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October 17, 2026
The 1st Annual
The Picture Day You’ve Been Waiting For!
October 17, 2026
On October 17, Liz Cook Photography is welcoming Greater Lynchburg homeschool students into the studio for one joyful day of timeless portraits, genuine expressions and school pictures you’ll actually be excited to share.
$15 Sitting Fee
Brought to you by Liz Cook Photography
Studio located in Forest, VA
SCHOOL PICTURES SHOULD LOOK LIKE THE CHILD YOU KNOW
The joyful one. The thoughtful one. The silly one. The suddenly-so-grown-up one.
Homeschool Picture Day offers the familiar tradition of annual school portraits—with a more personal, thoughtfully guided experience.
Each child will receive a brief individual portrait sitting designed to capture both a classic school portrait and the expressions that make your child unmistakably themselves.
No package decisions are required before Picture Day. Afterward, you’ll receive a private gallery where you can view the finished portraits and purchase only what you love.
01. RESERVE
Choose one appointment for each child you would like photographed.
A $15 sitting fee is collected for each child at booking. When you purchase a portrait package, the full $15 becomes product credit.
02. COME TO PICTURE DAY
Your child will enjoy a short, warmly guided studio sitting with plenty of encouragement and absolutely no pressure to manufacture the “perfect” smile.
Each appointment is approximately eight minutes and includes several expressions and compositions against our timeless studio backdrop.
03. VIEW AND CHOOSE
Within 7–10 business days, you’ll receive a private, watermarked gallery containing approximately 6–8 finished portrait options.
Choose your favorite package only after you have seen the photographs. Your $15 product credit will automatically be applied to your order.
Package 1
The Digital Keepsake
A beloved Central Virginia holiday tradition
Two Days Only
November 21-22, 2026
A limited number of private appointments
Private Studio
Forest, Virginia
Conveniently located near Lynchburg
Your Experience
10 Personalized Minutes
With 8+ hand-edited digital image downloads
SEE YOUR PORTRAITS FIRST. CHOOSE YOUR PACKAGE SECOND.
You shouldn’t have to purchase school pictures before knowing whether you love them.
Following Picture Day, you’ll receive a private gallery where you can choose the portrait—and the package—that feels right for your family.
Your full $15 sitting-fee credit will be deducted from any of the collections below.
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The Digital Keepsake
$29
One high-resolution digital image
Personal printing rights
After your $15 product credit, your remaining balance is $14.
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THE CLASSIC PRINT COLLECTION
$39
Choose one favorite portrait and receive:
One 8×10 print
Two 5×7 prints
Eight wallets
After your $15 product credit, your remaining balance is $24.
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Ten Unhurried Minutes
Your reserved appointment gives your family private, one-on-one time to talk, laugh and settle in without a line of waiting families behind you.
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Preparation Without The Stress
Your exclusive Client Preparation Guide includes wardrobe inspiration, shopping suggestions and practical tips to help your child arrive comfortable and ready.
This is the ultimate private Santa Experience.
Pricing Info
The investment
The VIP
(Only 1 Spot Remains)
$623 total value
$575
Best Value
Includes everything in the Classic Experience, plus:
Gallery delivery within 48 hours — $99 value
16+ images instead of 8+ — $149 value
Priority booking access to the 2027 Santa Experience
Save $48!
Best for:
Families who want every expression preserved, need their gallery quickly or never want to worry about missing next year’s booking.
The Classic
$375
Includes:
Client preparation guide & wardrobe guidance
Up to 10 minutes of quality, private time with Santa
Optional gift delivery from Santa (parents must drop gift off prior to their session date)
8+ images to download
Private online gallery to purchase additional products
Best for:
Families who want the complete personalized Santa experience and a beautiful collection of favorite images.
Add-Ons Available
Heirloom ornaments, framed prints and folios will be available for purchase directly through your gallery.
Meet Santa
Santa Charlie is a devoted husband of 48 years, proud father of two daughters, and grandfather to eight grandchildren. After four decades as a builder, developer, and mortgage broker, he has spent his career helping families create a place to call home—something he believes is especially meaningful at Christmas.
His love for the season began in childhood. While his father was deployed, he became Santa’s little helper, working alongside his mother to create joyful holidays for their large family. That spirit has stayed with him through the years in his love of decorating, wrapping gifts, building magical model train displays for his grandchildren, and bringing happiness to children.
Santa Charlie has also spent many years serving his community through Habitat for Humanity, his church, youth athletics, coaching, and supporting young athletes.
The moment I watched Santa Charlie interact with the children in our studio, I knew his patience, gentle spirit, and grandfatherly warmth would help families feel completely at ease. He listens carefully, delights in each child’s excitement, and brings an authentic love of Christmas to every visit. I am so excited for him to help us create warm, personal holiday memories with your family.
A Gentle, Inclusive Santa Experience
Every child deserves to experience the magic in a way that feels safe, comfortable, and respectful.
Children with disabilities, special needs, sensory sensitivities, communication differences, or other support needs are warmly welcomed. Our private, child-led format allows us to slow down, keep parents close, and adapt the interaction whenever possible.
Children are never required to sit on Santa’s lap, make eye contact, separate from a parent, or perform for the camera. Before your appointment, you are invited to share anything that will help your child feel comfortable so we can thoughtfully prepare Santa Charlie and the studio.
Holiday Treats for Different Dietary Needs
Holiday cookies are completely optional. By advance request, we offer an alternative prepared without ingredients containing gluten, dairy, added sugar, or artificial dyes.
Please let us know about dietary restrictions or allergies when you register. Our studio is not an allergen-free facility, and cross-contact cannot be guaranteed. Families managing severe allergies are always welcome to bring a familiar, safe treat for their child.
“it is a welcoming, homey, quiet, peaceful experience.”
We couldn’t be happier with our photos or experience at Liz Cook’s studio. Our little boy is autistic so having a quiet, peaceful experience is crucial for his needs. This is exactly what we needed. Not only did he have a great time, but both Liz and Santa were warm and welcoming and made us feel completely at home. I would recommend the Santa experience for any families with special needs children, as it is a welcoming, homey, quiet, peaceful experience.
- KARLA G.
How Your Santa Experience Works
Every Santa Experience is Carefully personalized for your family.
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01. Reserve Your Appointment
Choose your preferred date, time and experience.
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02. Tell Santa About Your Child
Complete a short registration form with your child’s name, interests, Christmas wishes, Elf details and anything else Santa should know.
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03. Prepare for the Magic
Receive your Client Preparation Guide and instructions for providing an optional wrapped gift.
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04. Enjoy and Relive the Experience
Arrive for ten private minutes with Santa, then receive your professionally edited gallery after the event.
“The photos are quality, delivered promptly, and always better than anticipated.
Liz has done our Santa pictures every year for six years, and I can't wait for this year. The experience is in a unique intimate setting, which is a great for small children who could become over stimulated in a long large line like other Santa experiences. The photos are quality, delivered promptly, and always better than anticipated. The simplistic yet classic styling is timeless, and Santa is dressed impeccably yearly, he is after all the REAL Santa =) I look forward to having our Son join our daughter in this tradition this year.”
LIZ M.
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Our 2026 Santa Experience will take place November 21–22 in our private residential studio in the New London area of Forest, Virginia. The studio is located approximately one mile from Route 460. Registered families will receive the complete address and arrival instructions before the event.
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Your time slot lasts 10 minutes from your scheduled start time. You and your family will be the ONLY guests inside the studio during your time with Santa. Please arrive early and wait in the parking lot to ensure your full 10 minutes with Santa. If you want more face-to-face time with Santa, you're welcome to book two back-to-back appointments for a total of 20 minutes! Unless you have four or more children, we have found that 10 minutes is plenty.
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One appointment includes all children in your immediate family. Families with more than four children are encouraged to reserve two consecutive appointments so every child has plenty of time with Santa.
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Yes, this event is designed for children only. That being said, if your child needs to be held by you to feel safe and secure with Santa, that's totally okay!
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This is a completely natural concern. Unlike rushed public Santa visits, your family will have up to ten private minutes to settle in and engage at your child’s pace. Santa Charlie is patient and experienced with children, and we follow a gentle, child-led approach without forcing a particular pose or reaction.
Please let us know ahead of time if your child is especially nervous, shy, or sensitive to new environments. Parents are welcome to remain close, join the interaction, or hold their child when needed. You may also provide a favorite book, toy, stuffed animal, or wrapped gift to help your child feel more comfortable. (Please bring only items you are comfortable having included in the photographs.)
If your child ultimately does not want to interact closely with Santa, we will respectfully follow their lead and document the experience as it naturally unfolds.
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Yes! Families may provide one small, wrapped gift for Santa to present during the visit. You will receive detailed gift drop-off instructions before the event. They must be dropped off before the start of the event.
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This is completely up to you! Upon registration, you will receive a Client Preparation Guide with clothing advice to help you with this process. We have had kids wear everything from their Christmas finest to their holiday pajamas! We love Burt's Bees neutral pajama line, but any festive attire is welcome! Most importantly, help your child be comfortable.
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Your private online gallery will include a curated selection of professionally edited images that beautifully tell the story of your child’s visit with Santa. The Classic Experience includes 8+ high-resolution digital images, while the VIP Experience includes 16+ images. Your selected package also includes a personal print release, allowing you to download, share, and print your included photographs.
Additional images and heirloom products will be available for purchase through your gallery.
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VIP galleries receive priority editing and will be delivered within 48 hours of the event. Classic galleries will be delivered within 3 weeks of the event.
You will receive an email as soon as your private gallery is ready to view and download.
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Yes. Your included images may be downloaded, shared and printed for personal use. Liz Cook Photography retains the copyright, so the images may not be altered, sold or used commercially.
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Please contact the studio as soon as possible if your child becomes ill. Because appointments are limited and the event is offered for only two days, a rescheduled time cannot be guaranteed. Each situation will be handled individually with care, based on the circumstances and any availability that may remain.
For the health of Santa and every attending family, please do not bring a child who is contagious, has a fever, is vomiting, or is otherwise too unwell to comfortably enjoy the experience.
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Once all appointments have been reserved, families may join the waitlist. If an opening becomes available because of a cancellation or schedule change, waitlisted families will be contacted in the order and manner outlined on the registration form.
Joining the waitlist does not guarantee an appointment, but it is the best way to be notified if additional availability opens.
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All clients are able to order both prints and products straight from their online gallery! I’d hate for your investment to be ruined by using a non-professional, low-quality print lab. I’ve seen the comparisons and they just don’t match up to what my print lab offers. I highly recommend you order prints from your private gallery to preserve the color and quality!
Faqs
have questions?
We’ve got you covered.
Meet Your Photographer
Liz Cook is a Central Virginia family photographer with 20 years of experience creating timeless, story-driven photographs for children and families. For the past 11 years, she has thoughtfully designed and photographed the Santa Experience, learning how to follow each child’s lead, recognize authentic moments and preserve the wonder of Christmas without forced expressions or unnecessary pressure.
Liz’s work has been featured in People, The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, Essence, Domino, Rue and other national publications. More importantly, she is passionate about creating a calm, organized experience where children feel comfortable and parents can simply enjoy the magic unfolding in front of them.
Make This the Year Santa Knows Their Name
Enjoy a magical holiday tradition by kicking off the season with a visit with Santa, one where he knows you by name and enjoys connecting with your children. No long lines, crowded waiting areas, or unnecessary pressure—just time and space to enjoy the magic together. This is what the magic of Christmas is all about!