We want to get portraits done of our son this weekend. Can anyone recommend places (JC Penney, Sears, etc)? Places to avoid? How much was it?
My experience is to not use a studio at all. I think that the best pictures taken of my daughter have been through independent photographers. I say this in regards to price and quality.
My experience with portrait studios are that they are expensive, regardless if their coupons. You might have a coupon that says “9.00 sheet sale” but then they don’t tell you how much a sitting fee will cost. Most studios will also pressure you to buy a membership -“so you don’t have to pay for sitting fees!”.
Studios are also notoriously overbooked, meaning that your son will arrive happy as a clam, but by the time your turn is up (an hour past your appointment) he is miserable.
Studios will also take loads and loads of pictures and put effects on them. Personally, I really, really dislike the effects (i.e, black and white with a colorized flower, sepia prints, cutesy borders). They will do this because they know it’s hard for a parent to turn down pictures of their child.
Lastly, I have found that studios tend to be on the dirty side. I took my daughter to The Picture People and was horrified at the dirtiness of the blanket. There was no way that I would lay her on it!
Some studios (such as the forementioned Picture People) will only take photos in a certain manner. For example, say that Timmy would look really cute standing next to the prop as opposed to on it. Nope, sorry, they won’t take it like that.
Here are prices I have paid and I live in Fort Worth:
J C Penny: My mom very much wanted family pictures one day and the only place that would take us last minute was JC Penny. 5 pictures ended up costing a bit over $100. I think my brother caved and bought the membership for 40-ish. So, 5 subpar pictures, 1.5 hours later than the scheduled time: $150-ish
Picture People: $9.00 sitting fee. They sell the pictures in 3 pose sets. Each complete set costs 80.00 and includes (as best as I can recall) an 8x10, 2 5x7 and 8 wallets.
The picture people’s selling point is that you go home with the pictures. IMO, this is bad, because the people are rushing and often the image is not centered well or the photo colors look bad. They cater to children mainly, so the place is always filled with kids running around and being, well, kids. total for 1 set: $90.00ish
Local photographer: $30.00 sitting fee. I have her booked privately for 1 hour or so. I can take as many shots as I want in any pose that I want. I can bring in props if I want. For $15.00 extra, she will come to my house.
She charges $14.00 per pose (or $12 if you buy 10 or more poses). Each print is $3.00 a sheet or 1.50 per 1/2 sheet. When you buy the pose, you receive it on a disk and you can do whatever you want with it, including printing them up yourself. This method is the least stressful and I have had the best pictures. My husband works for an ad agency and everyone was pleased with the photo quality. total: $45 and up
As always, YMMV.