This year the Christmas Wish project turns 5. It's been a challenging year for all, but for those children in hospital, the pandemic has made life almost unbearable.

Despite added restrictions, the Christmas Wish team was determined to find a way to keep bringing joy to these families. Using the power of Photography and Photoshop the worldwide team have been able to create incredible works of art for these sick children.

In Melbourne, @aussie_santa who has been with the project since the first year in 2016, was able to visit the hospital with the team. However sitting on Santa's lap was ruled out for 2020, so founder, Karen Alsop, initiated a creative solution, by photographing the children with their parent. She then used the image as an overlay on her Wacom tablet and through live view on the Nikon Z7, Santa was able to position himself in exactly the right position to match.

The images were then uploaded to the team of world-class editors to create a whimsical Christmas masterpiece for the family. 

In previous years, we've been able to fly Santa across Australia and to New Zealand to be with the teams (he really is a special Santa). This year that wasn't possible of course due to the border closures, so Santa provided a special message for the children direct from the North Pole that the teams played during their Photoshoot

The Perth team headed up by Linda Hewell and joined by John Hewell, Nicole Abbott, Sharon Ryan, Claire Clarke visited Fun on 4 at the Perth Children's Hospital

The Brisbane team was headed up by Selena Rollason and joined by Kris Anderson, Brooke Macwilliam, Andrea Warren and Heather Rapkins from Hummingbird House

The Melbourne Team headed up by Karen Alsop and joined by Julie Kimpton from Nikon Australia, Michael Marlborough from Kayell Australia, Robyn Campbell, Rosie Appleton, Victoria McKay and of course the big man in red, @Aussie_Santa visited Monash Children's Hospital for the 5th year running, back to where it all started. Big thanks to Melissa Moyle for all her assistance.

The Christmas Wish behind the scenes team incorporates a hand-selected group of world-class editors managed by Charm Hauraki from New Zealand. While the teams take the photographs, the editors download images and work their magic in Photoshop.

Our list of superstar creatives for 2020 include: Kris Anderson, Kelly Clark (McDonald), Mark Heaps, Ben Shirk, Jesus Rameriz, Colin Smith, Renee Robyn, Selena Rollason, Samantha Vandeyar, Rowena Cherry, Callie Crawley, Sharon Ryan, Magaly Tomiampos, Kate Mudge, Cristina Menor, Angela Scarano, Kylie Morrissy, Andrea Warren, Charm Hauraki and Karen Alsop

One of the highlights for the team this year was to have Nash return to Monash Children's Hospital, not as a patient this year, but to have his 4th photo with Santa. 

The first year the team met Nash, in 2017, he wasn't expected to live more than 4 days. Incredibly he not only has survived but is thriving, about to study Architecture, and working with a physio to get him out of his wheelchair. 

When Karen Alsop asked Nash what would be his dream image, he said playing basketball with Santa. The team set to work posing Nash in his chair so that Karen could photograph him on an angle that would make it look like he was flying through the air dunking on Santa Claus.

Watch the Christmas Wish 2020 video to see this heart-warming image come to life and to hear more about Nash's inspirational story.

If you would like to produce a story on Christmas Wish 2020, we welcome it. Please follow the procedure outlined below.

1. Ensure feature photographs are credited as per their filename

2. If you would like to share the video - only embed (do not download). 

3. If you would like to create a news video and access our raw footage, please email Karen Alsop - info@storyart.com.au

4. Do not alter the images in any way

5. Email a copy of your story and link to info@storyart.com.au

If you would like to arrange any interviews please email Karen or phone 0416 233 451

Huge thanks in particular to Nikon and Kayell Australia who were on the ground with us at Monash Children's Hospital

The Perth Team would also love to thank Team Digital who provided the studio lighting and green screen again for 2020.

Thank you to Motion Array for your support, making magical videos is truly a joy with the templates and music available.

This year we printed the Melbourne images on Karen's Epson 44inch 8070 using Canson Infinity Etching Rag (Karen's favourite paper). The canvases were also printed on the Epson by Karen (printed on Canson Infinity Museum Matt Canvas)