Professional Photo Addict?

[Mandy]

Anyone else addicted to getting their kids pictures taken?
How often do you take them?
Do you buy just the basic pose or get one of each?
Where are you favorite places to go?
If you have more than one kid, do you dress them alike? If so, how? Where do you find matching/coordinating clothes?
Do you do themed pictures? Share examples...
Any creative ideas you'd like to share?
It gets expensive to go very often, where do you get coupons if any?
What do you do with all the pictures?
Anything else you'd like to add?

[Mandy]

Anyone else addicted to getting their kids pictures taken?

How often do you take them? I take my kids monthly. And we get family pictures taken once a year on our anniversary. I was only planning on doing it montly for the first year, but now that I've got two kids, I can't not get pictures of both of them when I'm already there, right? Maybe after the first two years, we'll go a couple times a year for single pics and then do the family pics also.

Do you buy just the basic pose or get one of each? I've been getting a sheet of one of each lately-3 1/2 x 5 size and then an 8 x 10 of each of them in a full-body shot (to hang on the wall and eventually put in there photo albums) and then an 8 x 10 of them together (for a family album for me to keep after they've left home).

Where are you favorite places to go? I've been to Olan Mills, Sears, Picture People & JcPenney. Right now I like JcPenney since the workers are a little older and good with my kids and try to do something different with them every time we go and I'm only going to PP when I have free coupons.

If you have more than one kid, do you dress them alike? If so, how?
Yes, I'm guilty of this! I usually do it by similiar colors. If I had two girls, I'd do them in the same outfit in just differen sizes. It's harder with a boy/girl combo.

Do you do themed pictures? Share examples... Yes, I'm just starting to do this. Last month, they were both in sailor outfits. Next month, they're both going to be in Hawaiian outfits-DS in a shirt & shorts and my DD in a dress in the same color. July my DD is in my sister's wedding so I'm getting her monthly pic done in that dress, and I'll get my son a little short dress suit outfit. Not sure about August yet. In September, my JcPenny is getting an old-fashioned kit. I'm going to take a pair of overalls for each to wear, but they have outfits they can wear also, plus lots of cool props- old-looking teaset, tricycle, phone, hobo outfit & stick, truck, necklaces, briefcase, top hat, etc. I'm excited to do that one-I'll probably get some black & white ones done then.

It gets expensive to go very often, where do you get coupons if any?
I keep finding coupons online or in my parenting magazines. I got the picture membership so I don't have to pay sitting fees each time. The coupons are usually for a free 8 x 10 and all other sheets $3.99 each. Not bad. :)

What do you do with all the pictures? I send a copy of each to both grandmas, I frame the 8 x 10's to hand up on the wall ( I change these montly) and the rest either go in my picture screen or wait for me to put into the kids scrapbook. I'm planning on scrappbooking them all. For each month, I'll put those pics in plus a brief description of what they are doing & have learned that month-their stats & likes/dislikes,etc.

Anything else you'd like to add? To me, it's worth getting the pictures taken so often just to capture all the changes in them so young!

[Brooke]

How often do you take them? If I had time, I'd take Rebekah every 2 months or so. But I can only go on weekends because evenings are just not her cooperative time. Our weekends are pretty busy and you have to make appointments at every place around here so we're only going about 2x a year now - Easter and Christmas.

Do you buy just the basic pose or get one of each? I get the basic pose and an 8x10 of any others that I like. Then I scan the 8x10 and print whatever I want at home.

Where are you favorite places to go? We've been to Sears, Wal-Mart, and the Picture People. I don't really have a favorite. It depends on who the photographer is that day. Our last PP photo session went very well.

If you have more than one kid, do you dress them alike? If so, how? I only have one but if I had 2, I might dress them in similar colors/styles but I wouldn't do the same outfits.

Do you do themed pictures? Share examples... No

Any creative ideas you'd like to share? No

It gets expensive to go very often, where do you get coupons if any? In the paper or online.

What do you do with all the pictures? Nothing right now. I don't have time. I have a 10x13 frame that I change whenever we get a new photo.

[Jillian]

Anyone else addicted to getting their kids pictures taken? I don't think I am, but I don't think I qualify as a stroller addict (with 7 soon to be 8 strollers) either, so I'm probably just in denial.
How often do you take them? By herself Janelle is 20 months old and has had 19 professional photo sessions, 16 of them in the first year...I was on bedrest for the rest of the pregnancy though so she only got 3 after turning one (halloween, Christmas, and Easter). Caid has had 1 session by himself (and another schedule for May 29th) and is 7 weeks old. Janelle and Caid have had 1 session together and will do some together on the may 29th one as well. So total we've done 21 sessions (with #22 scheduled) in the 20 months since Janelle was born.
Do you buy just the basic pose or get one of each? Hmm, it depends. At Walmart I always got the basic pose, bought 2 sheets, and got a free 8 x10. Then I'd always buy the proofs when they came in. At Sears I always bought 1 sheet of each pose that I liked (usually all 6) and a couple extra sheets if I like one pose a lot...same at JC Penney(except there are 12 poses not 6 most of the time)...At Kiddie Kandids I bought 1 of each pose as well...So I almost always end up with 1 of every pose no matter where we go unless I just don't like it (out of the 6 poses for Caid's 1 month pictures I only liked 3 of them...)
Where are you favorite places to go? I've been everywhere. JC Penney does the best by far in our area, but sears is the only one that has ever done a bad job imho (Janelle's 4 month and 11 month pictures)
If you have more than one kid, do you dress them alike? If so, how? Where do you find matching/coordinating clothes? I did for the last session, I bought them matching giraffe gymmies from gymboree just cause my dh has commented many times on how much he likes that outfit. Also for father's day for fil we are going to put them both in matching american flag bathing suits.
Do you do themed pictures? Share examples... I think this is what you mean by themed...if not, sorry...

Easter 2003

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/6month/bunny2.jpg

4th of July 2003

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/Fathersday/fathersday1.jpg


http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/Fathersday/fathersday5.jpg

Halloween 2003

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/halloween2/halloween7.jpg


http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/halloween2/halloween3.jpg
Any creative ideas you'd like to share?
For her 11 month pictures we had her play patty cake and did a series of shots.

Patty cake

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/11months/11month5.jpg

Pat it

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/11months/11month6.jpg

Baby and ME!

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/11months/11month7.jpg

We also got a series of shots of her eating a sea shell :lol:

What's this???

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/11months/11month10.jpg

I wonder if it tastes good?

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/11months/11month11.jpg

Not bad at all!

http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/11months/11month12.jpg
It gets expensive to go very often, where do you get coupons if any? We are members of both sears and penney's portrait club and get coupons in magazines, the mail, and online.
What do you do with all the pictures? lol, well I've scrapbooked some of them, we have a bunch hanging up on walls, we give them as gifts, and I've saved some in their keep sake boxes for them.

[bunybomb]

Anyone else addicted to getting their kids pictures taken?
I was the first year, but not now.
How often do you take them?
First year was 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. A picture with Santa each Christmas is a must. Nothing crazy like Jillian :awink:
Do you buy just the basic pose or get one of each?
I've never once bought the basic package. I want the choice of many poses not just one.
Where are you favorite places to go?
I'm a club member with JCPenneys so that's where I go.
If you have more than one kid, do you dress them alike? If so, how?
Yes, I guess. Mine have had two taken together. The first they both wore khakies and white shirts
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d725b3127cce8db54df09adb0000001610 (javascript:openSlideWin(1, '67b0de21b381ce2284fb', 82);)
The second time they both wore shirts having to do with sports.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cf04b3127cce82e72813450e0000001610 (javascript:openSlideWin(1, '67b0de21b38e6337a4f7', 13);)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cf04b3127cce82e728c945d40000001610 (javascript:openSlideWin(1, '67b0de21b38e6337a4f7', 15);)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cf04b3127cce82e7282cc4010000001610 (javascript:openSlideWin(1, '67b0de21b38e6337a4f7', 11);)
Where do you find matching/coordinating clothes?
We don't, they are too far apart in age.
Do you do themed pictures? Share examples...
I've only done it once.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d725b3127cce8db54eb5da070000001610 (javascript:openSlideWin(1, '67b0de21b381ce2284fb', 47);)
Any creative ideas you'd like to share?
My brain has nothing to offer.
It gets expensive to go very often, where do you get coupons if any?
Online or in the mail.
What do you do with all the pictures?
Gifts and I have 6 pictures of each child in the bedroom hallway that I update.
Anything else you'd like to add? The next one coming up is Alex's two year portrait, so I'll have Dylan's 10 year portrait done too.

[Jillian]

I take my kids monthly. And we get family pictures taken once a year on our anniversary. I was only planning on doing it montly for the first year, but now that I've got two kids, I can't not get pictures of both of them when I'm already there, right? Maybe after the first two years, we'll go a couple times a year for single pics and then do the family pics also.

Our plans are for monthly pics the first year, then valentines, easter, family, father's day, halloween, Christmas, 18 months, and birthdays after that.. so still 8 a year. Ok, I admit it, I need help!

[Jillian]

Anything else you'd like to add?

Sorry, I like this topic, can you tell?

Anyway, I really like the poses that just kind of have dh or I in them...Sears called them Connection shots or something like that...here is what I mean.

I'm holding her hand here...
http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/10months/10months4.jpg


I'm kissing her here;
http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/halloween2/halloween7.jpg

DH is holding Kincaid here;
http://www.jocose.net/slideshow/images/jillian/1month/1monthcaid4.jpg

[Lyndee]

b]Anyone else addicted to getting their kids pictures taken?[/b] Me!

How often do you take them? During Lauryn's first year, we got them done every month. After the first year, every 3 months or so.

Do you buy just the basic pose or get one of each? One of each!

Where are you favorite places to go? Big fans picture people! Been to Olan Mills and I like them okay but takes too long to get the pics back.

If you have more than one kid, do you dress them alike? If so, how? Where do you find matching/coordinating clothes? Don't know yet if I'll do that....

Do you do themed pictures? Share examples... No, we don't really do themed pictures. We just do whatever Lauryn feels like doing. Sometimes she's more interested in other props that don't really belong to the scene (like she wanted to hold a rubber ducky for her Easter pics-- we now call it the Easter Ducky :lol: ).


It gets expensive to go very often, where do you get coupons if any?
We've got the Portrait Club at PP so it doesn't cost anything for the sitting. I do try to limit my purchase to $50 per visit.

What do you do with all the pictures? I had a goal for her first year- I wanted to make a scrapbook and that's exactly what I did. I'm sooo incredibly bad about sending pics to people! I also have a miniature gallery in my office.

Anything else you'd like to add?[/QUOTE] For the next baby, I'd probably start the prof pics sooner. With Lauryn, we started at 6 weeks and I never got any sleeping pics.

[bunybomb]

Anything else you'd like to add?

Sorry, I like this topic, can you tell?

Anyway, I really like the poses that just kind of have dh or I in them...Sears called them Connection shots or something like that...here is what I mean.

I did those types with Alex. My DH was mad when he saw them....because he wasn't in them. I told him there are never pictures taken of me with the kids.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d725b3127cce8db55b961b860000001610 (javascript:openSlideWin(1, '67b0de21b381ce2284fb', 170);)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d725b3127cce8db56abbda1b0000001610 (javascript:openSlideWin(1, '67b0de21b381ce2284fb', 292);)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d725b3127cce8db553c99aed0000001610 (javascript:openSlideWin(1, '67b0de21b381ce2284fb', 227);)

[Shanna]

I'll answer all the questions later, but I solved my problem and got a part time job at Penney's Portrait Studio :lol:

[Jillian]

I'll answer all the questions later, but I solved my problem and got a part time job at Penney's Portrait Studio :lol:
lol, I should do that... since March 16th we've been there 3 times, with another session scheduled for Saturday (and one scheduled for June 23rd when they are having a special event).

[Shanna]

:lol: I love it. I had such a good time at work - and the discount is AWESOME!

[Mandy]

I'm glad I"m not the only one, though it looks like I'm the worst! :)

[Jillian]

I'm glad I"m not the only one, though it looks like I'm the worst! :)
Really, I was thinking it looked like I was the worst :lol: . We have our third session in less than a month Saturday morning.