Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

Actor David Warren, who has been playing Santa for the past ten years, holds seven-month-old Olivia Ruch at Santa's Grotto in Selfridges department store in London on Dec. 7.

An all too familiar scene, parents bring their terrified, hysterical kids for their annual portrait session with Santa at their local department store. My own parents have certainly relished showing me the images of myself as a grumpy 3-year-old, unhappy to be on Santa's lap. It seems this is a phase every child goes through at one point.

I love Olivia's expression in the photo above. I think it really makes the picture.

Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

Actor David Warren, who has been playing Santa for the past ten years, speaks to 16-month-old Georgie Grant at Santa's Grotto in Selfridges department store in London on Dec. 7.

See more images in our slideshow: Scared of Santa