Say "Che-e-e-e-se!"

I was never impressed with PP, though I've been told by friends that have gone, that it is a combination of the studio and the photographer. Thankfully, we have a photog that we use for the yearly photos. There is a sitting fee of $50, then you choose the type of photos (which, sizes, etc). As someone else noted, private are not cheap, but for once a year photos I could not be more pleased and did not want to have something that was just ok. Studio One - they have 2 or 3 locations - Good luck!

http://www.studioonedesplaines.com/pages/one.html

Hi. I never liked JCP or picture people. I did however from 1 month on til 12 months and then yearly thereafter went to sears and had my daughters pictures taken. she is going to be 8, so back then i had to wait the 2 weeks for pictures. BUT although they never are on time, they always were patient, centered, good poses etc. I have also tried "professional" studios, but the prices are well beyond what I am willing to be, although they were beautiful..K.

We go to Kiddie Kandids in Babies R Us store(Niles)....and we like them, and you get the pictures in 10-15 minutes after your photo shoot.....also you can order more prints from home from a web site that links all of your photo shoots, current and previous....we have always had her shots there and have no complaints....the only thing is that they dont take appointments so we would just make sure that we are there when the store opens and there is no waiting. I would be happy to share her pictures with you on-line so you can take a look first, just send me an e-mail.
Good Luck, C.

I just hired lollipopportraits.com to come to my home at the end of November for our CHristmas card. She did a fantastic job.

She has a studio that rolls up to your home. Her photos are amazing. Check out her website and look a the infant photos.
She is very talented and you get something unique. Everyone I have spoken to, and sent a card to this year, has commented on how great the card is. The best part is that I didn't need to leave home.

If you contact her, let her know that D. Sent you. As you know, the best form of a compliment in business is a referral.

We went to Sarah Alair (www.sarahalair.com) in Lincoln Square (NW neighborhood in Chicago). She spent over an hour with us and really took time to let our daughter warm up to her. We did three outfit changes and backdrop changes. We received over 200 shots. She posted them to pictage and gave us the CD. She also put together an album of her 50 favorites. From what I have heard, her prices were not much more than the Sears, PicturePeople type places. Well worth the couple extra dollars that we spent.

As I am a photographer, I think going to a pro is worth it. If you want something unique and personal to your child. Maybe not every time, but once every few years the extra $$ is worth it. I think you will see the difference.
We get to spend time with the child and respond to their personality, not just take the same shot of every child all day long.

S.,
I've always wanted to have professional (not chain) pics taken of my 4 boys. I finally did it last year with some of our tax refund and couldn't have been happier. This photographer lives in Plainfield. I know that may be a hike for you, but I promise it will be so worth it! Linsey (Shutterbugs Photography) does it out of her house. The sitting fee is $50 for one hour. She takes tons of pictures. She then posts them online (with your permission) so friends and family can view and purchase pictures if they want. What I especially love is that you can buy a CD from her with the copyright privledges! If I remember correctly, if you have $100 in orders, you can buy the CD for $200. I did this and then uploaded the pics to snapfish and ordered them really cheap! You can do whatever you want with the photos. She is AWESOME!! You can view her website at http://www.shutterbugsphotos.com/
If you go, please tell her that T. R. sent you!

Kiddie Kandids inside Babies R us is awesome! Great backgrounds/props, cool borders to add, and you get your pictures right then. They are a little pricey, but I too have been disappointed with JCP. You pay more for a sheet, but they look a lot better. Good luck!

Jenni

We used to go to Sears and I liked them well wnough for the price. However, Portrait Innovations just opened recently in Orland Park and I LOVE them. We went to one of their studios laast year in Alabama iwth my parents. Many of their packages include a CD with all of your pictures, pictures are ready withing about an hour, the staff there is great with kids, they take a TON of pictures with each pose, so you're bound to get that perfect shot. They're more expensive than JCP, Sears or Wal-Mart, but less expensive than Picture People in my experience. The more poses you buy, the less the cost per sheet, but we just got what I really wanted and made sure we got enough to get the CD, too. Any extras I want I'll take to Costco to be developed.

S.,
Sears offers a good studio experience, I started with my son who is now 4 years old and have never had a bad experience there. I have a 4 month old daughter and went there again for their Christmas photo and was very pleased on how they handled her. They have always been very friendly and nice to the kids. I had an experience with the picture people and didn't like how they handled my son, who at the time was 2 1/2. I also went to the portrait studio at Babies r us and had a good experience, the only draw back was that they don't accept appointments and sometimes it can be pretty busy, and you don't feel like you are getting the time you need with the photographer. At that studio, you can get the pictures the same day. And with Sears you can opt for the pictures the same day as well. Hope this helps....

My sister just found a photographer in Orland Park, I do not know the name of it but it is located at rt 45 and 143rd st. They did an awesome job with her family. She received pictures the same day and was very resonable. The more pictures you buy the price goes down per sheet. I think that is where I am going to take my family for family pictures. Also, they only go up to size 11 X 14 so if you want something bigger they will give you the copyright to go somewhere else and have a huge picture made.

On the other hand, I always went to Kiddie Kandids in Babys R Us, in Orland, ( I went to Fox Valley and didn't like the people there) There are two good "photographers" at the one in Orland I like and one of them always seem to be there when I go and I just make sure I request one of them whem I sign up. The manager is one of them that I like. She works with the children and can always get them to smile. I know Kiddie Kandids if for young children, but I have seen a few family portraits there, but I think they are butter with the younger children. Kiddie Kandids is not too pricy I have always been happy with my pictures there.

Sylvia,

Welllll, I'm biased, because I'm a professional photographer! I do think you get what you pay for, in most cases. The main difference between the chains and the pros is that with the pros you won't get that cookie-cutter look; they spend more time capturing your child's personality. When you think how long these photos will have their power (a few lifetimes?), the extra cost is worth it.

Good luck--

S.

Sadie's in Northbrook. It's a bit of a hike, but you get your pictures the same day, the costumes and backgrounds are fantastic as is the quality. We had the most unusual one of our son sitting naked (too cute!) on a stack of suitcases done in an antique sepia tone. Everyone raves about it and the prices are probably similar the the picture people without the crowds.

I swear by Sears Portrait Studio. My daughter has been going there since she was 3 months and now is 3 1/2. Most of them provide you a password with sitting number to view the pics online. They also have a pretty private area where they take the pics, have plenty or props and backgrounds. Xmas time the picture turn around time is 1 week generally otherwise its 2 wks. You now can get them same day for a pricier amount. But the I think 35 pic package is $9.99. I use the one in Oakbrook Center, and use Char as our regular photographer.

HI,

For the first time this year I went to Portrait Innovations. They are in Orland Park Crossings. The picture quality was great. They take 40-60 picts, you choose the best pose for a 9.95 package similar to walmarts. They also let you have all the oictures if you get the 70 package. Unfortunately, my little ones didn't cooperate so we didn't get a full session. This is a longer process then walmart, but the pictures turned out much better. they are online,
Hope this helps - good luck ps no copyright on the pictures, they are yours

I had scheduled a family portrait, including 6 adults and 5 children at Sears for our Chirstmas pictures this year. However, my daughter's baptism was the Sunday after Thanksgiving and instead we decided to hire a photographer to come to the baptism and to do the family shots at the church before the service. It turned out fabulously and I loved the pictures. It was much more relaxed since we had the church pretty much to ourselves and didn't have to walk through a store full of temptations on the way to the studio. Also, our background was unique and beautiful. Anyway, the photographer we used, Jay has a website at www.jacphoto.net and does sittings as well if you don't want to pay him to come to you.