Professional Pictures (Jcpenny)

I have taken my daughter to jcpennys for pics since birth. they always do a great job. I have taken up to 3 outfits before, they dont seem to care. and we are usually there for maybe 30min and then like 10 mins to look at and choose pics. For the price(take coupons!!!!) its worth it!

I used to use Sears, but JC Penney's is way cheaper, especially if you have a coupon. The session takes about 15-20 minutes for pictures, they will change backgrounds 2-3 times and you can change outfits once or twice. I guess it also depends on how cooperative your baby is being. I was there last week getting pics done of my 3 year old and 14 month old, so it was hard to get them both to pose together and smile. Once they're done taking pics then you go to the computer and pick out which poses & sizes you want to buy.

Penney's has a really cute background entirely of blue or pink flowers that looks adorable when your baby is laying on it naked or with ruffle underpants! we used that one when my daughter was about 6 months old and I get compliments on the pic all the time.

I have had great experiences with Sears, but haven't tried Penny's, I would think that they are similar. I think that the shoots have taken 20-30 minutes, and they usually allow one outfit change, but I don't think we have taken advantage of that....they start getting good ones, and I don't want to spoil the mood. They will then do the hard sell on which pictures to buy.

What I have done is schedule it for right after feedings and don't put the kid in the outfit until after burping - Murphy's Law! Then, they are fed, and happy and much more cooperative. Good luck.

We have always used Kiddie Kandids (in the Babies R Us stores) and love it! You don't have to make an appt or you can go ahead and set up an appt if you don't want to wait. Also, they really let you take your time, there is no sitting fee and you don't have to buy anything if you don't like it. They are very reasonably priced, too.

Our neighbors took their Senior to JCPenney for her Senior Picture! Instead of the place the school recommends that charges 5 x JCP prices.
They turned out beautiful!

They took 3 changes of clothes and had 2 different hairstyles ready and I am very impressed with what they got back in their package.

We have had pictures made at Target, Penny's and Sears. If I remember correctly, they allow you to change the clothes once. The weekend can be pretty crazy, so expect to be there for a while. This should not be too big of a problem right now since your baby is still easily contained in a stroller or your lap. When they get bigger, it can be a trial having to wait for an hour or more. Some places are great with kids and some places try to fit your child into their standard "mold" of laying on their stomach, picture of the feet, etc. Again, this gets more difficult as the child gets older. We now go to Target for pictures, and I try to schedule on a weeknight or first appointment on the weekend. The photographers at the Target close to our house are willing to work with my youngest daughter, who hates to have her picture made and will not sit in any posed position. They take the camera off the stand and work with her on her level. Also, you might want to check on line to see if there are certain backdrops that you like. Another word to the wise, put the outfit that you most want in the pictures on the child first. That way if she gets cranky, you will already have the pictures that you want the most.

I have taken my daughter to penny's since her (2ND) first birthday shoots she is not the best infront of the camera but they have aways worked and waited for her to get comfortable and once she does I have had some great pictures. I go to Collin Creek or Stonebriar just let them know if you little one maybe difficult or you want to do a change or add more people to the next sitting so they can alot the time... I also have the 2 year membership(think it was $25) it took place of our sitting fees and an enhanced 8x10 at our first appointment but with it I never have to pay sitting fees and it has lots of discounts with it if you where to buy the higher packages... ALWAYS find the coupons they normally put them in kid magazines and with them you can buy the pics by the sheet for about 3.99 any amount of poses or the package of one pose for 7.99-9.99.

I took my little guy to Sears. I would think it'd be the same kind of set-up. I took one extra outfit. The photo session part was incredibly fast. The picking out the pictures and the selling of the package to you takes FOREVER!

I used the one in Fairview and loved it. I only go during the week, so they let me do 3 outfit changes at one sitting. The one time I went on the weekend, I was suppose to bring my dog. I'm so glad I didn't. They were over an hour late. They still would of let me do 2 outfits, but I decide to only do one. I didn't feel rushed, but again they were an hour late. Funny though, even being an hour late with my 8 month old, they were the best pictures she took to date.

The way these little retail studios are set up it's pretty hard not to be pleased with the results. The studio lighting and camera settings are already fine-tuned so that the "photographer" only has to pose the child and snap the pic at the right time. The person behind the camera could have been hired yesterday and still do a good job. That said, photography is an art and some are better than others. Speaking of poses, there are probably dozens of poses and scenes that the photographer has already done with other kids a hundred times before. It will probably be up to you as the parent to get behind the photographer and get your child to smile and be happy. The photographer will take probably several dozen pictures but only 3 or 4 will be awesome - and that's all you need, right?!?!

I see you got great responses, but I want to tell you my experience. JcPenny has great photographers if they were photographers before coming to Penny. In my experience, I had ok, poor and great pictures @ JcPenny. I would suggest ask to have the pictures made with the manager who usually is the one with most experience. I noticed that they hire collegue people that don't have experience at all and that's why the pictures are not that great. I also recommend to go their website and print the coupons. I bought the memership for $30? and they don't charge you for sitting fees. The membership last 2 years so is worth buying it if you know you will be going for the all stages of your baby (e.g. 3, 6, 9, 12 mo. etc.). Usually, when I go every 3 mo. for my baby I spend around $30-$40 because I bring the coupon of $3.99 per sheet and buy like 10 poses. They will try to sell you the multi-images which are more expensive (I believe like $25). If you stick if the $3.99 per sheet, you will get a great deal !

We used JC Pennys once and were not thrilled with the results. The pictures were alright, but we felt rushed through the appointment and they were much more expensive than the place we use now. I like to get the CD so that I have all the pictures, but with JC Pennys it's $99 and you have to wait about 2 weeks before you can pick it up. We use Portrait Innovations and LOVE them. There is never any sitting fee, they are very creative in props and poses, they're great at getting smiles out of the babies, they take their time and don't rush you at all, they always offer to take family pictures and pictures of my husband and myself, we get the CD AND 3 sheets of 3 different poses for $69.99 and they're all ready in about 30 minutes. Good luck!

We have used JCPenny's Portrait Studio for all of our pictures since my son was born. Both kid had pictures taken as newborns, 6 months, 12months, 18 months, and on birthdays from then on. I LOVE THEM! It could be our local studio, but I have hardly any complaints. Sometimes we get a photographer who tries to "pose" the little ones, and we all know that is really hard to keep a little one still for more than a few seconds. Offer to pose the child yourself (per their instructions) so they are ready to take the picture asap.

I think usually they have you scheduled for approximately 30 minutes, and we usually do two outfits. I really prefer the plain black or white backgrounds, but sometimes they have so other fun ones too. Also - ASK IF THEY HAVE ANY DISCOUNTS! It can get a little expensive sometimes if not. And I spend WAY too much money if I don't go in with a list of different size pictures I want. :)

Also, bring a toy or blanket your little girl really likes in case she gets bored or frustrated or tired.

HAVE FUN!

A lot will depend on the photographer no matter where you go! We have had pretty good luck w/ a couple of them at Picture Me (the ones in WalMart). Going early in the day will probably be the best bet for you! Good Luck and hope the pics turn out great!

I used JcPenny's once and was not happy with the pictures at all, nor with the knowledge and capability of their young staff. They were inexpensive, but also looked it. I agree with the others that Kiddie Kandids does a great job. I have always LOVED the pics that I got there. Good Luck and congrats.

Love, love, love JC penny's potrait studio. Ok, here's what I can tell you from my experiences with them.
Usually they allow 2 outfits, but some will shoot them in their diaper if you want in between the changing.
It's not extremely long. I have had sessions last from 30 mins (or less) to an hour.
If you have called to make an appointment ask for someone who has worked there for a while.
If your child does not like something (for example loud noises) tell them that at the beginning of the session.
After your done they will set up all the images on teh computer and take you through them. If you want time to decide just tell them you need a few minutes and they generally let you take your time with it.
ALWAYS look for the coupons, it's worth it!
I have only had 1 bad experience there, and that was because the girl was very new. The manager completely fixed all the problems, and admitted the one who did my pics wasn't very good. I am actually going next week. =)

I'm a professional photographer and I used to take my kids to JCPenneys (before I started just taking their photos myself). They offer a LOT for a very low price. The backgrounds are kinda hokey, but if you don't mind that, it is good. I agree - ask for a person who has been there a long time, who has experience. If they tell you, "Well, we can't promise who will take your photos, it all depends when you get here" then just be nice and lay on the flattery, how you'd been told how good the studio is, yada yada. I think JCPenneys is good for parents because we get out kids pictures takens SO often. I would however suggest going to a real professional photographer every once in a while (once a year? Maybe?) for awesome pictures. Trust me, you'll really notice the difference!
G. Willis
www.TexanMamaPhotography.com