Meet Danielle.
Photographer. Designer. Occasional instigator of ambitious ideas.
Hi, I'm Danielle.
I'm a photographer, designer, and the person behind Heritage Santa. I also happen to be someone who finds organizing an entire Christmas photography season considerably easier than writing a page about herself.
My creative business is called Ballad Creative , where I work with people, businesses, and organizations on photography, branding, websites, and other creative projects.
But no matter what I'm working on, I keep coming back to people.
I'm interested in the way people interact, what makes them laugh, what they're proud of, and what happens when they forget there's a camera pointed at them.
How Heritage Santa began
In 2025, we brought Heritage Santa to Drummond Manor in Waterdown, Ontario.
The idea was to create a different kind of Christmas photography experience. A beautiful old house, some wonderful people playing Santa, and a setting where families could take their time and feel comfortable.
Some kids run straight into Santa's arms. Others aren't so sure. Sometimes the best photograph happens when absolutely nobody is doing what we planned.
I've learned to appreciate all of it.
And while I was busy photographing families, I started noticing something else.
None of this happened because of one person.
There were people who shared their time, skills, encouragement, and connections to help get Heritage Santa off the ground.
That got me thinking about how many people contribute to the things we do, often without getting much recognition.
And then came Human Doings.
Have you ever thought about how many people it takes to make something happen?
Not just the obvious people. The ones who make introductions, solve problems, teach us something, lend a hand, or quietly do their part.
That's where Human Doings came from.
It's a portrait project that turns my camera toward people who make things happen. Sometimes it's a thank-you to someone who's made a difference. Sometimes it's an opportunity to photograph someone completely immersed in something they love.
A musician rehearsing. An artist working. Someone who's really good at something the rest of us take for granted.
The photographs can be environmental, documentary, or studio portraits. The approach changes depending on the person.
The idea is to start with something real and make something interesting out of it.
So, what does that have to do with Christmas photos?
Quite a lot, actually.
Whether I'm photographing a family visiting Santa, an artist at work, or someone building a business, I'm looking for the same thing.
Something that feels like them.
I love a beautifully composed portrait. I also love the laughter between poses, the slightly crooked Santa hats, the unexpected expressions, and the moments nobody could have planned.
That's part of why Heritage Santa offers different ways to have your photograph taken. You can visit one of our Santas, bring your own, or skip Santa entirely and gather your favourite people for a family portrait.
There's no single way a Christmas photograph has to look.
Well, that's a little about me.
If we meet at the Manor, I'll probably be adjusting a light, chatting with your family, or waiting for one of those moments nobody saw coming.
I hope you'll come say hello.
Danielle 🙂
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