Want Santa to look like he really walked through your room? Send one clear, well-lit photo of your tree or living room, taken from high up in a corner like a security camera, with open floor in front of the tree and no people or pets in it. A normal phone photo is perfect.
Do's and don'ts
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Shoot from high up in a corner, tilted slightly down | Shoot at eye level from the middle of the room |
| Leave open floor in front of the tree, so Santa has room to walk | Crop tight on the tree or block the floor with boxes |
| Turn on the tree lights and a lamp | Take it in the dark (the night-vision look is added later) |
| Keep the room empty of people and pets | Include family members, even in the background |
| Hold the phone steady, or rest it on a shelf | Send a blurry or tilted photo |
| Hold the phone sideways if you'll watch on a TV | Zoom in digitally |
| Take it once the tree is decorated | Use an old photo from last year |
Five common mistakes
- Too low. Eye-level photos look like a family snapshot, not a camera. Stand on a sturdy chair or hold the phone above your head.
- No floor. If the photo is all tree, Santa has nowhere to walk. Step back or use the regular wide lens.
- Too dark. A dark photo loses the details of your room. Shoot with the lights on.
- Someone in the shot. We never use photos with people in them. Check the edges and any mirrors.
- Private things on show. Mail with your address, family photos, documents. Move them out of view (more in photo privacy).
Tricky rooms
- Small apartment: stand in the corner opposite the tree and go as high as you safely can. Ordinary rooms are the point: it should look like your home.
- Tree against a wall or in a corner: shoot from the opposite corner so the tree and the floor in front of it are both in frame.
- No chimney: no problem. In the footage Santa is simply in your room. See Santa in your living room.
- Tree not up yet: wait until it's decorated, so the footage matches what your child sees on Christmas morning.
A 30-second check before you send
- Can you see the tree and some empty floor?
- Does it look like it was taken from up high?
- Is it sharp and bright enough to see your furniture?
- Is there nobody in it, and nothing private on show?
A JPG, PNG or HEIC photo straight from your phone is fine, up to 10 MB. Once you order, your video arrives within 48 hours, by email. Order by December 21 for delivery by December 23. The full checklist is on Santa in your living room.
Catch Santa for $19See all packs
HoHo Cam! orders open in November 2026. Join the waitlist and we'll email you when they open. No payment and no photo needed now, just an adult's email.
Packs and prices
Single video
Santa visits your living room and says your child's name.
Pack of 4 videos
Each child gets their own video with their own name.
Orders open November 2026. Order by Dec 21 for delivery by Dec 23. Compare what's in each pack · Join the waitlist
🔒 Download your video and keep it — it's yours forever. To protect your family's privacy, we delete your photo 30 days after delivery and remove your video from our servers after 60 days. Your download link expires then, so save your copy.
AI disclosure: Santa, his motion and his voice are created with AI video and voice tools. The security-camera look is a creative effect, not real CCTV footage, and we're not affiliated with any camera brand. Every video carries a small “AI” label and is checked before delivery.
Questions parents ask
Can people be in the photo?
No. The photo must have no people (and ideally no pets) in it. We never use photos of children. Only Santa appears in the video.
Is a phone photo okay?
Yes. A normal, sharp phone photo works well. Use the regular or wide lens rather than zooming in.
Should I take the photo at night?
Take it with the tree lights and a lamp on. A normal, well-lit photo works best, because the night-vision camera look is added later.
My tree isn't up yet. What should I do?
Wait until it's decorated. The footage should match the room your child sees on Christmas morning.
Landscape or upright?
Hold the phone sideways (landscape) if you'll watch on a TV.
What file types can I send?
A JPG, PNG or HEIC photo straight from your phone, up to 10 MB.