Sears Portrait Studio

What have people's experiences been using Sears for portraits? Also, what kind of "sitting fee" do they charge? Is it per person, etc. Prices for photos is on their website but not the sitting fees etc.

I really dont' think we need professional photos done yet. I have so many really nice pictures I've done myself! But my MIL is INSISTING and driving me nuts. Of course she's not insisting on paying for them! MIL says she got pictures done EVERY SINGLE MONTH of her kids until they were a year. Seems pretty excessive to me.

Money is pretty tight right now so I was just wondering how much I can expect to spend. I also would like one with DH and myself and the girls too.

 

I would find a really nice way to say that if she wants the pictures, she can pay for them!

Reyna

 

I used to use Sears all the time for pictures, but then started to not be happy with them. Yes, they do charge a sitting fee per person, and I believe it is $9.99. They have a smile savers card you can buy for 2 years, it's like $40 or so, and then there are no sitting fees for 2 years no matter how many people you have in the picture or how many photo sessions you have. They used to have great coupons, but I haven't liked the coupons in the past few years. Then I didn't have luck with the photographers so we stopped using them.

I have tried Walmart, they do a pretty good job and usually have pretty cheap packages, check out their website for more info.

I also have used picture people, they are pricey, but you can find coupons sometimes, but I feel they do a much better job than Sears.

 

Go to Searsportraits.com and get a coupon, however I am not in love with ANY of the pictures they have done with the babies.

 

We have used JcPenneys and I am so impressed by all the pictures we have gotten of the twins. I think some of it has to do with the photographer there. They also have coupons on their website for free sitting fees and $3.99 portrait sheets. We always order a TON of pictures for around $40. Sears coupons never seem to be as good. They have a portrait sheet discount, but it only after you buy so many at regular price.

 

We use Sears and I love them. I've gone there twice now and have been very satisfied. The first set of professional picture we did were from Walmart and I'll never go back. To me they looked very cheap and low quality, I was not happy with them at all. You get what you pay for. The sitting fee st Sears is $15.00 per session. You can also purchase a membership that is good for a 2 yrs for $20, if you plan on going there again that would be the cheapest way to go. If you have any questions, or if you'd like to see any of the pictures they did give me a PM and I'll be more then happy to help out.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Jun 20 2007, 10:14 AM) [snapback]299975[/snapback]
Yes, they do charge a sitting fee per person, and I believe it is $9.99. They have a smile savers card you can buy for 2 years, it's like $40 or so, and then there are no sitting fees for 2 years no matter how many people you have in the picture or how many photo sessions you have. .


Your right! I don't kow what I was thinking. :fool:

 

First off if you MIL wants them so bad try to get her to take them! BUT at the same time I understand that you can't go back in time & take them later... I am just a picture sap!

I personally love the local Sears BUT some studios are better then others... no matter WHERE you go they are only as good as the person behind the camera. I love that they are all digital & I can bring the prints home today if I want. Also the pics are available online the same evening. I have done The place inside BRU... OKAY pictures but pricey for only 4 poses... JcPenney... we have had some decent pics but they aren't digital & they are known for ruining the film... plus you have to pay $5 to get them online (free with sears) & it takes 2.5 weeks & the pics take 3! Plus I still spent a good chunk there when it was all said & done. The other place we have gone is Walmart... I have went there twice... figured the 1st time might have been a one time thing, but they second time they were still not great... & since their computers are so old its hard to tell what you are getting until it arrives. Plus if you want more then the one pose its not that cheap! I highly doubt I will ever go back there! I have heard & seen good things from picture people, but they are a bit $$$ even for me. If you have a target photo studio ask locals about them... we don't have them here, but I have heard some good things.

The other down side with jcpenneys, walmart & anyplace that isn't fully digital is that they have a limited roll of film & the camera is stationary.... One of the reasons I started going back to sears is that they are fully digital now & they can move the camera all around! The kids don't have to stand/sit on those horribly dangerous platforms (which many fall off of at least once) they take lots of the pics right on the floor. They can also lay little ones on their back & take pics from above... most large chain 'studios' don't do that. Plus I have found patince (sp?) pays!!! since its digital they can take the pic over & over until its right as long as the little ones are game! They also take 6 different backgrounds or poses, but often times you end up with 8-10 different pics out of the deal (close-ups & what nots).

as for the pricing... yes sears changed the coupons... they still have good portriat package (1 pose) deals every other month or so... but alot of people were up set cause the $4.99 a sheet coupons are no more (unless you buy 8+ indiviual sheets) BUT they lowered the everyday price... sheets are only $7.99 now... so you can get the package & still afford to get a sheet of a few more pics. With out coupons EVERYWHERE including walmart is $14.99 a sheet unless its a package or special... I think JcPenney's is the only one that still offers a coupon on just sheets. Anyways enough about the book I just wrote I tend to ramble!!! Here are a few pics from sears from the last few months... The preggo ones with my 23 month old son are from the end of April when he was 21 months.... The ones with the girls he is 22.5 months & they are 2 weeks. These are just my favorites.

These are the April pics...
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h224/cas...=1179444544.pbw

These are the pics from last week...
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h224/cas...=1181777300.pbw

As you notice there are a lot... while I know how to get them to keep taking pics... so they don't realize how many there are until the end Plus I just break down & get the CD (all the pics)... Otherwise I will spend almost as much on some sheets! Plus I still get like 10 sheets of pics in wallet & 3X5 sizes as gifts. AND I have the legal rights so that I can take the CD to walmart or costco & get prints CHEAP! I used to scan them & do it but know places are really cracking down on it.

 

We use Sears too. It is pretty hit and miss depending on the photographer. We've had some great portraits and some not so great ones. We just did photos for the babies 1st birthday and I'm pretty happy with the results. They do try to pressure you into buying things that you don't want so you need to be firm with what pictures you want.

 

We use Sears also. Overall we've been pretty dissatisfied and I don't think I would recommend them...at least the studio that we go to. We are always scheduled for the first sitting of the day because they often get behind schedule. On 3 different occasions the studio opened 10-15 minutes late and there were no apologies. I agree with the PP's regarding it being a "hit or miss" when it comes to photographers. We've had some bad ones and some decent ones. Plan on staying at the studio for at least an hour because they have to edit your photos. I've tried to explain to the photographers that we're only interested in the "basic" pictures (i.e. no enhancements), but we were told that it is their policy that they have to show them to us. Thus the editing procedure lasts even longer. Personally, I feel it is a waste of their time and ours because I know that I'm not going to purchase them. Anyway, another complaint that I have is that their coupons can only be used one per family. So even though both of them are taking pictures together AND separately, they are counted as "one." We did receive a birthday coupon, but were told once again that it is one per family. I explained to them that they are twins, but they will not honor it. Also, FYI - I've been told by another family that you are not obligated to purchase any pictures. If you're really unhappy with the ones that they took, you can retake them. We are part of the Smile Save program so we wouldn't have to pay another sitting fee, but I don't know if non-Smile Savers would, too. They do have an option where you can pick up your photos the day you take them, but there is a huge fee. As I mentioned before...I don't think I would recommend them.