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LEHI — There's only a few more days to go until Christmas, and most folks are busy making last-minute preparations, including taking the kids to see Santa. A local photography business is doing more than just spreading holiday cheer.
The Fotofly studio in Lehi is offering free photo shoot sessions with Santa for families financially struggling this holiday season.
At the photography studio, there's the clicking of cameras, laughter and the inevitable tears that come with seeing the big man in red. For Ashley Brewer, it's a must-do on her Christmas checklist.
"To me it's like, these are my children and they're only little for so long and it's so important to me that I catch these moments," said Brewer.
It's these moments Brewer thought would be missing for her and her three children this year.
"Right now we couldn't really afford (Santa pictures)," she said.
For this family, it's not about whether they were naughty or nice.
"We went through a really rough time," she said. "My husband didn't really have a good paying job like he did before."
To me it's like, these are my children and they're only little for so long and it's so important to me that I catch these moments.
–Ashley Brewer
Santa pictures didn't make the cut after all the families bills were paid.
"We let go of our home," she said. "We let go of our two nice cars we invested a lot of money in."
The staff at Fotofly realized there are families like the Brewers in the community who have fallen on hard times and still deserve the chance to create a little magic in their children's lives.
"We are all here on our day off," said Kenny Coverstone with Fotofly. "We're all working off the clock."
They're doing everything they can to provide photo shoots for 72 local families free of charge.
"It may be a luxury to some, but if you see the picture of the kids lighting up when they see Santa, it means a lot to the moms especially," Coverstone said.
It's something Brewer agrees with. "It could really make me cry," she said. "I love it."
It's a chance for these moments to be captured forever and a chance to reflect on the true meaning of the season.
"It's about giving," Brewer said. "It's about making people happy. It's about being selfless."
