Ron Cooper - We Are Santa: Portraits and Profiles

Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy; who gives himself by thought or word or deed in every gift that he bestows.

Edwin Osgood Grover

The real Santa Claus is at the mall.

Lemony Snicket

You might ask, What about the one real Santa?
Hes asked us not to tell you
which one he is, but if you look closely, you just might spot him in these pages.

Published by
Princeton Architectural Press
202 Warren Street, Hudson, New York 12534
www.papress.com

2021 Ron Cooper
All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-61689-965-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-64896-010-9 (epub, mobi)

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the publisher, except in the context of reviews.

Every reasonable attempt has been made to identify owners of copyright.
Errors or omissions will be corrected in subsequent editions.

Editor: Lynn Grady
Designer: Paul Wagner

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.

Erica Stulls skills as a writer are evident in these pages. She has taken tons of information and distilled it into highly readable and entertaining prose. If youve enjoyed reading the stories and profiles in this book, its all due to Erica.

I met my first professional Santa Claus three years ago in New Mexico, where I was photographing cowboys, gunslingers, snake handlers, and Civil Warera reenactors. One subject made a convincing 1860s Union soldier, complete with authentic costume and rifle musket. After we had completed the shoot, he asked if he could show me a very different character that he portrayed. I agreed, and he returned fifteen minutes later as Santa Claus.

Shortly after that, I saw a news story about the Charles W. Howard Santa School, the oldest Santa training program in the nation. This ideathat there is an actual school for Santaswas a new one to me, but I was immediately intrigued by the seriousness with which the schools students pursued the art and craft of embodying Santa Claus. It wasnt long before I learned that Santa Claus is the most photographed character in the world. Thats when I thought to myself, who better, then, to be the focus of a new photography project? Santa, of course.

I've always enjoyed meeting and photographing people who follow their passions, especially when those ambitions take them far outside the realm of their daily lives. In addition to historical reenactors, Ive photographed clowns, drag queens, and, of course, Santas. On the surface, they are very different groups of people, but these transformers are united in their commitment to their callings and in their eagerness to creatively reinvent themselves physically as they embody their characters of choice.

With the assistance of two leading Santa booking agents, I arranged photo shoots with dozens of top professional Santas in cities across the country. I asked them to arrive at the studio in street clothesno bells, no red suitso that I could take their portraits, to be presented in black and white.

Thats when the real fun began. In what was often an elaborate and lengthy physical transformation, each Santa changed into his favorite suit for another set of photographs, this time in full color. Through these photo sessions, I learned a lot about Santa's wardrobe and accessories, as well as special padding and all manner of props. Many brought two or more suits for distinct looks, and as I traveled from city to city, I found myself both surprised and impressed by the diversity and range of the character we know simply as Santa.

More importantly, I learned about the dedication, professionalism, commitment, and character of these people. They are deeply devoted to their missionto the children they meet, to the integrity of their persona, to the spirit of the season, and to the history and traditions of Santa Claus. Each one is an inspiration.

Ron Cooper, 2020