62 replies to this topic

[elena_398]

yes, its that time again. I called Sears today just to see if and when they were taking appointments yet for our yearly Christmas portrait session. Get this. The girl on the phone said November was already half filled up! I immediately kept her on the phone and pulled out my calender. I made my appointment for November 18. The pictures would be back by December 5. This way I can write my notes in each card, put pic in, and get them out. I dread the pictures as my kids never smile right and usually one is in tears from arguing. Anyone else start thinking about pics for the kids and if so, where do you take your kids to get their pics taken? I've been happy at Sears. I belong to the Smile Savers program which is no sitting fees. I stopped going to Walmart because of the girls there. I still cannot believe its already filling up for November. The girl also told me due to high volumes, pictures taken after November will not be guaranteed to be back in time for christmas. Wow.

[Gporter34]

I always take mine to WM, not only for the price, but the girl who is usually there has been there for a long time and she is really good. Trust me, if she can get the 7 and 9 year olds to be still and not hit or pull hair, while the 17 year old is saying how stupid it is that he still has to do this, and the girls 12 and 13 are arguing that one has the others belt on, she's good!!!

[Gporter34]

Oh, yeah and the other part of the question, I usually do that the second week of November but may do it next week because they have been getting really busy.

[elena_398]

I wish the girls at my walmart was like that. I always got into a argument as the rule of the package is first pic accepted is the one you get. Of course if it doesn't look right, I want them to retake it. It was like the 4th retake and the girl told me it was getting ridiculous. That is why I stopped going there. The same 3 girls work there every year.

[Gporter34]

This girl is really good. She just laughs at the kids and keeps on working. If they weren't mine, I wouldn't want to deal with all of that just to take their picture!lol

[outnumbered]

I'm actually about to call Sears myself. Ours doesn't fill up that fast but I need to get Erin's 2-year-old pics done, plus make an appointment for all of them to have the Christmas one done too. I'm part of the smilesavers too, and that with the military special they have helps bring the cost down to something reasonable. I have to be really, really specific about what I want, though. They keep wanting to take horizontal pictures or use different backgrounds than what I want, and they say "Oh, we'll do this, then we'll do it the way you want"--well by the time they've done it their way, my kids are fighting with each other and don't want to sit and smile anymore and I'm stuck with only the ones I don't like. No more of that, LOL. I get it done my way and then I actually like what I buy.

[elena_398]

I think they're trained to hound you to take more pics. LOL. I just go there for the one special and thats it. The girl always wants to do all these backgrounds and poses. Every year I get a good christmas coupon of like $9.99 for 80 portraits or something like that. Luckily I can take up to 3 pics there and chose which one for the coupon portrait pack

[outnumbered]

I think they're trained to hound you to take more pics. LOL. I just go there for the one special and thats it. The girl always wants to do all these backgrounds and poses. Every year I get a good christmas coupon of like $9.99 for 80 portraits or something like that. Luckily I can take up to 3 pics there and chose which one for the coupon portrait pack

Yeah, I'll have to keep my eye out for those package deals. I have to find a big one, because I need a *lot* of wallets to send out...and then I am stuck with big 8x10s that I don't need LOL...but it's still cheaper to do it that way than only buy the wallet sheets.

[elena_398]

If I get more than one coupon, I'll let you know. My sister now goes to JC Pennys for her portraits, but she has like 6 months to go on her Smiles Saver plan. If she gets the coupons too, I'll see if you need them.

[mjmcca]

I am thinking of just going into the city and doing the Santa pics again this year. I don't have many pics i have to give out so it isn't a problem about not getting enough and they will keep taking pics until i am happy with the way the kids look.

[elena_398]

I put a pic in each christmas card I send out. I have tons. Wallets are a must for that! So I have to get the big portrait package.

[outnumbered]

I put a pic in each christmas card I send out. I have tons. Wallets are a must for that! So I have to get the big portrait package.

Yep, same here. Too many people never see us anymore so I have to send out all those pics.

[bayhaysay]

I too will be going to sears for the kids *official* Christmas pics. I always take the Christmas card pic myself (I love good snapshots) and have the cards printed at Walmart.

[elena_398]

I may try a pic with my digital camera. My cousin always takes her own and has them copied. With the pricing of digital pics,, paying $9.99 is still good. Although the hassle of making sure everyone stays clean on the way to the studio wouldn't be missed. LOL

[cami_reardon]

I started taking the pictures myself about 10 years ago. Now I do it as a part time job: weddings, senior pictures, family pictures. *S* It's much cheaper and I get to make sure that it's exactly what I want, if not I just re-shoot them. The kids/grandkids hate it, but I always have up to date pictures

[elena_398]

Darn it, your in Nebraska. LOL. For a moment I was thinking of a gottaDeal discount. Haha

[cami_reardon]

*S* I'd be happy to work something out...a vacation...yep, could be arranged*L*.

[alimfp]

DH does the photos (gotta put the SLR camera and the tons of camera gear to use afterall, lol). We gotta work on them in the next two weeks, then we get them printed at Costco usually. Stick a wallet in almost every Christmas card we send out.

[PhotoNutAmber]

I also have to justify having the SLR and all that camera equipment and do my own pictures. They normally turn out really good. I got a green screen recently that I'm looking forward to using. I'm going to try tomorrow for the pictures. I get mine printed through Mpix.com. I absolutely love their service. The prints are awesome. Amber

[Novac]

I also have to justify having the SLR and all that camera equipment and do my own pictures.

This is exactly how I responded to my wife when she mentioned Christmas pictures.

The studio's always open!

[timbermommy]

ive had my kids done already.... at olan mills and at walmart.. olan mills has an awesome online special right now

[Momto32003]

We also go to Sears. Have been since my oldest was born and he is 8. We are going in 2 weeks for pictures. Ours is also booked well into November. We take the Christmas card pics with the digital as well. That way it looks more real. I then take them to Walgreens who has a special for 20 cards for $9.99. I send those out to immediate family and close friends. I send regualr cards out to the rest with a wallet size of what we get from Sears.

[kulkel]

Pictures are never a problem for me here. I am a photograper...therefore, I do them myself. My kids all gripe the same words everytime...NOT AGAIN MOM...lol

[bethanykay6]

I have alot of pics to take this November. My newborn is getting her first shots done (they will be her 3 month shots) my son will be getting his 2 year shots done (he turns 2 on dec 23rd) plus our annual family christmas portraits. I'm part of the Smile Savers at Sears and mine expires in the middle of December, so I have to get going on mine. Just hope my 2 year old will sit still to take them. He get distracted so easily!

[mtjoycol]

My WM and Kmart are done for XMAS Pictures as of today. There was a big sign in Kmart stating the 30thy was the last day for Xmas delivery. WM had a sign stating no Xmas Guarantee. Can't believe it! We are just going to sit on Santa's lap and then scan away! HA!

[elena_398]

I stopped doing the Santa pics. My mall actually frowns on taking your own pics. They want you to pay the big bucks on their pictures. My youngest goes and sees him, but I don't opt to buy the pic

[phins_jazy]

I just took the girls to sears on friday and got their pics done. They'll be here by the 9th of November. I got my youngest 1 year pics done as well as christmas pics of both girls for the christmas cards. I was lucky that they were able to get me in the same day. it was later in the afternon, early evening so no alot of kids there.

[turtle_elf]

JCPenney's is where I used to take my kids, I still do for some pictures. But I take a lot myself now. Digital Camera's make life really nice! I decided to start taking my own, a lot when I got to looking at some of my shot's and liked them better than the one's I had paid for. The kids are more relaxed and their smiles are more genuine, I like that!

[Novac]

Nowadays, I just shoot our own pictures and print them up at home.

When we do head to a studio, it's all about Picture People for me:
http://forums.gottad...ead.php?t=16842