Reader Tip: Ways to Save on Professional Portraits
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Check out this tip I received from Hip2Save reader Jessica –
I thought I would share a Hip2Save deal! I work as a studio manager at Target Portait Studios and if you are looking for a deal on professional pictures you should try contacting your local studio around this time of year and asking about training sessions.
We are hiring new people so we need appointments to help get them ready. We offer these customers free sheets and free sitting fees as well as 50% off their purchase – no coupon needed! You get a trained photographer in the room with them so they will not be bad at all and a great deal!! In my local area (Greece NY), we have two days this month while we are running that special all day. Until January, you also get 6 free cards with every session and $50 back when you spend $100. [/h2s_box]
Do you know of any other ways to save on professional portraits? Please share!
(Thanks, Jessica!)
a great way to save on prof picts is to get a print release and make your own prints at Walgreens.com- they have family/ value packages available for $5 and $10 that include various sizes and a TON of prints which is great since I have so many family members that want picts of my kids/family.
But that’s after paying a professional photographer to take the pics, right?
I was actually wondering about these singe I got a coupon after checking out at target last week. Has anyone used these?? I want good quality pics for a newborn, but don’t want to pay an arm and a leg. Is there a way to see example photos online? TIA!
I also do JC Penney. For $40 (minus $9.99 if you have the free sitting fee coupon; so ~$30) you get 2 years of free sitting for as many people as you want in your group; as many times you want. they always have $3.99 per sheet for pictures. They do a good job with portraits; I’ve never had a bad experience so far in the last 7 yrs.
If you want “enhanced” portraits; they run ~$20 per sheet up to 10×13″ size.
Hope that helps!
I meant that you can find a coupon for “$3.99 per sheet” for pictures
JC Penney was always our go to also. Would recommend.
Wait…so you can go as many times as you want for $40? I don’t know if the baby will be cranky or cry so if we want a redo, we can?
The $40 covers the sitting fees for two years. So yes, if all the pictures come out bad, you dont have to buy any and then come back another day.
I’ve always taken my 3 kids to Target and we get great photos. As long as you have a coupon it’s very cheap. I usually just got a bunch of traditional sheets, the enhanced pictures can be expensive. I would recommend having an idea of what kind of shots you want and even bring a couple of your own props. Some of the photographers at my store aren’t very creative, so I like to have a bit of a plan when I go there.
In my experience, Target is hit or miss with photos. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. I would not recommend them for newborn photos.
Hey that’s the Target I shop at! 😀 Great to know!
We have had excellent luck the past 5 years at The Picture People. I know from reviews it can be hit or miss with big chains but we always have had great pics. We buy their membership each year ($40 I think) and combined w Big Bundle coupon from coupons.com end up paying $18OOP for tons of prints. Can’t beat it!!! Don’t even know how they make money on us but they’re always happy to combine coupons to save us tons!!!
I never got charged a sitting fee at out Picture People; but I’ve had a terrible experience there; however after a lot of “fighting” and a re-do session with a cranky 7 mo. old I did get great pictures! But the manager took them himself b’coz the earlier ones by an associate were so so bad that I didn’t even want a free print of any!
We LOVE the Picture People. We have done both JCPenny and the Picture People in the past and JCPenny’s was ALWAYS a disapointment. Now we are sticking with the Picture People and are extremly impressed with the quality and pricing of thier pictures. Thanks to them my house looks like a museum of my daughter 🙂
Groupon. Jcp and other chains have groupons for 20 bucks all the time. I always get the packages with the photo releases on cd (u can legally print how many in what sizes u want anywhere) i order small size prints from shutterfly (typically they are lowest price) then bigger sizes i watch for free deals at walgreens. I used to spend 200 bucks now i spend under 40.
I second this for JCP using the Groupon. There’s a Groupon right now (I’m in Chicago) for $19.99 (which includes sitting fees), and it expires in January. We’ve used JCP twice now, and we’ve been very happy with the results.
https://www.groupon.com/deals/jcp-portraits-12-21-chicago
Yes! We used a Groupon last year for family pictures at JCP. They did poses of my daughter alone, of my husband and I together, and of each of us separately with our daughter. The $20 Groupon covered all of our sitting fees, 3 picture CD (with print release), and at least one portrait sheet. We got the 3 photos we wanted the most prints of on the CD. We had the smaller sizes printed through Snapfish and waited for free 8×10 deals from Walgreens and CVS. JCP also gave us a couple more free sheets because we had to wait awhile past our appointment time which was very nice of them (we didn’t even complain or anything) PLUS they still let us use a separate coupon for $3.99 sheets that we used on some of the other poses. We also used the photos on the CD for Christmas cards last year that we got for free or for shipping only through Walgreens and Shutterfly through Collin’s tips!
My dad is a professional photographer… He’s free. 🙂
😉
I take my kiddos to JC Penney. I don’t have to pay sitting fees there and I only buy the sheets of photos that I want. The sheets are $3.99 each. I hate being pressured into buying the packages so I tell them up front that I am only interested in buying sheets.
This time of year makes me miss taking pics so much, I was a photographer for 15 years of my life, the company I worked for is now closed… I sure missing seeing those sweet babies grow up. Most of the children I photographed and their families became like my family….Wherever you choose, make sure the photographers heart is in it, and loves what they do,…. and be patient…this time of year is crazy and employees have to comply to policy, Picture deals are AWESOME but capturing memories that is priceless…… 🙂 I really like the target deal that is awesome!!!! However we have no portrait studio in our target:(
I had a Sears Portrait Studio photographer that I adored. We always scheduled our pictures with her and they were always great (and Sears had great deals on photos too!) I was heartbroken when they closed this past year. A great photographer is worth her weight in gold. Sure do miss ours. 🙂
Just did free pet portrait with my dog and 4 yr old daughter in halloween costumes. Got 1 10*13 and 6 4*7 greetings for free. Also entered their costume contest and gave them permission to publish so got another 8*10 free. All in all paid 7.5$, which was half price for one additional portrait 10*13.
Tip: Sears has does this before, may be others do it as well. Come 1st week of jan, they clear out all of previous years files, so they will sell stuff at half price and CDs with all pics for 25$ or so. So if u got pics in dec and don’t need them right away, hold off on ordering until jan, and u will get a great deal.
not necessarily cheap, but fyi…we have used Portrait Innovations many times. Always been happy with the pictures (and have had friends in other locaitons say the same). There is no sitting fee and always a special on pictures. They also give CD with so-so quality of all pics once you get to a certain level of packages. Normally pay about $80 and come home with 7 or 8 shots with multiple pages of prints each and often free cards, calendar etc… Can choose as little or as much as you want though. I think base package with multiple sheets of one pose is generally 9.99 with readily available coupon. They let you choose that day after pictures so come prepared for extra time. Take pictures home that day too.
If your child had school pictures taken by Lifetouch you can go to their website and use the code 20for40 and get 20% off any order of $40 or more.
A hint from an experinced mom ( my kids are now 24 and 19)….the best pics I have of my kids when they were younger were not even taken at a studio! They were the pics taken by myself or a family member. It’s the pics that are spontaneous that are the best! I have tons of pics from studios but the ones I love the most and are hanging on my walls are the ones that I took and really capture just who they are. happy picture taking!
I completely agree with you. I really have never liked studio photos for that reason. My kids aren’t perfect little people in perfect clothes in a studio. They’re messy, imperfect and fun. Those are the pictures I want to remember. 🙂 Not a single one of my favorite photos of my family are from a studio session.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I thought I was the only one! I have never taken my kids. I just think the studio ones look so stuffy, fake and cheap. I just can’t imagine dragging my kids to do that (in dress clothing no less)!
I would always take my family to Picture People but a couple of years ago they moved out of the closest mall to us. Last year I decided to just take my family outside on a beautiful Fall day and take pictures myself. There were a few poses I knew I really liked so I pretty much knew where to place everyone. With a digital camera and a timer, you can’t go wrong. 🙂
For DIY individuals look for friends who are snap happy photographers on FB who might be willing to snap some shots for your family or contact a local high school that might have a vocational photography department. These days with digital photography and sites like Pic Monkey that allow you to do some awesome photo editing all you need is a friend with a good eye or a tripod and a remote.
If you’re close to a college campus, seek out their photography program/dept or post a flyer for a freelance photographer. College students are always looking for experience and make extra $$$. For the past 2 years I befriended a college student who took newborn/family photos for us-$50 included unlimited outfit changes; 2-3 hour shoot; cd; and print release. We printed photos from Walgreen’s and they came out great!
Every year in the Fall, I hire a professional photographer to take our family photo. She is rather pricey; however, during a certain period of time, she has mini-sessions where she picks a park, museum, etc. and for a 30 minute shoot, offer a deeply discounted rate. Point being, if there is a professional photographer you like, but find expensive, it’s worth a shot to ask him/her if they offer mini-sessions. 🙂
Groupon is always doing a deal for target and jcp portrait studios. Even though it only comes with a few photos (you can purchase more) the sitting fees included ij it alone is super cheap and worth it. I also use the Target $7.99 portrait package coupon they issue a lot and schedule sessions at two local targets in one day and do two sessions. 😉
I see a lot of people are recommended jcp portfolio as a “good place” “/ I don’t agree at all. I paid for professional newborn photos it was expensive. So for her 3 month photos I took a risk and bought a Groupons offer for jcp pictures. The shoot was so unprofessional. The photographer was pregnant and kept complaining about how she couldn’t get that low. We picked the blanket we wanted to use and another photographer came in took it (without asking) we had to wait around for 15 minutes… during which time my 3 month year old started to lose it. After the shoot when we went to buy prints. I just wanted to get what was included with my groupon offer. Which was meant with huge attitude. When I finally got the images 4 weeks later. Everyone had huge shadows on my babies face. The back ground was completely cheap and it showed. the store refused a refund or to give me a new shoot cause it was a Groupon deal. Groupon said I have to take it up with the store. The worst part is there is no time me chine I can’t make her 3 months again.
Also, my money saving tip. Ask around get the names of multiple photographers. .. then use social media to your advantage. Like as many local photographer as you can… there are often offers for discounted mini sessions, contact for free giveaways, sometime you can luck out and get someone who wants to build an area in their skills… you can get great deals on quality work.
Bartering can save you money for this if you know a photographer. Trading your professional expertise or craft. I craft and. Garden so i trade for other crops, crafts, professional photography, etc. Remember with a professional they spend a lot of money and time on equipment and editing, it’s not just the session time you’re taking. Hth
My daughter is a professional photographer with a degree in fine art photography. She is not cheap, but her portraits – each and every one- are a labor of love. I wince at the cheap department store photos…but like you, I wince at the prices of the professional photographers (even though they are worth every penny if you can afford it). So if you want amazing photo memories but can’t afford the price tag, I agree with Kristine. Barter! My daughter has traded her work for car repairs, nutrition products, and other items that she can’t always afford on her single-mom budget. Worth a try!
What you don’t realize is that many Jcp Portraits managers have degrees in Photography, are members of the PPA or have 5 years in the business. Lifetouch owns JCP, Target, Olan Mills, Prestige, Flash, Cilento, and their school/church divisions.
Many of them have their own businesses outside of JCP Portraits that specialize in non-studio photography like weddings, natural light, outdoors and graphic design.
People shooting portraits with an iphone and adding ‘enhancements’ from a cell phone app doesn’t make them professional either. The resolution is lower and doesn’t stand the test of time.
With any business, you could get the best employee or the worst. Get referrals from friends about who they like at a location. Have you ever had a favorite checker or waitress because your styles just clicked? Instead of complaining, ask for a manager to take them and don’t wait a month to pick them up. Yes, it isn’t same day printing but do you notice the paper quality from the different companies? Same day prints do not hold color as well or look as true to life.
If you get the cd, order from a reputable company that SPECIALIZES in prints not just a corner of a drug store if you are looking for long lasting heirloom quality. Free Walgreens prints are great for quick and fun, but not for the long haul. They don’t calibrate their colors like professional labs do. That’s why it always looked soooo much better on your screen. The hues make you green.
Make them personal and bring your own props (what do you want to remember your daughter’s favorite blankey or their generic teddy bear? No brainer!).
You don’t have unlimited time in the camera room because it is retail photography (budget friendly) How long does your baby last in a good mood anyway? 10 minutes, right?
Get a coupon. $3.99 is for color base images up to a 10×13. There are coupons for collections that include ALL enhanced sheets. Be informed. Ask questions.
Sorry for the rant, but there are people who are creative and passionate about their jobs AND saving money.
First of all you do not have to have a degree to work for life touch in photography. I didnt. I ended up having my work up on the website in look books and marketing material. Depending on how long you have been there you can be prompted.
Well to each their own but like I posted earlier…I prefer pics where my children look natural and it is spontaneous. I have pictures framed,on my wall from when my daughter was 2 and 3 years old…they are my most favorite pics of her that I took. The quality and color is just good as when I took them. She is now 24 years old. That is just my opinion
I suggest hiring a professional and doing discounted mini sessions… or if it’s for newborn baby save up your money. Professional photographers know how to get those beautiful newborn poses, and know the safety of baby posing. The cheapo store studios just hire anyone. It’s just not even worth even worth waiting your money on a portrait studio where the person has know idea what their doing and the pictures are blurry with strange shadows and a baby who’s neck should be supported not being! *cringe* Think about what your spending money on. Cannot afford a pro? Take snapshots! Those are better than Target, Sears, JC Penny, or Portrait studio.
I was lucky enough to be shopping with my son when we were stopped and the portrait studio manager approached me and offered this freebie to us! We got three free sheets of the pictures I picked. We did about 50 shots! It went great and best part was that it was free! I was in massachusetts 🙂
Also ask about training sittings. This is a great way to score 3 free sheets which usually includes an 8×10 or 10×13. As a former studio manager the training sits really help seasonal team members as well as new year round team members. Who doesn’t love free.
I hate studio portraits! It’s so much prettier to get a photographer to do outdoor photos and just use beautiful scenery! We used an individual (as most do) with my daughters senior portraits and she charged $50 and took as many as we wanted and went wherever we wanted and they turned out GREAT!!
Become friends with local photographers! For this year’s family pictures, so far i haven’t had to pay a single penny. I became friends with a local photographer (ok, we became friends before I knew she was a photographer, but it was just an added bonus to learn what her profession was!) and we traded babysitting for pictures. Instead of getting paid to pet sit her dog or babysit her kids while she was out doing photo sessions, we’d log all the hours and turn it into “photo credit.” It helped us both tremendously!
Thanks for posting the e-mail I sent you!! My mom told me she saw this and I was super excited! JCPenney and Target are owned by the same company Lifetouch. They also do the school photos. Both have groupons and living social deals going on! Also until January 1st you get six free photo cards with every session and when you spend $100 you get $50 back to use on a future purchase good until April 2015!! You can book your appointment online http://www.targetportraits.com or call the studio or call the call center. My studio (Greece, NY) is 585-227-9430! We have all our holiday props and backgrounds set up if you want to get in early as well as Fall and Halloween backgrounds and neutral backgrounds! Hope to see you all soon! If you have any questions feel free to ask!
PS: EXTRA SAVINGS! Two easy ways that you can save money that are combinable with coupons: doing the survey after your session it gives us valuable feedback and you get $3 off your purchase and also signing up for our texts will save you $5 on your sitting that you book!