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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
JCP Portrait pricing - some ?s
JC Penny for those not familiar with the abbreviation. 
1 - Does anyone know what a basic, no-frills portrait sheet costs? I can't find that anywhere, online or on the sheet I got at the store today. All I see is prices for packages, and I don't want, or need, that many pictures. We're only doing this because SIL is giving us a $50 GC, and FIL has been bugging us for a family portrait. We're happy with photos that my mother and I take otherwise. We'll be using a coupon that includes 50% off portrait sheets additional to what's in the coupon package, but I don't know what that 50% is coming off of and I want a budget before we get into the process.
2 - Do you get to see the pictures before you leave after the session, or do you get a code to view them online and order that way, picking up in-store later? When you do pay, since they charge sitting fees but you don't get your pictures when you take them? We've only been to Picture People before, and their process is a little different (and better, IMO). Do I need to take whatever coupons with me to the sitting, or do I just bring them when I pick up the pictures?
3 - Any suggestions on what to take? I'm trying to think of fun props to take for B (he's the main subject, DH and I will just jump in for a few) and all I can really think of is a couple books and maybe a stuffed animal. These aren't Christmas specific, BTW.
Thanks!
Contemplating the snow.
Mes Petit Choux
I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then. ~ Alice
Mes Petit Choux
I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then. ~ Alice
This discussion has been closed.
Re: JCP Portrait pricing - some ?s
I want to say that individual pages are $9.99, at least they are at our JCP. We just had family Xmas pics done, and I was disappointed with them. The boys just were not cooperating, and the girls taking the photos seemed rushed.
As far as viewing them,they bring them up on the computer right after your session and you order them then and there. You also pay for them at that time. They give you a printout of your pictures (just on a regular piece of printer paper), and a link that you can view them online and order more if you wish.
We are part of their portrait club. We joined when we took the boys for their 1st photos. It's $29.99 for 2 yr membership. There is no sitting fee EVER for anyone in the pictures (which for us, a family of 5 paid for itself the 1st time we used it). And then there are discounts all the time whenever you go.
Hope this helps.
Yes, it does, thanks. I'm worried about B being ornery and us feeling rushed. SIL raved about the photographer, but her daughter is a ham and frankly the pictures she got really weren't that great. I mean, they're adorable, but no more than they would have been taken by anyone with a camera, studio lighting, and half an ounce of talent.
I'm going to look into that Portrait Club thing. I didn't realize it was so cheap. We'd spend $30 in sitting fees anyway, so that plus discounts might make it worth it if we want to go again for any reason.
Mes Petit Choux
I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then. ~ Alice
There are always coupons for portraits in the baby/mama magazines. We have always brought one with us when we went and we've never paid a sitting fee--even for a family portrait with three people.
Some things that I have learned:
1. You can buy a minimal package (whatever the coupon suggests) at the store and then buy more online later.
2. For what you buy in the store, you'll have to either pay a fee to have them printed on the same day that you go, or wait for up to two weeks and pick them up in the store.
3. You can often sheets and packages cheaper online, even if they tell you otherwise in the store. For online prints, I've been quoted up to 19.99 per sheet by store personnel trying to sell you in the store. They are NEVER that expensive and I have no idea how they can lie to you like that.
4. If you order the sheets online, they will mail them to you.
5. They send you all kinds of online deals to get additional prints for up to 40% off. If you can wait for those, do it. Don't buy in store.
6. Our JCP photographer was rushed and obnoxious. She scared poor Madeline and the pictures we got are like deer in headlights shots. We had much better luck at Sears, but I'm guessing that's a local thing.
7. As far as props go, if it's a family portrait I'd go traditional and no fuss. For solo shots, they have some interesting props at the store. You might call and find out what they have.
Traditional Portrait Sheet consists of a regular portrait vs a "collage style" portrait page with several images on one page. It also doesn't include a portrait w/ a "fade out" background or a border around the pic. Again, just the regular posed shot. You can find a coupon online that will waive the sitting fees and you can order as many as you want for 40% off (in my area). They are normally $14.99 before discount. We have gone several times to the JCP in my area and they do a fantastic job w/ both my kids.
Good Luck!
1. I always have coupons (I get in the mail, but you can print online too) which give me 3.99 portrait sheets and a free 8x10. Heres a link : https://www.jcpportraits.com/coupons/coupons.html
2. Yes, as others have stated, you get to see the pictures before you leave and decide which you would like to get. They always try to sell you on extra ones, like collages and stuff, but I always decline. Just a tip If you want them, they always have 3 "special" sheets when you pick them up, all for only 14.99, Much better than the 15 a piece they want when they want to charge up front. I never buy them though.
3. They have cute props there, kind of generic, but they have done the trick.
Hope that helps! My MIL takes DS to get his pics done a lot because she has a JC Penney card and gets great deals too
1. Last year we used a coupon for $3.99 portrait sheets and one free seating. Extra people are $9.99 a person. I've seen those coupons floating around in magazines and online this year.
2. You can see pictures after your session and order on the spot. I know we had a window to order additional prints afterwards, but I'm not sure how long.
3. I think your prop ideas sound good. I didn't find the photographer very good at suggestions. It really was just someone with a set up and a good camera. Last year DD was a placid 6 mo old. I have no idea how they will handle my rowdy 18 mo old for pictures this Saturday.
I've never paid more than $3.99 per sheet because I always have a coupon. They do all these enhancements and make you try to buy the more expensive options, but I just stick with what I need and have usually spent only $30-$50. That's being able to give a ton of people in our family a copy.
If you do have a coupon you can only get that price when you first order them, so make sure you order enough. You can go back and order at anytime, but it is more expensive.
They have a ton of props. Check out their website and it shows a lot of them. Ask them to show you. The first time I went they didn't really show me anything, and then after that I saw all of the stuff they had and was more creative.
We tried JCP with DS (18mo).
I don't know if its the same for all JCP, but for 130.00 we got a CD of our shoot, thats it. That price included the sitting fee(s).
One word of advice though, I would not recommend them with toddlers.
No props, no food/drink, nothing to keep him occupied during the shoot, and for whatever reason they wanted him to sit still in order to take a photo. Asking a toddler to sit still is like asking a lion to eat veggies - it aint gonna happen.
If you look at the site, there is one prop (a piano)...and no they did not have that for our shoot.