I had the same issue with DS.
What i did was went with mum to get them done. Go early when there is no one else around so makes it a quick process too. DS didnt see Santa the whole time... didnt tell him what we were doing at all.. was sitting in the stroller facing the other way. Mum got DD out and get her to Santa to hold. DS still oblivious. I picked him up with his back towards santa and walked over and sat down with DS on my lap. Didnt say anything to him, didnt tell him what we were doing. I had to be in the photo and that was fine but he didnt see santa until later he turned around. He was ok as he was on my lap and the ladies were great in getting both kids to smile.
So maybe you being in the photo might be an idea.. dont tell them whats happening at all and act normal as if nothings going on?
Oh man, I'm still trying to work it out! My DD (2 in Feb) LOVES Santa. Is obsessed by the Jolly man! She waves to him, gets absolutely gobsmacked whenever she sees him in person, blows him kisses, talks about him non stop, HAS to watch him on DVD 3 times a day minimum, talks about him to no end, has to be read a Santa story at bedtime and so on and so on... but come to getting a photo done and forget it!!! Tried for 15 minutes, she was happy for Mummy to stand near him with her in arms and "talk" but as soon as I suggest a photo (even on Mummy's knee), she gets very distressed!
Ooooh I was FULLY prepared to NOT have a photo this year as Oskar is 20 months and well, as you all know what that seems to mean with most of them at that age huh!!! Well, knock me down with a feather, last week we got a photo with Santa!
Here's how it happened..... a VERY lovely Santa told me right at the start when Oskar would want to go up but get half way and drag me away...lol... just to keep on bringing him to say hi each time we were at the shops. A couple of times the Santa actually came to him in his pram and said hi and did a high 5 with me and then Oskar. The first Santa told me that a lot of kids, not all, will after going and seeing Santa eventually be happy for a photo. Well, it worked for us!! I did also show him the photo he had done with Santa last year and he has a book which both DH and I know ALL the words to, but it all seems to have worked. He didn't smile, but did sit there quite contently on his own
Personally i wouldn't force it... i actually find it a bit ironic that mum's warn of "stranger danger" yet happily plop their child on an strange old man's lap who sometimes gives out lollies (again we teach not to take sweets from strangers) and expect them to smile!
We tried it the first year and my DS wasn't too happy, he's never been big on touching anyone but family, and i was fine with that, we did it more for the family than anything else, but now i just take a nice picture of the boys in christmas outfits in the backyard or similar and post it with handmade cards ("made" by my ds) to relatives.
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Tried for 15 minutes, she was happy for Mummy to stand near him with her in arms and "talk" but as soon as I suggest a photo (even on Mummy's knee), she gets very distressed! 
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