• Do a Dry Run: Days before, give your child a glimpse of St. Nick from afar, says Amy Stone, owner of Jady Images in Miami. "When you come back for the actual photo, he'll be more familiar with what to expect."
  • Carry Supplies: Snacks and toys are key. Hungry kids are likelier to act out.
  • Distract: "Put a piece of tape on your child's finger if he gets fidgety," says Marlboro, NJ, photog Jill Caren. "Sometimes that's distracting enough that he'll forget Santa's even there."
  • Present His Requests: Tie up his wish list with a bow, and have him hand it over, suggests Heather Dillon, a Scottsdale, AZ, photog. "It places the attention on Santa, not on him."
  • Think Narrative Gold: As the Santa at Holiday World, a theme park in Santa Claus, IN, says: "Sometimes those unposed moments make the best photos."

  • Be careful not to paint a scary picture of Saint Nick. If you prep your child by saying “Don't be afraid, Santa's not going to hurt you,” you've introduced a possibility that may never have occurred to him, notes Pochyly. Instead, talk about how fun it will be, and show your child a picture of a sibling or a cousin perched happily on Santa's lap.

  • Bring a lovey. Life's easier with a stuffed bear by your side—and you can always put some reindeer antlers on him.