professional pics... - questions...

mummy2girls wrote: I want to take jenna to sears and get her pictures done.. I usually do walmart but i thought i would do something different... BUT the thing is she is a nightmare to get her to pose ... BUT at home she is loving to pose for me when i grab my digital...

So for those that do sears..do you pay for the sitting after in case they dont sit? or do you pay no matter if they pose or not? i know most is fromt he states but it couldnt be that different than us canadians..

and for those with hard posers... how do you get them to sit and smile? what tricks do you use?

luvmykids replied: I don't know about Sears, we've used WalMart once and were happy with them and used other photography places like Kiddie Kandids.

One time when they didn't want to "pose" we told the photog to snap away anyway and got some really cute, untraditional pics!

My3LilMonkeys replied: At our Sears, you pay after.

We went when Brooke was 2 months old and they were wonderful - when she started crying the photographer was very patient while we walked, soothed, checked diaper, etc. and finally had to feed her - she just said she would catch up on some paperwork and to poke our head out the door when we were ready. As soon as we said we were ready she immediately stopped what she was doing and came in.

luvbug00 replied: What we do when Mya used to do take alot of pitures was to bring her in another set of clothes , make sure it was the right time of day ( not near nap time) and make sure she is fed and happy then change her into pretty clothes right before the pics were taken and it went fine! good luck!!

C&K*s Mommie replied: I do not know that answer, as when one of the girls (Christian) would not cooperate- we just got Kellie in the pix. I would call ahead to find out there policy, on sitting fees when the child(ren) will not sit for pix.

Like Monica said, you can get great pics even withtout Jenna sitting to pose. I think those are the best anyways. Just look at Kelly (idahoboo's) pix, Logan had great pics on all the ones that were taken, but the ones that he was not posing in were just as good.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I dont use Sears but all I can suggest is make sure she is not tired, or hungry. Also if the studio is behind it will just stress things out and not work. I usually try for the first appointment that day. Also let her take something she loves that you wont mind having in the picture. Try some with out first and tall her if she is good she can have a couple pictures taken with x. Biggest thing RELAX dont stress over it. If your uptight she will be to and if it does not work who cares, or at least try and have that attitude. Hopefully she will suprise you. Wish I could come help.

MamaJAM replied: We used to only use Sears. I've had to leave without pictures on several occasions for hard-to-pose kiddos (and groups). I was never charged a sitting fee when I wasn't going to order anything. HTH

MyLuvBugs replied:
Well, I personally HATE sears portrait photography. They are just not trained properly most of the time, and the pics always seem to look rushed. Just had bad experiences. Sorry.

I DO love JC Penney's portrait studio most of the time, or places like Kiddie Kandids or The Picture People. They really seem to be trained well and focus a lot on the kids. My advice though is to really know what you want when you go in there, and don't settle for less. Make sure that your photographer is listening to you, and is having fun with your child. If you don't like the pictures....Tell them to redo them right then an there until you are happy with them. Just my advice.

As for posing, it's not the parents job to pose. That's the photographers job to pose and get the smile. If you don't have a photographer that seems to care or want to get a smile, ask for a different one. Your job as the parent is to make sure the kid doesn't fall off the table and to hold them still and calm them down if they get upset.

Any good photography studio will allow you as much time as you need, and if your child has a mental break down they'll reschedule you without charge. If they try to charge you for a sitting when you dont' like ANY pictures, and your childs screaming etc. Get a manager and complain. Sorry. Just my advice and opinions.

luvbug00 replied: well said Erika!! although I have had bad experiences with the picture people and they are wayy expencive. but I liked JCpennys they are really good.

MyLuvBugs replied:
ITA! So is Kiddie Kandids, but their pictures are usually wonderful. I used to work for Kiddie Kandids (first job after college). Their photographers are well trained usually (there's always that one. ). But JC Penney's is usually really great, but you have to be picky with them or they'll rush you through too.

mckayleesmom replied: I like Jcpenneys too...

Brias3 replied: We have tried The Picture People and JC Penney's before. Both ok experiences. While we were living in France, however, a couple we befriended at our church there were photographers and we had the BEST photo shoots of Ryan and Aliyah when they were younger. Outdoor, candids, posed, anything. They did so well it was disappointing when we left and had to find someone to do our pictures!

I honestly don't have too much experience with photo studios. The only one I'm getting regular studio shots of now is Mason at year marks (usually I'll take all three in for some group shots then). Besides, our Christmas photo I do myself and then Ryan and Aliyah get pictures done through school yearly too.

fashionmumofboys replied: We have used Sears a couple of times, and once the boys were just so cranky that we had to go back for our pictures. They did waive the sitting fee up here in Canada.

NEWMOM05 replied:
Just A side note. I worked at kiddie kandids for 4 years.

I believe sears sitting fee is whether you get the pose or not. I think they also do appts. Not 100% positive though. For the pose problems. Try bringing a fave toy that the photographer can use to get the smile. Good Luckl!!!