Santa Claus Is Coming: Skipping the lines and keeping a family tradition alive

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored Portrait Innovations.  All opinions expressed are my own.

If there was one holiday festivity that my mom was semi-religious about, it was making sure that we took yearly pictures with Santa.  Whether we believed in the Big Guy or not was irrelevant because for our family pictures with Santa was about creating and preserving a family tradition and spending time together as a family while doing a fun activity.  While I appreciated my mom giving us something to look forward to year after year, what I didn't was the long line we had to wait in.  Fast forward two decades and some change and the lines to get our (me and the kiddies) pictures taken with Santa seems have more than doubled.

We've tried three years in a row without any luck to wait out the long line at not one, but two of our local malls.  Each year one of my kids ends up having a meltdown or having to go potty, which results in us having to leave the line, thus losing our place.  Very frustrating to say the least, especially when you're trying so hard keep alive a family tradition.  Thankfully, the folks of the newly renovated Portrait Innovations at the Promenade on Providence Shopping Center understand that long lines and waits plus young kids don't mix.

Tuesday, November 11th through Sunday, November 16th, families like mine have a chance to not only get an early start on holiday traditions, but also a way to skip and avoid the long picture lines at the mall and elsewhere by dropping in or scheduling a professional portrait session with Santa during Portrait Innovations' normal business hours.  "For 12 years, we've been a part of the Charlotte community, helping families capture lasting memories throughout the year, " says Johnny Grosso, COO.  "But this is the first time we've brought Santa Claus to the studio.  The children will be delighted to spend time with Santa, and our studios provide a relaxing environment so that everyone can enjoy the experience."

If having a relaxed and long line-free environment isn't incentive enough for you to check out Portrait Innovations at the Promenade on Providence, they are offering a 43 Holiday Portrait Package priced at $19.99 that includes 43 printed photos of various sizes, 5 free 5x7 greeting cards and a choice of a free 11 oz portrait mug or ceramic ornament using this coupon (click here).  I've had pictures professionally made of Moo and JJ when they were babies and they weren't under $20 for 43 printed photos.  Needless to say, I didn't get anything free either.  This is definitely a steal you shouldn't miss out on.

And I'm not the only mom who's excited to get our holiday pictures done by Portrait Innovations this year.  Fellow Charlotte mom and South Charlotte Playgroup organizer, Lauren Riemer says, " We've always gone to the mall for our annual Santa portraits, but I dread it.  Navigating the mall with kids in tow is so stressful, the lines are long, and the pictures are always the same.  This year, we're looking forward to getting our Santa pictures at the same time as our traditional holiday family portraits."

In addition to the in studio Santa Claus, they have a variety of new holiday themed backgrounds, props and poses for families to choose from this year.  Sessions are typically an hour to 90 minutes, which is great if your kids have to take a few practice shots to get warmed up for the camera.  Also,  photos and greeting cards are printed the same day in studio and you can order portrait gifts and keepsakes that will make great gifts grandparents, other family members and friends.

Because the folks at Portrait Innovations are so awesome, they're offering YUMMommy readers a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to use on a future visit.  To be entered to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below.  Contest ends Sunday, November 22nd!

I'm looking forward to sharing a few of our holiday pictures in the coming weeks.  In the meanwhile, check out the Portrait Innovations website at www.portraitinnovations.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portraitsdotcom) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/portraitsdotcom).