One of my cousins owns the photo studio and asked me, last year at a family Christmas event, if I'd play Santa for her group. I started letting my beard grow out July 1st.
I must tell you that it was more fun than I could have imagined. The people were great and the kids were a hoot.
If you ever get a chance to be involved in something like this....just do it.
As for Doug (BugnatR), Old Michael and a few others, let me remind you of the lyrics of a Christmas song:
"He's making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty or nice....."