Walmart (PictureME) or Picture People

Sears is great if you have coupons. Check it out with the 9.99 coupon (see on line). Then if you like it get a membership ($40 the first year and 5-10 for renewals). With the membership you get a free sheet of picture with each session. You can buy the cd and have permission to print the pictures out yourself (around $100 last time we went). Also if you get the basic 9.99 package of one pose, you can also get a proof sheet with six poses on it for an extra about $15. With out coupons it is expensive, so just print them off the website before you go. Last time we were there we got 133 pictures taken of our family. We sent at 12 noon on a week day, so they had estra time. We brought the cd and can go to walgreens for prints.

Hi ~

Kiddie Kandids has some great package deals, and are a good deal cheaper than other places. The photographers are good, and work hard to get the best pictures possible. You'll get 6 poses to choose from, and there are a number of different options such as borders, mugs, and so on. They have a Milestone program which is free, and have different coupons and other offers. It's the best place I've found so far! There is one located in Babies R Us in Lombard, as well as other locations which can be found at www.kiddiekandids.com.

Good luck!

S.

I Love Walmart studio! I've been going there for 14yrs since my daughter was 1yr old. They've been very profetional & knowledgable I've always gotten beautiful pictures. Sometimes I just get the sale package(includes lots of photo's already). I think the most I've ever spent was $80 and I got coppies of everything 5 poses, Lots of extra wallets free 10x13. Also they have a club card you can sign up for and they will send you coupons for free photo's and every time you come in you get free photo sheets of your choice of poses. Try it, I think you'll like it. It is so much cheaper too. Best wishes!

I have used the Picture People for my daughter four times so far and overall have been very happy. I highly recommend getting the first appointment of the day to avoid delays in waiting to see your pictures.

I took my daughter to Kiddie Kandids at Babies R Us when she was 3 months. They have different package deals that you can play around with. Also, they have specials on babies "Milestones" newborn - 3 months, 6months, 9 month & 12months. They usually have specials for the Milestone pictures. As for WalMart we just took her 2 weeks ago and they were great. Packages start at $59.99, and we received a ton of pics. There is even a $4.99 package, which I'm sure your aware of. It's only one pose though so you would have to choose, but it comes with 1-8x10, 2-5x7, 4-3x5, 2 sheets of wallets (total of 16 wallets )and 1-10x13. And if you want to buy another pose, its an extra $10 for a sheet. It was hard for us to choose so we bought the $59.99 package where you pick up to 3 poses. All in all the pics turned out beautiful and the photographer was great.

We've used Wal-Mart in the past and been pleased with their photos. However, I've heard great things about the photographers at Babies R Us. My neighbor has her kids' pictures taken there, and they have turned out really well. Overall, I've not heard great things about the Picture People. Good luck!

J., where do you live? If you want to do something at home, you should check-out Megan Kelly Photography (a Mamasource member, too). Her sittings start at $100 and then you can purchase individual photos or she has a variety of packages which include multiple visits.

You could also host a portrait party where sittings are free and you can earn credits toward your own prints.

Walmart does have some good deals,but the problem I found is that if you think the picture is "pretty good" you can't save it and try for a better one. You just lose that pose, and if the next one is bad, you've lost the "pretty good one", so you don't have the choices that you would at Picture People...I'd call Walmart first, to see if that is still true, as it's been a while since I used them.

Target at Yorktown has a wonderful picture place. We have used them for years and never been disappointed in the pictures. They always have some good packages too.

Hi J.,
I am a photographer and work all around the western suburbs. I shoot on location at people's homes, parks, etc. It is much more stress-free and the kids really get to be themselves in their own environment without big lights and lines of people. I do charge a sitting fee, but I also let my customers buy photographs individually so you don't get hit with big pricey pakcages. I also offer all mamasource-moms 10% off their print orders!

Feel free to contact me at ###-###-#### or check out my website www.megankellyphotography.com

Good luck!
M.

I use Kiddie Kandids in Babies R Us. Their prices aren't bad, and they have some cute options for the pictures (you can get the photos put onto some cute things.) And if you use a referral card from a friend that's been there, you get a free gift (when I went it was a big compilation photo.) I'm sure one of your friends has a referral coupon, but if not, I could send you one from the girl that referred me. Good luck!

Picture People are good but also a bit pricey. If you can get the first appointment of the day, I highly recommend JC Penney's. They always have coupons in the parenting magazines. I can usually get away with spending $100 or less for a substantial amount of pictures. They usually do a great job too and the quality is good. But you have to be the first appointment, otherwise you will always get stuck waiting! Good luck!

PS - I did use WalMart once and while the quality was pretty good, you have to stick with literally just one pose to keep the stellar package that you heard about!

Denise

Hi J.,

I used to use a very expensive photographer too, but I couldn't stand paying the outrageous prices. Once my second daughter came we tried JC Penny and we are completely satisfied. You can get sheets of pictures for $4.99 and the quality is great. The pictures are ready in about 7-10 days and you can order more online. I have gone to the picture people several times with my first daughter and they did a nice job. You just don't get as many pictures for what you would pay somewhere else. The good thing about the Picture People is that you take your pictures home that day. My cousin takes her kids there and she gets some really nice pictures. I have also tried Sears and they were okay, but I like JCPenny much better. Have a great day!

I tried the Picture People (2x) and was not impressed. I had a young sales associate who seemed a bit irritated and impatient with the children. They also dont have many prop's to choose from, so the pictures look basic. I was referred to Sear's by another MamsSource Mom and am very glad that I did. They have many prop's and backgrounds to choose from and the staff was great. My photographer went out of her way to make my baby smile. They have a potrait package for $9.99 which includes 1 8x10 2 5x7 16 wallets & 16 minis. They also have a smile saver membership which includes free birthday pictures and no session fess. They also offer senior discounts, military discounts, which is great for the military families like me. I hope you at least view the website you wont be disappointed.

I have not used Walmart for photos, but I have used Flash Digital Portraits (www.flashportraits.com) and was very pleased. They took many more shots than just the 5 poses that Picture People does, so there was a lot to choose from, and they can do some neat cropping, etc. I thought they were reasonably priced, and they usually have special offers on their website. They are located at Fox Valley Mall in Aurora.

I take my kids to Sears. They too have coupons. I used the Picture People when I had 2 kids but when I jumped up to 4 kids I started looking elsewhere due to their pricing. I take my own props in and the photographers at Sears work with me to make the cutest pictures. It is best to get one of th early appointments at Sears as well.

I used to go to Picture People regularly for my daughter who is now 3. We just moved from GA to this area and when it came time for pics for my newborn and daughter together, I could not find Picture People. But I did find Kiddie Kandids at Babies R Us and I must say, they did a better job. Same idea...they have a ton of props, but they were fabulous to work with and they were priced really fairly. I spent half the money and the pictures were better. I highly recommend them. You can visit their website to get a better idea. The neat thing about them, is that they give you a disk with your pics. With Picture People, you have to go back to the store for pics. Hope this helps!