Baby portraits

Senior Member Joined: Oct 27 2010 Posts: 223

I would like to hear your experinces with taking portraits of ur kiddos!

sears
jc penny
target

any where else and what info can you give me?

thank you

Executive Member Joined: May 22 2007 Posts: 285

where are you located?

Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

you can get great inexpensive pkgs @ sears. but it all depends on which photographer you get. I went w/ dd & also for a 4 generations pic & there were so many amazing shots we simply couldn't choose! I went last Summer to get a fam pic & one of each of my (2 at the time) kids & the lady was so impatient & not creative & not flexible (but we did get "the shot").

Senior Member Joined: Oct 27 2010 Posts: 223

im in brooklyn

you had to go pick up the pictures?

id rather have them mail than make a nother trip tp pick it up

Executive Member Joined: May 17 2011 Posts: 272

I've gone with my twins to sears twice and was pretty happy. If your kids co-operate then the pics will most likely will be nice. They were extremely patient with my kids. They normally use a white backdrop but if you request- they have some really nice ones

Yes you need to come back at some point. It takes 2 weeks for it to be ready.

Executive Member Joined: May 22 2007 Posts: 285

If you are interested in former students doing it at a discounted rate, let me know. They do really awesome work!

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 22 2008 Posts: 6469

Picture People- in Staten Island, you can always find coupons and you get the pictures about an hour later
JC Penney- SI or Queens, you have to go back to pick up the pictures
Olan Mills-Manhattan, a block away from Macys, got great pictures, always good coupons but takes 2 weeks to get the pictures
Target-there isn't one around here who takes pictures
Kiddy Kandids is somewhere on the other end of Brooklyn, they usually have a good coupon out, the train stops a few blocks away and its not the best neighborhood
Sears- Kings Plaza or Beverly? street, I was told Beverly street is a lot better but same issue as Kiddy Kandids, not a great neighborhood

did I miss anything? or you can go to a local place

Senior Member Joined: Oct 27 2010 Posts: 223

webdesignermom what do u mean I love discouts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bnm I spoke to jc penny they told me thay can mail it

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 22 2008 Posts: 6469

Gold Member Joined: Oct 14 2010 Posts: 1269

Last year I had my baby taken for a bunch of photo shoots, I mainly used Picture People (roosevelt field) and Sears (2 diff locations). With the understanding that it somewhat depends on the actual photographer, overall I was more impressed with Sears than picture people. Picture people--unless you get a "membership' or the "bundle" package, they are very expensive, their backdrops are rather boring and especially for older infants/toddlers, I was extremely UNIMPRESSED with the lack of props and the fact that they put the baby right down on the floor of the backdrop which was all scuffed up--one time not only did my baby's outfit get all dirty on the tops of his feet so I had to choose a proof that didn't show the tops of his feet, but the smudges were in the prints and I made them redo them. Another time, I complained about the dirty backdrops, and this was in mid January, they said that they just got new backdrops for the holidays--I couldn't tell! With sears I felt that they handled babies much better, better backdrops, better selection of pictures to choose from and packages were better priced.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 6025

I was also disappointed that a pricey place like Picture People's backdrops were so dirty, at first when I saw them I just figured it doesn't show up in the pictures because I've never noticed it in other people's, but it sure did show up - and that's even when I chose the ones with the gray backdrop! Even with the discount packages they're a more expensive place, and the discount packages you can only use for one pose so if you want any prints of a different one it's something close to $20 a sheet. Places like Sears and JC Penney have specials sometimes that are more like $4 a sheet. Haven't tried them yet but that's the plan for next time; I thought I'd go to picture people because they are "better" but since I was disappointed there anyway (I mean, it was ok. But not SPECIAL. And those dirty backdrops...) why should I bother spending more on it again.

I also did Olan Mills once and was not impressed. They were slow, there weren't enough people working there. I didn't think my photographer was great, but maybe different locations are better. I didn't know that you could only choose your poses on the spot, I thought I could order off the website once the pictures were taken, but that costs twice as much. The computer program didn't give me a preview of how it would crop for different print sizes, and my baby's adorable tootsies got chopped right off. When I complained, they said tough luck and wouldn't let me choose a different pose. I still say it's their fault, what kind of photographer doesn't realize that you will want the feet in the full-body newborn picture?! And again, whatever discount package you get is ok but then additional sheets are like $13 each, no coupon or discount or anything. So overall I will not be going back there again either. Sigh.

I do still plan to try JCP or Sears for future portraits, but I also make an effort to take LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of home snapshots, and from time to time I do that making sure that the baby is dressed nicely and in a good background. Even if they won't be the same great quality as the pros, if you take enough you are much more likely to capture your kid's real personality much more than some stranger. For wallet-size, 4x6, 5x7 sharing with the relatives, the quality will often be good enough, especially if you wash their faces and comb their hair like you do before going to the studio.

Executive Member Joined: May 22 2007 Posts: 285

We have students who have taken our Professional Photography course and b'h take really great pics. Since they are starting out, they would be willing to do at discounted rate. I am not advertising just trying to pass along another venue of getting great portraits!

Gold Member Joined: Mar 07 2006 Posts: 1570

Platinum Member Joined: May 15 2008 Posts: 5246

Same here.

Executive Member Joined: Nov 03 2011 Posts: 357

I know someone who does great pictures in her home. she is not expensive and does a awesome job.

took stunning pix of my baby.

Gold Member Joined: Mar 07 2006 Posts: 1570

Executive Member Joined: Nov 03 2011 Posts: 357

Meira Safdieh- 917-907-2251

she will do it in her home- with of props or if you want she can take you to a park, beach ect...

Active Poster Joined: Jul 15 2011 Posts: 52

I'm interested in this too...what is a good price for portraits, whether using a store (like sears) or going to a personal photographer?

Gold Member Joined: Mar 07 2006 Posts: 1570

Posted: Thu, Mar 07 2013, 3:24 pm Post subject: re: baby portraits

JC Penney in the Palisades Mall near Monsey has a brown background that's dirty. As much as they tell you it won't show up in your prints, it sure does. I complained about it and they were able to Photoshop it out (or the equivalent) only after I called and spoke to the manager and waited like 2 weeks. Basically always check the backgrounds before you take the portraits. And if you see something tell the photographer to not get it in the picture if possible.