Santa photos in Santa Monica.

Where Santa sits at a Santa Monica event.

At a park event, the station is one more stop on the route. A family walks past the balloon arch, plays a few booth games, buys a churro or a bag of popcorn and then joins the line for Santa and Mrs. Claus. The arch, with its candy canes, peppermint balloons and gingerbread figures, stands behind the seat, and the photo-op station is built in front of it. Families can use their own phones, and the host can book the photographer Carnival Fun Experts offers.

The host decides where along the route the station falls. Near the entrance, it greets guests as they arrive. At the far end, it gives the event a destination. In either place, the line can run straight, fold back on itself or loop around a booth, and a few games next to the line mean children are not standing still. A school event can place the station near a campus gate or a courtyard, subject to the school's approval. The walk-in snow globe inflatable can sit nearby as an extra photo prop, and nothing falls inside it. A small event can get by with the station, two booths and one concession booth, while a larger one can add booths and a second concession booth until the budget is spent.