Professional Photos or My Own Camera?

I love both! In one day, I once took over 100 photos in both color and black and white of my girls just playing outside. Most of the pics were amazing. However, I never printed them and displayed them (which I should). I have also had professional photos taken and those actually get displayed. I say if you want a serious portrait go with a professional (although there are some professionals that take amazing "action/natural" shots too). Otherwise, have fun with your own camera.

We go "mid ground" and go to the Picture People. Not as expensive as a true professional photographer, but they capture moments that I never seem to get on my camera. If you sign up for their mailings, they send out coupons for free pictures/discounted pictures. I have never been disappointed with their work and recommend them to all of my friends (who have since started going and also are thrilled with the results)!

Professional, on-site photos in natural settings are fantastic, and yes, I'd spend the money to do it again. Especially because I got to be in some of those with my son.

Professional, as in Target, JCPenney, Picture People, we've done them all, and I much prefer my photos to any 'studio' portraits. I have a DSLR, and learned how to use it so that I can take pretty nice photos myself. If you have that capability, then I'd skip studio photos.

I'm happy with my own photos. But I have a Canon Rebel 1Ti camera, a 50 mm lens and I know how to adjust the light settings and speeds so mine look professional. If you don't have great camera equipment or don't know how to use what you have properly, then defiantly get some professional shots done. I'm so not techy, I'm artsy, but have learned the bare minimum and am frequently asked by my friends on FB if they are professional or if I took them. I love taking my own photos of my own kids. I will say this though, it would be nice if there were any pictures of me with those kids. So professional is good for that reason.

I just used a professional photographer for the first time, and spent way less then I have in the past at picture people, we chose the location - which was where my husband and I had our wedding photos taken, it was great. We were given a cd with the images and used shutterfly to print the ones we want. I will definitely do it again.

I love taking pictures of my family and spend a lot of time editing, cropping, etc. However, we go for professional pictures once a year (Picture People or Sears) and then have a real photo session every couple of years. I have some of the most beautiful photographs of my son with the two of us when he was a couple of weeks old that I couldn't have taken myself. We use the same woman (also did our wedding) each time, so she knows us and I don't regret a cent of that money!

It's the difference (to me) between "photo album worthy" and "wall worthy".

Great question!!

With my older three, I had studio photos done every 6 months to a year. Sears, Walmart, etc. They were ok, and many are still on my walls in my upstairs. Once my kids entered school, I just paid for an 8x10 of a school photo that I put in a very thin-frame and hung on my wall leading upstairs. I like it because you see the maturity and growth all in one place.

I had a toddler come along later...and I have yet to get her pictures taken!! She is amost 2!! In the last few months, I've had several people tell me (not in these words) that I'm a bad mom because I haven't had her pictures taken. I was going to get some taken next month, but have changed my mind.

My best friend who lives in Georgia, is the best photographer I have ever seen. She has a gift, for sure. She came to visit two summers ago and took pictures of my kids here at our house. My toddler was 6 months at the time, and those pictures are more precious to me than anything. They weren't staged or studio. They were my 7 yr old daughter climbing a tree or my baby sitting in a basket with our pond in the background. I had an antique highchair that she put the baby in, which had our barn in the background. Beautiful. Our nighbor has some old farm equipment (wagons, corn sorter-type things) that are old and rusty. To us, they are kind of eye sores, but to my friend, they were the perfect backdrop to my two cowboy boot-clad sons! She captured their quirky smiles, them trying not to laugh and even a little tussle in the grass. I cannot even tell you how much better those pictures are than any of the studio-sit-down-and-pray-they-don't-bawl sessions. It was very relaxed, no tears. It was them doing what they normally do, but with very nice clarity and editing. (She made our white pony almost animated, she was so pretty and bright). I could go on and on - oops, I have! :) I will wait to see if I can get my friend to visit again this summer. I would pay for her plane fare, just to get her here to take more. LOVED them!!! I do not want to try to get small kids to sit and smile for the camera ever again.

If you have an eye for photography, I say experiment. Sit and watch your kids play and try to capture a couple candid moments. I truly think those are more precious than any staged photos. If you can get some really good ones, yay!! But, if you want to find someone to come out to your house and take some at your house, or your favorite park, pretty stream, grandparents farm, etc. I would say it would be worth it. Like I said, my friend will do the photos for free, but I would not hesitate to pay for her to fly to Ohio to take more. Many phtotographers are doing the "lifestyle" shoots. They go to where you want them. Search around to see what's offered around where you live. My friend is now concentrating on those types of sessions instead of any studio shots.

Good luck and have fun!!

Professional photos are a must! I prefer a natural setting as opposed to a backdrop of an airbrushed forest.

My daughter recently had an "abbreviated" session with a professional photographer. Abbreviated meaning short but sweet! The session took place outside of a restaurant (rustic exterior) that was not open until noon. She took a series of pictures that included all 3 children together plus separate photos of each. There is no need to take a 1,000 pictures! The photographer loaded the proofs on her website for my daughter to view and my daughter was very happy with them. The photos were put on a cd and my daughter paid $90 for her services. My daughter then loaded the photos to Shutterfly and printed whatever she wanted. Your children are changing daily and parents want to capture all of those changes. I recommend using your own camera and Shutterfly. To get ideas about locations or poses and props go to photographers websites and view their galleries.