A Very Wonderful Christmas At Origin Coffee Bar
Photo by Kristin Holler.
As much fun as it is to design sets and studio refreshes in our gorgeous old farmhouse space, it’s always such a treat to design outside of our walls!
During this last holiday season, I was delighted to discover that our neighbors, Origin Coffee Bar, were interested in having me design a pop-up set for photos with Santa!
Elise mentioned that Santa and Mrs. Claus were very classic, and she was not kidding! They looked like they stepped straight out of a storybook. I pulled together three different design options for her, and while she loved them all (which always feels good 😌), she kept coming back to the idea of a classic living room to really match Santa’s vibe.
So classic and cozy became the direction and honestly, it was the perfect fit.
The Origin team was incredible from the start. The day before the event, a group of us carried everything over from the studio, the tree, cabinet, fireplace, all of it. It was definitely a team effort, and I was so thankful for the extra hands.
When it came time to actually set everything up, they had more of their team members ready and waiting to help me and Ninoska. I was genuinely so impressed by their teamwork and initiative and very grateful I wasn’t there until midnight doing it all alone.
One of my daughters at the Origin Christmas event! Photo by Kristin Holler.
One of our studio members, Kristin Holler, took the photos at the meet-and-greet and she absolutely nailed it. She’s incredibly talented, super professional, and so efficient. She has such a great eye for that timeless, classic look.
Overall, it was just such a great experience, and I’m so grateful they thought of me.
Honestly, even being asked meant a lot. Just knowing that a successful local business sees what I do and values it? That felt really special. Especially in a small Southern community where relationships and connections matter so much!
And now I’m officially hooked… I’d love to design more pop-up sets soon.
-Claire
Me with Santa when I was little!
A few words from Kristin Holler:
I loved getting to spend time at Origin Coffee Bar photographing Santa this season. The families who came were so fun and full of excitement, which made the whole experience even more special. The two amazing women on staff who helped me were incredibly kind and supportive, making everything run so smoothly.
I even got to play with a little creativity by shooting through pantyhose to give some of the images a soft, vintage feel which made the magic of the moment feel even more nostalgic. It was such a sweet and memorable time capturing those moments.