Oh, oh. Forced?

if you don't like the terms of the deal, find another Santa.

Santa makes most of his money from the live show, anyway.

Santa's gotta eat. Actually, he could skip a few meals. Should also invest in a razor and a haircut too. Santa doesn't have to look like he's homeless. He has a rather nice home, albeit cold, and even has slave labor.

I'm all about hating on big business but fark the parent in this case. He knew that there was a charge for a picture and tried getting around it. Get a better job so you can afford a 20 dollar picture with Santa.

It's not that hard to find a free or charity driven Santa. The mistake is going to a farking mall Santa. Actually, the mistake is going to a mall in the first place. Fark 'em.

a japanese mall? a professional shiat? if thats what my kid wants they're getting therapy for crimbo

I am happy to pay, but the prices are exorbitant. I usually go, get the cheapest shot and take my own pics, too, to make into cards. I figure if I'm getting forced to pay the high price I should be able to take my own.

It should be the malls hiring Santa and an elf and letting parents get their own shot. It'll never happen if there's a buck to be made.

over and over and over and over and over and...

Go hire your own Santa and take all the photos you want.

In an "upscale" mall, the Santa area can get pretty elaborate....so I think it's perfectly fine to charge a fee for the pics. Nowadays, they even provide the digital pic with a release to let you get more printed, which opens the door for ordering decent christmas cards from Sam's Club or the like.

In crappier malls, the Santa encounter is often setup by a local photography studio...so again I respect that it's their business and have no qualms about paying for the pics if I want some. Not much different than going to a Sears studio and asking if you can just use your own camera on their backgrounds (as much as I hate their studio for adopting the deceptive advertising approach to profit seeking).

I had to scroll back up and check if this was a Consumerist link, no-doubt full of the customer's masterful Retail Litigation Judo.

According to TFA, the response from the Mall officials is that all those flashes from the cameras are bad for Santa? So, is this like a tootsie roll thing? "How many flashes does it take for ol santa to reach blindness?" If the flashes are bad for santa, then maybe he might want to NOT work as a mall santa? Or, is the flash a good flash when it costs money? Commerce is commerce and all, but be real. Come on out and say that instead of using some lame ass excuse about the flashes from the other cameras.

/ just sayin.

KickahaOta: if you don't like the terms of the deal, find another Santa.

This.

I don't allow anyone but myself to have a camera in my studio. My studio, my concept, my lighting, my direction, my rules.

ThatGuyGreg: No picture at all. Fark 'em, it's not as if the kid wants it.

Crying kids on Santa's lap pictures are awesome.

I remember when my mother finally came clean about there being (spoiler alert) no such thing as Santa. She first made me present my reasons for feeling that way, hoping to reinforce and test my critical thinking skills. I presented my case convincingly - the logistics involved in visiting so many children in one night seemed impossible, reindeer don't fly, and I had spied her purchasing a Simon Says when she thought I wasn't looking. That same Simon Says was later indicated as being from Santa.

Amused, and slightly proud of my reasoning, she caved and admitted the whole thing was a sham. After thinking for a moment, I said "So when I got pictures with Santa that was just some stranger? An old man you didn't know and had me sit on their lap?" I was too young to really understand why that seemed like a bad idea, but I knew nonetheless.

I'll never forget the look on her face. As if to say "Oh... well...yeah, that is kind of creepy. I'm a terrible mother." How do you like my deductive reasoning now, Mom.

Now I kill hookers whenever I get the chance.

clyph: KickahaOta: if you don't like the terms of the deal, find another Santa.

This.

I don't allow anyone but myself to have a camera in my studio. My studio, my concept, my lighting, my direction, my rules.

The mall is your studio?

Splish: If you loved your child you'd pay for the professional photo.

It's what the baby Jebus would want.

jst3p: ThatGuyGreg: No picture at all. Fark 'em, it's not as if the kid wants it.

Crying kids on Santa's lap pictures are awesome.

After your kids die in a piano fire and all you have is the ashes, you will be sorry.

flyinghouse99: Go hire your own Santa and take all the photos you want.

No thanks, this one is advertised as "free" and I will take pictures of my kid in the mall whenever I please. Thanks though!

yadumey: Then charge for any pictures taken, with an additional charge for an Elf-shot photo. Don't make it 'We take the photo or none are taken at all'.

if you want to take your own pics you go out and hire a guy to put on the costume do a background check to make sure that he is not a pedo and take on a huge insurance risk or you can just pay the price the store wants for the picture

/most parents need to have the shiat beat out of them for turning kids into snowflakes and biatching every time someone does not bend over for them

UsikFark: jst3p: ThatGuyGreg: No picture at all. Fark 'em, it's not as if the kid wants it.

Crying kids on Santa's lap pictures are awesome.

After your kids die in a piano fire and all you have is the ashes, you will be sorry.

Mock my pain all you wish, if I could get fetus shots on Santa's lap I would.

jst3p: UsikFark: jst3p: ThatGuyGreg: No picture at all. Fark 'em, it's not as if the kid wants it.

Crying kids on Santa's lap pictures are awesome.

After your kids die in a piano fire and all you have is the ashes, you will be sorry.

Mock my pain all you wish, if I could get fetus shots on Santa's lap I would.

haha wut?

jst3p: The mall is your studio?

if you pay the mall rent for the space then yes it is his studio

polt8115: According to TFA, the response from the Mall officials is that all those flashes from the cameras are bad for Santa? So, is this like a tootsie roll thing? "How many flashes does it take for ol santa to reach blindness?" If the flashes are bad for santa, then maybe he might want to NOT work as a mall santa? Or, is the flash a good flash when it costs money? Commerce is commerce and all, but be real. Come on out and say that instead of using some lame ass excuse about the flashes from the other cameras.

/ just sayin.

I run a Santa photo operation, the flash thing is true. The flashes on guest's cameras set off our own remote flashes, creating a near constant barrage of flashes. While I don't think it will necessarily blind Santa, it is extremely distracting.

cardex: yadumey: Then charge for any pictures taken, with an additional charge for an Elf-shot photo. Don't make it 'We take the photo or none are taken at all'.

if you want to take your own pics you go out and hire a guy to put on the costume do a background check to make sure that he is not a pedo and take on a huge insurance risk or you can just pay the price the store wants for the picture

/most parents need to have the shiat beat out of them for turning kids into snowflakes and biatching every time someone does not bend over for them

Counter argument:

I wouldn't be at the farking mall if it weren't for this photo op and since I am here I might buy a couple things. THAT is the quid pro quo. If the mall didn't pay you then you are the idiot in this scenario.

polt8115: Or, is the flash a good flash when it costs money?

A professional will be using a studio strobe with some kind of diffusion (soft box, umbrella, etc). It's not as harsh and it's generally not directly in the subject's line of vision.

A couple years ago I was at walmart photo center and another woman was reprinting a photo of her and her siblings with santa as kids. Probably from the early 70s. The photo manager confiscated the photo and said all photos of santa are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced. I think all santa greediness is pointless, it should be paid for by the mall so they can bring in more customers- end of story. No one is buying a $25 santa photo.

Nuclear Monk: Not much different than going to a Sears studio and asking if you can just use your own camera on their backgrounds (as much as I hate their studio for adopting the deceptive advertising approach to profit seeking).


THIS.

I was actually on the fence about it until I read that. I didn't really think of the whole Santa setup as a studio set. I thought of it more as just something the mall puts on for the kids, and why should they charge you for it. But now that I think about it, it really is no different than a photo studio taking the time to set up their lighting and backgrounds, and some passerby wanting to use their stuff for free.

Professional photos aren't just the cost of the prints or the photographer's time. It's also the use of the studio, lighting, backgrounds etc. That stuff wasn't free for them, and it shouldn't be for you.

clyph: polt8115: Or, is the flash a good flash when it costs money?

A professional will be using a studio strobe with some kind of diffusion (soft box, umbrella, etc). It's not as harsh and it's generally not directly in the subject's line of vision.

Suck it up, as far as occupational hazards go this is right up there with "I could get paper cuts".

taurusowner: Nuclear Monk: Not much different than going to a Sears studio and asking if you can just use your own camera on their backgrounds (as much as I hate their studio for adopting the deceptive advertising approach to profit seeking).


THIS.

THIS is completely wrong. As I said in an earlier post this is a way to get me to come to the mall in hopes that I will shop there. It is not at all the same as going to a studio and expecting to take my own pictures.

and stupid americans wonder why there're no jobs?

hint - it's because you're a bunch of cheap assholes.

you think those old bastards want to deal with a bunch of whining, disgusting children because they like them?

flyinghouse99: polt8115: According to TFA, the response from the Mall officials is that all those flashes from the cameras are bad for Santa? So, is this like a tootsie roll thing? "How many flashes does it take for ol santa to reach blindness?" If the flashes are bad for santa, then maybe he might want to NOT work as a mall santa? Or, is the flash a good flash when it costs money? Commerce is commerce and all, but be real. Come on out and say that instead of using some lame ass excuse about the flashes from the other cameras.

/ just sayin.

I run a Santa photo operation, the flash thing is true. The flashes on guest's cameras set off our own remote flashes, creating a near constant barrage of flashes. While I don't think it will necessarily blind Santa, it is extremely distracting.

Pocket Wizards are a fairly small one time investment.

Just sayin'

UsikFark: jst3p: ThatGuyGreg: No picture at all. Fark 'em, it's not as if the kid wants it.

Crying kids on Santa's lap pictures are awesome.

After your kids die in a piano fire and all you have is the ashes, you will be sorry.

Would the mall folks charge for a picture with Santa holding a BabyQuarium©?

You're going to the mall, at Christmas, and you want something for free?

/Your cunning plan.
//Work on it.

dalovindj: I remember when my mother finally came clean about there being (spoiler alert) no such thing as Santa. She first made me present my reasons for feeling that way, hoping to reinforce and test my critical thinking skills. I presented my case convincingly - the logistics involved in visiting so many children in one night seemed impossible, reindeer don't fly, and I had spied her purchasing a Simon Says when she thought I wasn't looking. That same Simon Says was later indicated as being from Santa.

Amused, and slightly proud of my reasoning, she caved and admitted the whole thing was a sham. After thinking for a moment, I said "So when I got pictures with Santa that was just some stranger? An old man you didn't know and had me sit on their lap?" I was too young to really understand why that seemed like a bad idea, but I knew nonetheless.

I'll never forget the look on her face. As if to say "Oh... well...yeah, that is kind of creepy. I'm a terrible mother." How do you like my deductive reasoning now, Mom.

Now I kill hookers whenever I get the chance.

When I found out Santa was fake I didn't let my parents know I knew. I was in 5th grade and my Mom asked "You know there's no Santa Claus, right?" I started to act upset and she said they'd still buy me the same amount of stuff and I confessed to having known for years.

jst3p: The mall is your studio?

No. I share private studio space with a friend.

I have done location photography booths. In fact, my friend and I did a Santa booth to benefit the local SPCA chapter 2 weeks ago. It was at a car dealership, not the mall, and we were shooting pets instead of kids, but same basic idea. And no, we did not allow private photography in the Santa area.

/17 animals adopted and over $500 raised.

TrixieDelite: UsikFark: jst3p: ThatGuyGreg: No picture at all. Fark 'em, it's not as if the kid wants it.

Crying kids on Santa's lap pictures are awesome.

After your kids die in a piano fire and all you have is the ashes, you will be sorry.

Would the mall folks charge for a picture with Santa holding a BabyQuarium©?



Dear Santa,

I only want some Windex and a tiny squeegee.

thanks,
Quinn

clyph: jst3p: The mall is your studio?

No. I share private studio space with a friend.

I have done location photography booths. In fact, my friend and I did a Santa booth to benefit the local SPCA chapter 2 weeks ago. It was at a car dealership, not the mall, and we were shooting pets instead of kids, but same basic idea. And no, we did not allow private photography in the Santa area.

/17 animals adopted and over $500 raised.

Good luck stopping me.