Edited by Samantha Vandeyar and Photography by Fiona Handbury
Christmas Wish 2025 had us visit locations across Australia and the USA. We were able to fly Santa to some of these regions, and when he couldn't be there in person, virtual Santa appeared using augmented reality technology.
The purpose of Christmas Wish is to bring a little Christmas joy to families that are doing it tough due to childhood health challenges. For some of these families, this was their first professional photo of their child, for others, this may be their last as we cater to some gravely ill young people.
Photographers and Santa Claus visit hospitals around the world to create magical portraits for hundreds of sick children and create incredible Christmas Wonderland Photoshopped artworks as gifts to these families.
The Christmas Wish team is made up of a couple of hundred volunteers including team members, photographers, Photoshop Artists, and Santa Claus. Each year our reach grows, and more families receive the gift of an imaginative artwork hand-crafted by our artists from all corners of the globe.
Edit by Corey Mudge
Christmas Wish teams visited hospitals and hospices in Australia and the USA this year. Santa Claus was able to fly to several of these locations thanks to Qantas. The joy Santa brings to these children is so evident in every interaction.
Each year volunteers come together to create some joy for families doing it tough. We begin by sending a team into the hospital with a Green Screen studio, lighting, and camera gear (thanks to Nikon, Kayell Australia and Wacom plus many other supporters). The photography team ask the families about the child's interests, and then come up with an idea for an artwork and pose based on those interests.
TV/VIDEO MEDIA
Please credit www.theheartproject.com.au when using footage provided in the media centre.
If sharing on social media please tag @heartprojectofficial (Instagram) or https://www.facebook.com/theheartproject.com.au
PRINT AND ONLINE MEDIA
Media may access any of the artwork, photos and video provided in the media centre as long as the following terms are met: Image Credits (details included in file names), Link back to www.theheartproject.com.au
Quotes from Families
"We have two beautiful children. Our oldest is Quest. He was diagnosed with a rare disease called Agammaglobulinemia at 18 months old. This disease means his body doesn’t produce antibodies to build up his immune system. He receives IVIG infusions at the hospital monthly and we have to be careful about germ exposure. He also has cochlear implants to aid him as he is deaf. Both Quest and his sister Gemma have autism. We have been so fortunate to participate in this program for 4 years. We love that our family can have Santa experiences in a way that keep us safe from sickness and sensory overload. We truly cherish our pictures every year. Thank you to all the staff that add magic to our Christmas in a way that wouldn’t be possible otherwise."
"Jodi has a rare chromosomal abnormality—so rare that there are currently no other documented cases. Over her four years of life, she has spent a significant amount of time undergoing tests and procedures in an effort to better understand the medical challenges she faces.
Currently, these challenges include chronic vomiting, the need for a gastrostomy tube (G-tube), and several physical limitations. Despite this, Jodi is a happy, loving kid, who consistently brings joy to those around her.
The Christmas Wish program was an incredible experience for our family. Seeing the care, creativity, and genuine joy that surrounded our children was deeply meaningful. The program offers far more than photographs—it creates moments of magic amid the difficult days of navigating medical complexities.
Seeing the final images was genuinely astonishing—the level of creativity and skill that went into transforming simple photos into such magical Christmas scenes was beyond anything we expected. The attention to detail and artistry brought the images to life in a way that felt truly special.
The joy on our kids’ faces as they saw themselves placed into those scenes said everything. The photos captured not just the spirit of the season, but a sense of wonder and imagination that we’ll treasure for years to come."
"The actual photo session was great and the photographer worked really well with our son. It is hard to get good photos of him and get a good shot of him smiling. And they did!
The pictures were so magical! The moment I saw them I cried, they had captured such a special feeling in their photos. I will cherish it forever! "
The pictures were so magical! The moment I saw them I cried, they had captured such a special feeling in their photos. I will cherish it forever! "
"The artwork is incredible. I was there and I don't know how you did it! It's truly magical."
“Thank you so much. These photos are beautiful and we will treasure them forever. We have never been able to take our son for a photo with Santa, so this means a lot to us. Thank you to everyone involved.”
"Thank you so much for this beautiful picture! Our son had a nasogastric tube inserted just a few hours after the photo was taken, so it's wonderful to have a Christmas photo of him without it."
"Omg ! I was blown away by how beautiful this artwork was... thank you so so much for capturing our little man so perfectly, your artwork is spectacular! What you guys do for all these kids is absolutely amazing!"
"Thank you so much for the incredible work you are doing bringing joy and brightening the day of sick children in hospital - especially at this time of year. The picture of our daughter with Santa and the video are both incredible! What an amazing and talented team you are! Thanks a million for this beautiful gift."