This is a fun, sweet book that would make a nice Christmas gift for Santa lovers. I wish the photos were a little larger, and it left me wanting to know even more about these people, but the photos and stories included left me with a warm feeling that there are some really lovely, good people in the world. Just as a book about Santa should.
Photographer Ron Cooper travelled the country to meet up with some of the most dedicated Christmas entertainers (ie. Santas and one Mrs. Claus). He photographed each of them in their street clothes first, making black and white portraits of the everyday people behind the red suits. Then he had the Santas transform themselves into their Christmas personas. Each has their own look, and their own way of becoming Santa. If you are looking for a little book that feels like drinking a cup of hot cocoa on a winter’s night, this one would do you well. List price is $22.95. At the time of this writing, Amazon has it for $17.95.
After reading this book, I found a documentary on Amazon Prime called, “Santa School,” which features a highly regarded Santa training school and the men (and women) learning how to be the their own best version of Santa. You will recognize some of the Santas from this book in that documentary, if you check it out.
For those of you looking for more “serious” photobook gifts. This week was filled with the release of many Best of 2020 book recommendation lists. I am linking to five at the bottom. Have fun shopping!
PhotoEye 2020 Favorite Photobooks
Women*-Made Photobooks of 2020 That Will Shift Your Worldview – The Luupe
Our Favorite Photobooks of 2020 – What Will You Remember: Elin Spring and Suzanne Révy
Here Are 20 Photo Books That Brought Us Joy In The Very Exhausting Year Of 2020 – Buzzfeed
