The Santa Experience in Raleigh, NC
Kelly is bringing a new holiday tradition to Raleigh. The Santa experience is not just about meeting Santa - itās about remembering the season your children believed.
Experience
Before the Santa magic becomes a memoryā¦
A beautiful and meaningful Christmas tradition where your littles experience the wonder of Santa in Raleigh.
One day, your little ones wonāt believe in Santa the way they do this year. But todayā¦
They still leave cookies and milk by the fireplace.
They still ask how Santa makes it down the chiminey with all their gifts.
They still wonder how reindeer fly.
They whisper about staying up late so that they can finally see Santa in their house. And then, before you know it, Christmas looks different. Their wonder changes. Their excitement quiets. Traditions change.
Itās beautiful and itās a reminder how quickly out littles grow and their childhood passes.
Itās exactly why I created the Santa photo experience in Durham, NC. Itās not just to get a photo with Santa to check it off your list. This is meant to preserve one of the sweetest seasons of childhood before it quietly becomes a memory.
Because someday your Santa photos in Raleigh wonāt just remind you what your children looked like, but youāll be reminded of what it felt like when they still believed.
The experience
More than photos with Santa
Every detail of Raleighās Santa Experience is thoughtfully designed to feel less like a quick photo opportunity and more like stepping into the wonder of the Christmas season with Santa.
Your little ones will have the chance to":
write a letter to Santa and place it in his hands
unwrap a special gift hand-chosen for this experience
snuggle on Santaās lap as he reads a story
celebrate seeing Santa with a hot cocoa and milk bar, including all the whip cream and peppermint they could dream of
This is all about slowing down, connecting with Santa in Durham, and soaking in the magic together.
This is the moment your little ones will be telling their grandparents and friends about for weeks afterwards.
And years from now, this will be one of the moments both you and them treasured most from this holiday season.
The photos will preserve your memory while the experience creates it.
Love notes from clients
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"Our photos with Santa are everything we could have hope for and more. They perfectly captured the magic, wonder and joy of Christmas. From the moment we walked in, the entire experience felt so special and Kelly has such a beautiful gift for preserving those fleeting moments of holiday magic. They are memories we'll cherish for years to come!""
Kelly
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"She was so easy to work with, had a great personality which helped my child smile, and our pictures were perfect! Such a quick turn around on the photos too, just in time to use for Christmas cards. I canāt recommend her enough!"
Brianne
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![Little boy sitting in Santa's lap and crying during Santa photos in NC with Kelly Bullock Photography.]()
"Our Santa experience with Kelly went above and beyond a normal photoshoot! Our kids made real memories talking to Santa while Kelly captured the most surreal moments from all angles unlike any Santa experience we have had before!"
Jessy
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"The photos of my son with Santa were absolutely beautiful, and they captured the magic of the season perfectly - we will treasure them for years to come!"
Cailin
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![Bot sitting on Santa's lap during his Santa Experience Photos in Raleigh, NC by Kelly Bullock Photography.]()
"Working with Kelly Bullock Photography has been an absolute joy. Kelly's gift for capturing natural, heartfelt moments is trulyremarkable, and the images she creates are memories our family will treasure for generations."
Janna
Experience Santa in Raleigh like never before.
Wonder over perfection.
Presence over pressure.
MEMORIES BEFORE THEY BECOME MEMORIES.
An experience created for mamas who cherish core memories with their littles.
As mamas, we spend so much time and effort during December creating magic for our families.
Weāre planning outfits, coordinating PJs, remembering traditions, shopping, wrapping gifts, and carrying the invisible load of the never-ending Checklist that keeps the Christmas magic alive.
This experience to feel different.
From the moment you arrive, I want you to feel like can finally exhale and be present. All the little details are taken care, necessities are close if you need them, and the space is intenionally designed to be welcoming, calm and unhurried during your Santa experience in Wake Forest, NC.
Most importantly, your child will never be expected to perform or be picture perfect.
Some littles will run straight into Santaās arms while other will need a few quiet moments before saying hi to Santa. Some canāt wait to tell Santa their entire Christmas list during their Santa photos in Raleigh, and yet others will cry their heart out for the two seconds Santa holds them.
Every response is welcome and enjoyed here.
Itās about preserving exactly who your child is in this season.
While your little one is experiencing the magic, you get to experience them.
The experience
The Santa experience
Imagine this:
You walk into The Bunny Hive in downtown Raleigh, greeted by my Client Experience Coordinator. She is there ensuring that you have everything you need, you know where to go, and that youāre prepared for your time with Santa.
Because you arrived well before your Santa session in Raleigh, youāre not feeling rushed one bit and you have time to sit down and write a letter to Santa with your littles. If theyāre younger, they have time to draw on it. If theyāre older, they have time to write out what they want at their own pace.
Then, when itās your session time, your littles get to enter a quiet room with Santa!! Heās sitting on a bench, waiting to see just them! Once your little ones feel comfortable, they go over and sit with him on the bench. After they talk through what they want for Christmas, theyāll pose for a couple photos, then Santa will give them a special gift (just for them!) from under the tree. Your children get to open his next to Santa while I capture the awe and magic in their eyes!
Once their time with Santa is finished, you all get to go enjoy a hot cocoa and milk bar, topped with all the whip cream and peppermint toppings their heart desires!
Youāll leave with a full heart, knowing you got to experience the magic along with your littles, a gift from Santa, and the joy of hearing your little one talk about this on repeat the rest of the day and for the weeks to come.
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The investment is largely focused on the incredible experience and memory they have before, during and after seeing Santa.
Investment includes:
letter to Santa station
gift from Santa
hot cocoa and milk bar
3 second keepsake slow-motion video
2 images
You also have the option to upgrade to your full gallery of images.
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I find littles are happiest in the morning! These 10 minute sessions will be offered from 9:30-11:30 am.
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This is a collab with The Bunny Hive, which is the perfect place for your and your littles to enjoy a fun and safe time during the Santa Experience.
Ample parking is located on a safe road next to The Bunny Hive.
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These sessions are 10 minutes long, which is the perfect amount of time for your little one to warm up if they need it!
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As a mama of littles who cried many years with Santa, I encourage you to lean into this season of life with them even if theyāre crying the entire time.
Every year with Santa looks different so itās part of preserving this season of life youāre in!
And to be honest, my own kidās crying photos with Santa are some of my favorite and ones we all look back and laugh about together!
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Due to the limited number of sessions offered, the session fee is non-refundable. However, you can transfer it to a friend or family member if youād like at least 24 hours before your session. It will be complete once they sign their own contract.
FREQUENTLY asked questions
Ready to start your new favorite holiday tradition?
The Santa Experience is more than a Santa photo. Itās a childhood memory created around wonder, connection, and presence, giving families the space to slow down and preserve this sweet season of believing in magic before itās gone.
āMotherhood is a million little moments that God weaves together with grace, redemption, laughter, tears, and most of all, love. ā