Popular photos with the Grinch spark some smiles and tears

The Christmas photos that kids take with Rob Folk at the Victoria Square Shopping Centre are far from picture-perfect, in the traditional sense.

When the shutter closes, many of them are crying and that’s because Folk is dressed up as Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch — a look he pulls off with 45 minutes of makeup and airbrushing.

Rob Folk puts on his face before his next appearance as the Grinch at Victoria Square Shopping Centre. (Joseph Ho/980 CJME)

“We’re all aware that some of these kids are going to come and they were going to scream and that was the photo they were going to get,” said Folk.

“We were hoping that it would be a hit and the mall would see that. And maybe it’s something new that Regina will embrace … and it might carry on year-to-year.”

Folk said that has indeed been the case, with families waiting up to an hour for a photo in the afternoons and evenings.

“We want to make sure that the kids have a good time. I have maybe 30 seconds to a minute to spend with each child while they’re processing the orders,” he said.

Photos with The Grinch can be taken at the mall until Wednesday.