It may only be August but the search for people to fill the role of the beloved shopping centre Santa Claus, because the real Santa is too busy making toys, is already on.

"Santa is a valued commodity that gets less and less available as the years roll on and 2014 is looking like a lean Santa year," Isobel King from Scene to Believe said.

Scene to Believe runs the majority of the Santa Christmas photography in the Port Stephens area and always aims to hire locally first.

Ms King said filling the role of Santa is important and difficult. Prospective Santas need to be caring, good listeners, happy, smiling and punctual.

"He is fundamentally old school, the kind of guy that your grandparents would invite to Sunday lunch," she said.

"Just never doubt his ability to tell the difference between Ben Ten and the Octonaughts - he also knows the name of Peppa Pig's little brother and yes, he is fully aware of the difference between the iPad and the iPad mini."

Anyone keen to fill the jolly man's shoes should head to scenetobelieve.com or call 9417 1888.

All Santas go through a training program, to be ready to come to town in early November.