03/12/2026
This may be a long post so please bear with me. I'm sharing here as I know he has touched many of your lives as well. I've been putting off this post, not because I wanted to, but how do you put into words how much you love someone? How much someone's life made an impact, not only in your life, but to families around the world? Yes, pretty much the entire world. THE one and only, TRUE Santa Claus.
My beloved Santa passed away on Monday. Not only was he Santa during the Holiday season, but he was Santa every day of the year. He was also a dear friend. Ever since I could remember, I told myself that when I had my own photography studio, the very first sessions I would plan would be Santa sessions. Now, I have always been SUPER picky about my Santa. Before Santa sessions were a big hit, I would hunt high and low, traveling all of RI and MA, and basically "rate" and note down where the best Santa was to have my boys take their photos. They had to look the part, sound the part, act the part. They had to BE him.
Then 2014 came. I signed my first studio lease. Santa George happened to reach out to me and I could have sworn time stopped. Everything that my parents told me about that magical being growing up, everything that I told my kids about, the magic of Christmas...he embodied. And when I met him in person, no one could beat his personality! The kindest, gentlest soul you could imagine. One who loves to bust your chops, who shares my deep love of horror and loves to tell you every story imaginable and I would hang on to every word. I would always joke with him that I was his favorite because I was one of the photographers who has worked with him the longest, but I told him that he was stuck with me even after I was semi-retired.
One of my all time images I've ever taken was of my youngest, then 7 (now 15 and a half) dressed as Santa, stood by Santa in the studio. I have the portrait hanging in my home and Santa had an identical one that we made for him. I'll forever have that in my home, among others that are framed. He was so loved by our family. We had spoken about meeting up on his off-season for breakfast or lunch when he wasn't so busy, but as you know, life happens. So Santa, I'm still going to take you up on that offer for lunch so save me a seat when I catch up with you. I expect you to say "Hey kiddo" like you always do.
I have thousands of photos of hundreds of families that I've taken photos over the past 12 years with him. But I am going to share just a few favorites of mine with my boys that I can find through all my tears. I know this is a part of life, but right now, I am not ok. The world truly lost one of the most amazing human beings. All I can say is that while the world may be a little dimmer, our lives are brighter because of all the people in the world, WE are the ones who were able to have been to share a part of his life with. And how lucky is that? Until we meet again, my friend...I love you.
**Feel free to share any photos below (if FB allows you to) that you have of Santa George and your families/children (even if I didn't take them). Would love to see them. :)
