointment time, you are no longer allowed to schedule any appointments with us.
What is your cancellation policy?
We do not require any form of payment when you make your appointment so if you do not show up for your appointment without CALLING us to cancel (yes, that happens a lot), you will no longer be able to schedule any future visits with us. By you not showing up, another family potentially misses out on a visit with Santa.
If you do need to cancel for some reason, please call and give us as much advance notice as possible. We have other families who would love to take an open time slot.
We realize things happen. However, if you do not show up for your appointment and do not call and speak directly with one of us within 48 hours after your appointment time, you will no longer be able to schedule any future appointments with us.
Can I book an appointment for a special occasion?
ABSOLUTELY! We've had families announce the gender of their baby, announce that they were expecting a baby, propose, etc. on our set over the years. If you have something special or crazy planned, give us a call! You can see some of the moments we captured here.
It looks like you're fully booked but I haven't made an appointment, yet! What do I do?
We are only opening up scheduling on Mondays at 7p.m. If it's early in the season, chances are, we are not yet fully booked. Once we get fully booked (MUCH closer to Christmas), we do have a waiting list in case we get cancellations. HOWEVER, to get on the waiting list, you MUST CALL US! There is NO other way to get on the list. If no one answers, please leave a brief, detailed message. With the number of phone calls we receive, we will NOT return your call if you don't leave a message and you might miss out.
What happens after we arrive?
Please try to arrive before your scheduled time. On your travels to Santa's Chalet, you will pass many helpful candy canes guiding your way. Pull around our one-way driveway and park. If your group is arriving in multiple vehicles, please park behind each other as we alternate parking spots (to help with traffic flow) based on appointment times. Once Santa is ready for you, we will wave you in. Unless you want to walk around our property or play with the kitties, doggies, or chickens, please wait in your vehicle (instead of at the door of Santa's Chalet) until one of our helpful elves let you know it's time to go in.
Please leave car seats, cell phones, and coats in the car and be sure EVERYONE is ready for a picture. If your littles are scared, we take some pictures of everyone to help them get more comfortable! Your time with us starts as soon as you walk into Santa's Chalet and we want to be sure you come in prepared! It's very warm inside so you just need to make the quick walk from your car to our Chalet door. There will be homemade treats for sale inside.
I've had some bad experiences with mall and other department store Santas that left a bad taste in my mouth. Do you have any tips or tricks you can pass along?
While we're sorry to hear that, we're happy you found us and are willing to give it another go! We do know that there are MANY wonderful Santas out there. However, there are an equal number of (if not more) "Santas" that don't dedicate as much time and effort as they should to create a magical moment for the children's sakes. Our family tries our best to reverse the negative mindset that many Santas have left. In fact, we have a whole page with some tips we've gathered throughout the last 15+ years of working as a Santa (and photographer!).
Do I HAVE to get into a picture during our visit? I really only want pictures of my kids.
We don't force anyone but we would LOVE to get a picture of Santa with your whole family! My helpers and I encourage parents and other family members to get in a few pictures with their kiddos (especially if your little ones are shy or afraid!). So be ready to hop in a picture or two, or even be photographed by your kids, because we're all about capturing moments.
Maybe, instead of you wanting a picture of your child, your child might want a picture of YOU! Those are the memories that your babies are going to hold onto for the rest of their lives. In our Chalet, we strive to help families realize that and freeze those precious moments in time. ❄️ We want families to understand how much love they share for one another and to chase after each moment as though it is one of my elusive reindeer. 🦌 Because you are NEVER going to get that moment back. We’re all looking forward to seeing you all this Christmas season and getting some wonderful pictures of your whole family!
Will I get to pick out what images I get or get every single image you take?
Unfortunately, no. The cost of your visit takes into account sending a set number of images (between 5 and 10 depending on your visit) since it takes a lot of time to peruse and upload every photograph. Each image gets hand-picked and sent to you so if we don't send a particular image to you, it was definitely not a good image. We hope you really like the ones we are able to capture and that you trust us to send only the best photos to you!
We do not offer prints. Since we only charge for photographs and goodies, we ask that NO personal photos be taken. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. You'll get various poses and combinations of individuals in photos. You won't be limited to just a few shots of your entire group or individuals.
How do I pay?
You pay the photographer at the end of your visit. Due to time restraints, we only accept cash. No checks or credit/debit cards. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
Can I bring our dog/cat/hamster/rabbit/T-rex/armadillo/giraffe/penguin...?
We love ALL of God's creatures and love it if we can incorporate your furry (or not-so-furry) babies into your pictures. However, we need to be conscientious of all of our friends (especially ones who have allergies!). Usually, we request you schedule an appointment for later in the day in case pet hair gets on Santa's suit and we have to clean it. Or, just in case a pet has an accident and we have to clean it up before our next guests visit us. This is why we request you call to give us a bit more information. If you're just bringing a gerbil, that's a bit different than bringing a dog! That being said, if you do wish to bring a pet with you, you MUST CALL us in ADVANCE! We have special instructions for those of you who have pets but if you don't call us, we will have to kindly request you leave your pets in your vehicle while your family visits us. When you come, we request you bring some pet toys, a treat or two, and a festive blanket or towel. Santa only has one suit so we try to keep it as clean as possible as his elves take a long time to clean it when it needs a good cleaning. Over the years, we got to make friends with some doggies, bunnies, and even a hamster (maybe it was a gerbil...) but you MUST CALL!
When will I get our Santa pictures?
The turnaround time for pictures is 7-9 days as it takes a long time to import, cull, edit, and upload all of your wonderful photographs. As Christmas gets closer, that turnaround time increases.
How do I get to Santa's Chalet?
GPS and Google maps WILL NOT get you to our Chalet so here are the directions:
Heading NORTH on I-5, take exit 21 for Woodland. Turn right at the light and follow Lewis River Road (part of 503) for 8 miles.
Heading SOUTH on I-5, take the Dike Access Road exit 22 for Woodland. Follow the roundabout until it takes you under the freeway. Once you hit the second roundabout, drive straight through and continue on Old Pacific Highway for a little over 1 mile until you get to a stop sign. Take a slight left onto East Scott Avenue. Once you get over the little hill, you'll come to another roundabout. Take the 2nd exit onto Lewis River Road (part of 503). Continue past Hillshire Drive (on your left) and drive on 503 for 7.5 miles.
Turn left onto Fredrickson Road from 503 and follow it for 1.5 miles until you get to the bus turnaround. Turn right onto Gold Creek Drive which is an asphalt driveway. You'll see it right BEFORE the sign that says "End of Maintained County Road". Hang to the LEFT and drive about 1/3 of a mile and follow the candy canes to Santa's workshop!!