is this too ambitious?

bigsis144 ↓

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 11:15 am

Sears has a nice portrait package (considering I'm only bringing one kid, so no sitting fees), and I'm scheduled to take DS there at 5:30pm today for pictures.

Their portrait package price ($7.99 for 26 different-sized pictures) applies only to the sizes and number of prints they specify; after that, it's $19.99 for each additional sheet. EXPENSIVE.

I was checking their hours online, and saw that a 3:30pm session opened up. Since it would be a different session, I can take a different picture with DS and use another portrait package coupon and get another 26 prints for less than the cost of one sheet.

I called, and they said it's okay to back-to-back book like that, but I'm not sure if DS (15 months old) will handle being in the mall for 3 hours that well. What do you think? Should I take the 3:30 session too?

↑ bigsis144 ↓

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 11:32 am

Yeah, I know what you mean.

In terms of too many pictures, though, I was hoping to take pictures of DS in his purim costume (tiger) and include it in mishloach manos to family members. So there go all my copies! Smile

↑ deedee

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 11:52 am

may u can just to to a photo copy place and make copies of the wallet size page. if u do it on phot paper it will prob look the same and b a lot cheaper!

saw50st8 ↓

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 12:13 pm

I personally hate Sears because when I went they gave me a lot of issues with redeeming coupons and then purchasing additional poses. So I'm biased against them. I recommend Target who does a great job and usually has very good picture prices.

Ronit ↓

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 12:20 pm

Same experience as saw50st8. They made problems with the coupons & the quality wasn't great.

I like olan mills, or picture people.

If you go to Sears, then I say go for 3:30. If you see you don't want the 5:30 appt then cancel it then.

superjew

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 12:40 pm

saw50st8 wrote:

I didn't know Target takes professional pictures as well. Who do I contact to find out info?
TIA

Simple1 ↓

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 1:00 pm

saw50st8 wrote:

So here's the other side of the story. The people who work in chain studios are very low wage workers who are under extreme pressure from the studio manager to get people to buy the packages. Because it really is impossible to pull in a profit with just the coupons and 7.99 specials.

↑ Simple1

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 1:01 pm

bigsis144 wrote:

It depends on your child, but it's challenging enough getting a child to sit even for one sitting.

↑ mamaleh

Mon, Mar 07 2011, 1:38 pm

Does the mall have a play area? That might give him a chance to relax and let off some steam between appointments. We have always done 2 sitting at a time (but in different stores) and are usually successful at both, B"H.

↑ bigsis144 ↓

Tue, Mar 08 2011, 2:37 pm

So, I ended up taking the two time slots, and the 5:30 pictures came out BETTER than the 3:30.

I had two different photographers, and the first one was very unprofessional -- she had her ipod earbuds in half the time, was impatient when my toddler didn't want to sit in the exact center of the backdrop, and barely smiled the entire time. Awful. We didn't get a single usable shot from the entire session.

The second photographer had actually been my photographer 6 months ago when I last took DS for pictures (first grandkid, what can I say, I take a lot of pictures Smile

), and she was great! She'd lean way in to smile at DS or blow on his face, and quickly back out while snapping the picture. We got some great pictures, B"H.

JCPenney and Target do seem like better chain-store options, but the Target near me has no photo studio, and I live closest to a Sears. I don't want to drive 45 minutes to just take pictures...

Last edited by bigsis144 on Tue, Mar 08 2011, 2:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

imabima

Tue, Mar 08 2011, 2:44 pm

deedee wrote:

may u can just to to a photo copy place and make copies of the wallet size page. if u do it on phot paper it will prob look the same and b a lot cheaper!

Pretty sure it's copyrighted.

↑ saw50st8

Tue, Mar 08 2011, 2:49 pm

superjew wrote:

saw50st8 wrote:

I didn't know Target takes professional pictures as well. Who do I contact to find out info?
TIA

Look on their website to find locations with photography.