Your little one’s eyes light up as they step into a magical cozy scene. Santa, with his twinkling eyes and jolly smile, is waiting by the fireplace for those unforgettable moments of pure joy. Holiday magic fills the air as your child whispers their Christmas wishes to the Real Santa Claus! This isn’t your typical mall Santa experience—this is a one-of-a-kind, child centered experience designed to capture your child's holiday magic in timeless, heartfelt images you'll cherish forever.
picture this...
Family is everything, and every moment with them deserves to be cherished.
So glad you're here!
I'm Kate, and Santa sessions hold a special place around here. This is my 5th year bringing these sessions to families in the Harrisburg and York area — which means I've seen it all. The excited kids, the skeptical ones, the babies who slept through the whole thing, and yes, the tears. All of it.
I specialize in newborn and family photography, so capturing real moments with little ones is kind of my thing. My goal every single session is to make sure you walk away with photos that actually look like your family — not a stiff, forced holiday card, but the real magic of this season with your kids at this age.
I'm so glad you're here. Let's make something you'll pull out every December.
meet me
Hi!
I'm Kate,
York PA Private Santa Photographer
"She makes you feel comfortable and confident from the second you start working with her... The quality of her work is next level and honestly unlike anyone else."
- Mackenzie B.
"Kate McCord is an absolute rockstar behind the camera!!"
1/7
Kate McCord was INCREDIBLE. She also managed to make this one-week postpartum mama feel beautiful.
Not to mention she has everything you will need! Outfits for the whole family. The cutest baby clothes, wraps, headbands, and props. I could go on and on. Truly a beautiful experience from start to finish.
- Coleen R.
"Truly a beautiful experience from start to finish."
2/7
Kate has done multiple photoshoots for our family, and I would highly recommend her to anyone. She makes the entire experience seamless and stress-free from start to finish. From her streamlined process to her thoughtfully curated wardrobe options, everything is designed to make the session easy and enjoyable.
Kate has a natural way of putting you at ease, making the shoot feel fun and relaxed rather than posed or forced. And the photos are always stunning—her work truly speaks for itself. If you’re considering booking a photoshoot, Kate is the one. You won’t be disappointed!
- Sallyann B.
"Kate has a natural way of putting you at ease, making the shoot feel fun and relaxed rather than posed or forced."
3/7
Kate is amazing!! She is always able to capture the most beautiful photos and moments of our family. We have done several sessions with her including 1st birthday, glitter minis and fall minis. Can’t wait for the next one! Highly recommend!
- Kristin C.
"She is always able to capture the most beautiful photos and moments of our family."
4/7
We’ve had family photos taken by Kate five times now, and every session has been wonderful. She has a true gift with babies—patient, gentle, and always able to capture those sweet candid moments. She’s also fantastic at making family photos feel natural and fun (never stiff or stressful!). I really appreciate how flexible she is—if you share what you’re thinking, she brings it to life beautifully. We’re always so happy with the photos we get back!
- Dana S.
"She has a true gift with babies—patient, gentle, and always able to capture those sweet candid moments."
5/7
Kate made my dream pictures become reality! Through both my engagement pictures and wedding, I didn’t find a ‘lifelong’ photographer. After finding Kate on social media, I thought I’d try out my maternity pictures with her. I am SO thankful I did! She has now also done our daughter’s newborn pictures and I couldn’t have imagined them to turn out any better! Life can be overwhelming days after welcoming a newborn, but Kate made the photography session so easy for me as a new mom. From coming to our house to photograph in our daughter’s nursery to providing clothes from her client closet for myself, my husband, and my daughter, I couldn’t be anymore thankful!
- Macie H.
"Life can be overwhelming days after welcoming a newborn, but Kate made the photography session so easy for me as a new mom. "
6/7
Our newborn shoot was a dream! Kate was so patient and gentle with our little one, and created a calm and comfortable atmosphere that made the experience truly enjoyable. The final photos were absolutely stunning! These memories will be treasured forever. Anyone looking for a truly talented and professional photographer should consider Kate McCord Photography. Her passion for her work shines through, and she delivered amazing results.
- Abigail S.
"Kate was so patient and gentle with our little one, and created a calm and comfortable atmosphere that made the experience truly enjoyable."
7/7
Here's what this looks like.
You pull up to a studio that doesn't feel like a holiday pop-up. No line out the door, no chaos, no counting down the seconds until it's over. Just you, your kids, and a set that actually looks like Christmas — not a backdrop from a big box store.
But it starts before you even get here.
In the week leading up to your session, your child gets a letter straight from the North Pole — plus a special sheet to write their Christmas list on. By the time they walk through the door, they are ready.
And then Santa walks in.
Not a mall Santa. Not someone who learned the "ho ho ho" last week. Our Santa sits down with your child one on one, reads a story together, talks about his most magical items, and finds their name on the Nice List. He knows what he's doing, and it shows.
At the end of the session, every child leaves with a custom cookie from Santa's elves — made by Wesley Made Sweets, and a hit every single year.
Five years. Hundreds of families. A whole lot of magic.
That moment your kid's eyes go wide? We're ready for it. ✨
- You know the true magic of Christmas is the love shared, the traditions treasured, and the moments that make your family feel closer than ever.
- You believe in creating memories that go beyond presents—it's about time spent together, traditions passed down, and the joy of the season.
- You live for the twinkle of Christmas lights, the smell of fresh pine, and the magic of a holiday spent with family.
- Your heart melts seeing your children’s eyes light up when they hang ornaments or leave cookies out for Santa.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your session includes 8 edited digital images. You will receive a proofing gallery within 48 hours of your session to choose your favorites from. Once you choose your favorites & let me know, the final gallery will be ready for download within 48 hours!
You can then order holiday prints & cards directly from my gallery store or from your favorite printer!
Date: December 7, 2026
Location: Kate McCord Photography
2178 York Haven Rd. Etters, PA
How long is a Santa mini session?
Santa mini sessions are 10 minutes — just the right amount of time to capture the magic without losing little ones to meltdowns or wiggles.
What's included and how much
does it cost?
Each Santa mini session is a flat-rate experience that includes your session time with Santa and your gallery of edited images. Pricing details are listed on the booking page.
Where are sessions held?
What if my kid is scared of Santa?
All Santa sessions take place at my studio in Etters, PA — easy off I-83 and totally worth the drive for photos you'll actually want to hang on your wall.
What should my kids wear?
Classic and simple works best — think coordinating colors, cozy textures, and outfits you'd be happy to see in a frame for the next 20 years. Avoid busy patterns or logos. When in doubt, go timeless.
It happens, and it's completely okay. Santa is experienced with shy and hesitant kids, and I never force interactions. Some of the sweetest photos come from the kids who weren't so sure at first.
i'm excited
Ready to book your santa
session?
Fill out this form and you will be redirected to the booking page to schedule your Santa Experience for 2026!
success!
You're one step closer to an incredible photography experience & absolutely stunning family memories!
You'll receive a response back within 24 hours. If you don't see something within that time frame, be sure to check your spam!
E-mails come from kate@katemccordphotography.com if you want to add that to your address book to avoid sending me to spam.
family & Motherhood photographer serving South central pennsylvania - mechanicsburg - harrisburg - york - lancaster - HERSHEY
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