Really OT: Family photos at JC Penney
My MIL and Mom have been *begging* for family photos from DH and I, so I'm caving this year (much to DH's chagrin) and decided to book a session at JC Penney.
I've never used them, and their website is particularly vague and very "contact your local store for details". Here is what I want to know if anyone has used them before:
1.) Can we do 4 different photos - one of DH and I, one of DH and the boys, one of the boys, and one of all of us - in one session?
2.) How many props is too manu props?
3.) Will they let us pose how we want, or do they have a pretty structured script?
4.) Do you think I can get photos by Christmas (we're going on Sunday)?
I have never done professional photos, so I'm a bit at a loss. Any insight is appreciated!
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My brother and I had some
My brother and I had some pics done years ago by JCP.. I was not impressed. My mom wanted a few pics of us together for my grandmother. We didn't know who else to contact.. so JCP. I think you will find that your success will vary greatly depending on who is taking the pictures.
I might suggest looking for recommendations from other friends and families for a "real" professional photographer to have a session done. There are lots of people that do this kind of thing sort of on the side.. are quite good and also have good backoffice editing skills to make the pictures nice. My DH's EX actually does this.. and now my YSD also is doing pictures for folks.. and they are not overly pricy.... especially for mini family sessions.
We want to do a bigger family
We want to do a bigger family session with a photographer next year. Something fun that really captures our nerdy personalities. Right now, though, no one is available who can get us pictures before Christmas (well, no one that has been recommended to us at least).
That is kind of tight
That is kind of tight turnaround... I wonder if you think you could do a semi decent job yourselves if you got a tripod and timed remote for your phone.. cell pics are pretty nice these days.. then you could just get shutterfly etc.. to make you prints. Honestly.. if you take a "ton" of pictures.. you will likely find a few that will be good enough to use.
I LOVE shutterfly. Walmart
I LOVE shutterfly. Walmart also has a pretty quick turn around for prints if you have one close by.
Picture people does a pretty
Picture people does a pretty good job with large groups and you get the pictures printed right there in the studio.
I've used them for both of my
I've used them for both of my boys milestone pictures and
1. Yes. They actually like that type of thing because you're more likely to buy more pictures if theres a big variety. They give cheap or free sessions and then spend a lot of time after trying to upsell to you.
2. Not sure, I'd guess it doesnt matter as long as you dont have so many that you go way past your time slot trying to take pictures with them all.
3. They do have ideas themselves but they've also always asked if there was anything in particular I wanted.
4. The turnaround at the studio near me has always been about a week.
The one and only family photo
The one and only family photo session I engaged in was at JC Penny. It was awkward at best for several reasons, but mainly because photography is my profession - so much so that it pays my monthly mortgage. Secondly, they aren’t legit photographers, generally, so they were just horrible in regards to angles and positioning.
My MIL arranged it, because the “photographer” was a friend from church. It was MIL, FIL, BIL, BIL’s pregnant fiancé - now ex fiancé, DH, Me, Skid, and our very young DD.
I recall roughly five different sittings, as there was no cap on that? The all of us together was just too much in their tiny studio, but it happened anyway.
All sorts of combos. The combo I did not engage in is one of DH, Me, Skid, and baby DD.
DH did one with Skid and DD, though.
MIL has made several attempts to do this again when Skid is here and it’s always a “No” from me.
I’m unaware of the turnaround time, as MIL gifted us these photos for Christmas.