Pierce County Santa Paws 2024
featuring Sadie and Remy
The holidays always bring a special kind of joy, and this year’s Santa Paws event with Pierce County Parks was no exception. From the moment the first sweater-wearing, tail-waggin face arrived, it was clear this day would be full of laughter, festive cheer, and countless memories captured on camera.
The setup was simple but magical—a cozy winter backdrop with Santa at its heart. This year we had our vary own wall art installer and my husband, Thom, as our Santa and it definitely made a huge difference.
Families brought their pets dressed to impress in holiday sweaters, Santa and elf hats, and even reindeer antlers. While dogs made up the majority of our guests, we had one particularly bold feline steal the show for a moment, reminding us all that cats know how to have fun, too.
featuring Meeko
The morning was a dream. Families came steadily, smiling through their sessions as we snapped away, capturing every wag, snuggle, and joyful glance. Dogs of every size showed up, from a tiny yorkie to a majestic husky, labs and doodles, and more, each one bringing their own personality to their visit with Santa. This year we had a special upgrade for families to add a little touch of magic to their photos by adding snow!
By early afternoon, though, the weather decided it wanted some attention. The rain had been a gentle constant throughout the day, but quickly turned to raining cats and dogs, with crazy wind gusts adding to the mix. Tents were shaking, vendors were holding things down for dear life, and it was clear that safety had to come first. By around 1 p.m., most vendors had packed up, and the event closed early.
However, we were a bit sheltered from the weather with where we were, and so we stuck it out until 1:40pm before we slowly started packing up since we hadn’t seen anyone for 30 minutes prior.
By the end of the day:
We photographed 59 dogs and 1 cat
Snapped a total of 2222 photos (pretty normal for pet photography haha)
56% of families upgrade their photos to magically add snow
Raised $225 for Auburn Valley Humane Society
Not bad for a day that ended with gusting winds and soggy paws!
featuring Peach and Meeko
Events like Santa Paws remind me why I love what I do. It’s not just about taking pictures; it’s about capturing stories, memories, and those little moments that bring people—and their pets—together.
Thank you to everyone who came out, braved the weather, and shared your holiday spirit with us. And to the incredible team who stuck it out with me, you are the reason we could make this day happen.
If you were at Santa Paws, I’d love to hear about your favorite moment.
Share it in the comments, or tag me in your photos—I’d love to see how your furry friends are spreading holiday cheer this season.
Here’s to cozy nights, wagging tails, and a holiday season filled with love.