Who has used the JC Penny portrait studio?

[6fsn]

Not JCP, but I have used Walmart. Yes, the backgrounds can be cheesey and they will try to upsell and photoshop and do weird stuff. I just walk in and say "I know you have certain shots you have to take. I have only ever bought pics with a white or black background. Let's get those first and then you can do what you have to." If you want some props, take your own.

I've turned out some really creepy shots, but I've always had at least one pose I've really liked.

[kmw325i]

The picture in my sig is from our JCP session 2 weeks ago.

We did a christmas session with them last year for DS's first Christmas, and loved them.

This last session was done with their monthly special. This month it was a free sitting fee, with 1-8x10, 2-5x7s, and a sheet of wallets for $11 dollars. We ended up spending about $75 dollars, including the purchase of a $13 picture frame and a $15 photo membership, which lasts 2 years, and gives you no sitting fees, a couple free sheets, and $10 off of 3 sessions.

We got 3- 8x10s, 14- 5x7s, and 16 wallets.

ETA: yeahhhh, some of the shots can be cheesy. But I've always come up with enough really great ones that we can get a good variety of shots.

[satama]

We tried it once with my BFF and her son just for fun and got pics of the boys together. It was pretty cheesy and they made all these weird photo collated and crap.

For cheap photos I like picture people. You can get a coupon usually for six sheets of one pose for $18. I will usually get a sheet or two of more owes so it ends up around $50. I jet tell them white or black background only. They have props and stuff too, but will be happy to do pics without them. Jcpenney put the kids on some weird fake bearskin rug thing.

[satama]

Oh and picture people has no sitting fee, so if you don't like the pics, you are not out anything. They will also reshoot right then if you don't find something you like in my experience.

[holly116]

Check out Portrait Innovations. They take pretty good shots and a lot of them (60-80 total). If you can stick to your guns and only choose a single pose, their huge package is like $15. They will try and sucker you into spending a lot more though.

If I find a few pictures I like, I usually end up getting a three pose package in addition to the teaser package and I spend about $90. Another bonus, they print your photos in store, so you can take them home with you (sometimes, right around x-mas and other hoildays they get packed and you have to pick up your photos a few hours later, or the next day... still not a bad deal)

[kittycatlove]

We used JCP last year for Christmas photo's. We were overall happy with them and endedup with enough decent shots for cards. I think it really depends if you get a good photographer or not.

ETA: Look for coupons, there's always a bunch floating out there for free sittings and free 8x10's.

[satama]

Oh, I did here jcp is going to do a promotion in November offering a free 8x10 to all customers.

[kittycatlove]

Oct 25, 2012 8:37:40 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

I want to do photo cards this year- do these places sell you the digital files?

JCP will sell you the digital files, but they also do the cards for you if you want. I know we had a coupon last year and they weren't much more than going to Walgreens with your own photos.

[kmw325i]

JCPs cd with the digital images is $149.

ETA: they have the holiday cards for 50 cents right now.

[zeewifeandmama]

I liked picture people better than JcPenny...but I agree it could have to do with the photographer

[doctorsbaby]

We have overall been pleased with JCP, used them for pics every month DD's first year plus 18m & 2 year since then. I've found that if you just tell them what you want, outs is very good about working with it. They have never told me that they have to take certain poses or backgrounds. Check their website for coupons & avoid the big packages they sell with "enhanced" photos, so not worth the extra money. They do put together collages & other crap but I just ignore it when I'm picking out what to buy.

[SusanBAnthony]

We use penny's. nothing fancy but no way are we dropping several hundred dollars every few months. We have found that if you get the studio manager, and if you go on a weekday, you will be the best results. We went once on a day when they clearly had someone call in sick or something, and we just rescheduled and came back another day.

[dragonfly08]

They're not necessarily cheesy, but they're definitely "store photo studio". Same boring old backdrops and poses all.the.time.

If you have one near you, I much prefer Portrait Innovations. They interact well with the kids, have a lot of backdrops and props, and really move around with the camera to get great shots. Plus you can't beat the $9.99 package they run all the time.

I personally hate Picture People. Maybe it's better now that they're doing digital, but way back when it sucked to wait an hour to see the shots, then have to order. And they made DD #1 cry every single time; they just weren't good with kids, IMO.

[SusanBAnthony]

Oct 25, 2012 11:55:58 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

If you want cards, I would either get them from the portrait studio or look into an independent photographer who will include the files. There are usually just a couple of good shots (especially of little kids/newborns), and I would not pay $150 and then pay to make cards on top of it.

I think the 150$ is to own the images. If you order the cards from penny's you don't have to pay the 150$ for the files.

[chia]

We've gotten some cute pictures there, but you have to be kind of pushy so you get the shots you want.

This was my favorite holiday photo from a couple years ago taken there. I brought in the ornaments (a package from the dollar store).