The Moment That Made Black Santa Real

I didn’t think my then five-year-old son cared about Santa.

He didn’t write letters. He didn’t ask for Santa photos. Every year, I’d gently offer—and every year, he’d shrug. So I let it go.

Then, one quiet afternoon, I was scrolling through local Santas on my phone—

And there he was. A Black Santa on my screen.

My son froze.

His eyes widened.

And then, he whispered:

“Mom… why does Santa look like that?”

I paused, then looked over at him. I knew exactly what he meant.

“Santa is magic. He can look like anyone.”

Something shifted in his face.

Not just joy—recognition.

The biggest smile appeared as he looked back at Santa.

He spent the next hour scrolling every bit of Black Santa he could find.

My little boy, who never cared about Santa before.

That moment stayed with me. It echoed.

Because it wasn’t really about Santa.

It was about how deeply children need to see themselves in the stories we tell—in the wonder, in the traditions, in the memory-making.

Why Representation Matters in Holiday Portraits

That conversation is what sparked this entire experience.

Not just the idea of a “Black Santa option.”

Not a checkbox tucked under someone else’s booking page.

But a whole experience—designed from the ground up with Black children at the center.

Because this Santa isn’t a stand-in.

He’s not the ‘other’ option.

He is the Santa.

What Makes These Black Santa Sessions Different

These sessions were born from my own family.

From the way representation lit something inside my son—something I hadn’t even realized had been waiting to be seen.

We surround our babies with their reflection.

We prioritize ensuring they are confident in who they are, with a strong Black community they can draw on for knowledge, culture, and support.

But this?

This was a different kind of spark.

One that touched something ancient and deep.

These sessions aren’t rushed, fluorescent mall setups.

They aren’t the backup option to appease a token representation checkbox.

They’re quiet, cozy Black Santa portraits wrapped in warmth and story.

Your children will:

• Read books with Santa
• Decorate cookies
• Take a peek at the Naughty & Nice list
• Share giggles, whispers, and wonder

And when it’s all done—

Their joy will be wrapped in a handcrafted heirloom storybook told in poetry and portraiture.

This is more than a holiday photo session.

It’s a story they’ll carry.

This Isn’t Just a Portrait. It’s Proof of Belonging.

One day, they’ll pull that album off the shelf and show their own children.

They’ll point and say, “That’s me—with Santa.”

And it won’t feel like something they were invited into at the last minute.

It will feel like something they were always part of.

Because they were.

They are the magic, too.

A Special Thank You to Black Santa Myk

The Santa my son saw that day—the one who lit up his world—is a real man with a real heart: Black Santa Myk.

Kind, patient, and full of joy, he isn’t just in costume—he’s fully in character, embodying the magic with soul and care.

We’re so lucky to work with him again this year. He’s not just a Santa.

He’s our Santa.

🔗 Meet Black Santa Myk

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“Why not do a white Santa? The Black Santa is fine, but couldn’t you do a white Santa, too?” It’s a question that has repeated in conversations with clients, colleagues, friends, and family. So - let’s take a moment to talk about this.

Imagine a world where every Santa your child sees looks just like them—a world where their heroes have faces that reflect their own. Depending on what you and your family looks like, that may take no imagination at all - but that’s not every family’s reality. There are kids in our community that are confronted daily with images of important people that they can almost never see themselves in. Representation is not just a buzzword; it’s a lifeline. It matters profoundly, especially for children who rarely see themselves in the figures they idolize. It’s about more than a photo; it’s about instilling confidence and affirming their importance in the world.

Now, picture Orange County, CA, where the population of Black individuals is just 1.7%, according to the US Census. For many Black children here, spotting someone who looks like them is more of a special event than a daily occurrence. You can count on one hand how many classmates reflect their identity, if any do at all. Parents have to actively seek out others in the community, such as with the OC Black Moms Facebook group, just to not feel isolated.

This is why Orange County is a Black Santa desert. It’s challenging enough to find photographers here who are skilled in capturing the beauty of darker skin tones, let alone with any experience in it at all. (And, yes, it’s different. Lighting 101 teaches us that dark absorbs light while lighter colors reflect it.) It’s even tougher to find a photographer who can handle mixed families, ensuring everyone looks their best. When many photographers aren’t or at most are rarely photographing Black people here, something relevant to that demographic - such as Black Santa - isn’t likely to even be on their minds.

Families on the hunt for Black Santa here have very few options. There is one at Disneyland, but it requires park tickets and offers “mall style” basic photos. You could drive up to LA to visit the Santa at the Crenshaw Mall for Christmas photos, but anyone in OC will be quick to let you know LA and Orange County are not as close as outsiders tend to think. Depending on traffic and where you are in the county, it can easily be a 1.5-2+ hour commute each way. Some families travel as far as San Diego in their search for a Santa that their children can see themselves in.

In a few previous years, there was a photographer who would use a Black Santa in a neighboring county, but he was relegated to the sidelines - which is extremely common when photographers do use a Black Santa. Their MAIN Santa is white, and there is a ‘click here’ if you want Black Santa photos link on the main Christmas photo page. It feels like a token gesture rather than true inclusion. In this desert, the “inclusive” Black Santa is like a mirage. At best, he’s thrown in like the side note token gesture of something inclusive. In practice, however, it’s the opposite.

I’m not going to lie, I did initially consider offering both—a white and a Black Santa—so clients could choose. But it didn’t sit right. After some reflection, I realized why. It felt like a relic of the ‘separate but equal’ era. Segregating clients based on appearance, scheduling separate dates and sections—it’s not just “giving options”; it’s unjust. A Santa who happens to be Black shouldn’t be a side note. If you have a day for white families and a day for Black families - no matter the intentions - you have a problem.

White kids can take a photo with a Black Santa just like Black kids can take a photo with a white Santa. When asked why he looks different, the answer is universal - it’s no different than explaining why the Santa in different malls, TV shows, movies, and commercials all look different. “Santa is magic, and he can look like anyone.”

Our Black Santa at Nekoda Mattox Photography IS Santa. He’s not an afterthought; he’s our main event. He’s a Santa everyone can enjoy and love. We don’t need another one. We’re helping solve the Black Santa desert in Orange County by creating a phenomenal local Christmas photo experience for families. We’re making it the best Santa experience in Southern California, full stop - a winter wonderland from the minute you step in the waiting room, the best professional Santa, and the experience captured as an heirloom quality art piece. No matter who your family is, this is not an experience to be missed.

Book your Santa photo session with Nekoda Mattox Photography, and let your family experience the magic of Santa this holiday season. Click HERE to find out more.

Actor headshots are meant to look natural - so many people new to the industry come to the conclusion that makeup and photo editing aren’t necessary - or even potentially taboo. They want to see what you really look like, right?

Not quite! When done correctly, hair, makeup, and professional photo editing work together to showcase your natural features, have a polished final headshot, and help you stand out in a positive way.

Light, natural makeup helps your skin look fresh, moisturized, and clear of temporary blemishes. You don’t want the casting director’s eyes to go straight to the pimple that inevitably happens the morning you need to go take your headshot, and it wouldn’t still be there when performance day happens. It’s completely normal and acceptable to have light makeup.

And yes - both men and women can wear makeup for a headshot. A professional artist will make it look like you aren’t wearing anything - so using their services for a polished look is completely gender neutral.

Light photo editing can also enhance the level of polish and professionalism in the headshot, and make sure eyes stay focused where they should be. It can remove distracting elements to keep the background clean, smooth clothing wrinkles, erase stray hairs, or make other small adjustments that work together for big impact on the final headshot. Taking a great headshot has everything to do with paying attention to details. Makeup and photo editing are two elements that are often overlooked, but play a significant role in getting a headshot that makes an impact.