Ever since I left full time work in the 90’s to raise a family, I have had businesses of my own. From selling Avon to Freelance Writing, making crafts to sell, doing print on demand drop shipping of my art on products you can wear and use, which I am still currently doing, and having my own photography business for the last 20 years. I love the flexibility of my businesses, marketing, making decisions, doing customer service, computer work, designing, time management and everything else that is involved.
Ten years ago a friend came to myself and another female photographer with an idea for photographing Santa on the beach with pets. An alternative to the shopping centre Santa experience. Something that really said Australia with no fake snow in sight. We had meetings and discussed how it would look, who would do what, and ways to market the business. It had a slow beginning but it was a nice ease into what would become a huge business over the last 10 years with hundreds of customers. Some have been with us since 2015. We got to see children grow from year to year and dogs come and go sadly.
This year my two business partners have retired so I am starting up my own business called Santa Bay Photos. It’s a slimmed down, one beach boutique version of what our customers have loved. With a fresh new set but the same way to book and have your images delivered. Lots of the same poses you have loved and some new ones. I have enlisted the help of my best three Santas, one who has been our main man since 2015. He’s a legend and for some, he is the reason people keep coming back.
My husband has been busy in the garage making props, buying paint and bringing our ideas to life. I’m very grateful for his support, and friends who have shared my Facebook posts and offered their help to be my assistant. Bookings open soon so we are hoping for a great season with minimal disruption from the weather, great customers and full days of bookings. It’s going to be a fun and busy lead up to Christmas.