Does anyone have something good to say about Portrait Innovations?

[wdwgirl100]

I was planning on using Portrait Innovations for my daughter's Christmas pictures this year and when I started reading the reviews they were HORRIBLE! They are advertising the 9.95 special but I don't know if it is worth it. Our last pictures were at Target and it wasn't a very good experience so if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

 

[notsosnowwhite]

My experience was meh. We went in for kids photos before Christmas last year. The photographer was overloaded - the pics ended up really cute, but she was stopped several times throughout the shoot by other employees and even left our session to take photos of another client at one point. My kids were calm, however, and the other clients were not. She did a good job calming them down. After the shoot we went through the hard sell - they weren't about to let me only order the $9.95 package. I didn't spend alot, but the photos were good and I bought several poses. The bad part was after ordering. They let us know that we could wait and our pictures would be ready in a few minutes. A few minutes spanned into an hour and downright rude employees that wouldn't help as we politely asked if the pics were ready. When someone finally went to look, the pics were put in the wrong place and we were told, "Well, we thought you left." Not the best customer service we've ever experienced. As I stated before, the pictures were cute, and I'd consider going back knowing what may happen.

 

[My3kiddos]

I would like to know this too. I've read reviews that the pictures were good, but they talk you into buying alot more. We've always used JCPenney and the photographers would usually good, but during the holidays they are rushed and the pictures don't always turn out the best. I've thought about taking them myself once the holiday decorations are up in my town.

 

[mrsklamc]

Huh. I've only heard GREAT things about them actually, but mostly from my sister, and she has 5 kids so she's probably happy with any photographer that can get a good pic of all 7 of them at once.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We have had some really good pictures from portrait innovations, but I hate how they don't have a good, easily decipherable price structure. And I also don't like the high pressure tactics.


At every other place I've been (JC Penny's, Sears, and a professional individual photographer with his own studio), the fees have been laid out up front ... so you can plan and budget. This is not the case with portrait innovations. At PI, there is no price list and the only thing I have been able to figure out is that the special is $9.95 and includes a bunch of pictures of one pose ... you can add an individual sheets of a different for $15.00. Beyond that, it's a big mystery to me ...

Oh, and if you actually only buy the special ... the sales associates get kind of ticked.

 

[Sarahlovy]

We had pictures done there last year, and plan to return for Christmas pictures this year. They definitely tried to sell, but we were planning on buying a bunch anyway. I don't like that there is no way to really understand the pricing ahead of time- we are planning on buying a lot less pictures this year. Also, we were told last year that we had to get three sheets of each pose we wanted to buy, which we really did not need.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I have been thrilled with the photos that I got from Portrait Innovations. I like that the studio is less formal and my kids did better there than the smaller studios.

I didn't have any high pressure sales - I did end up spending about 80 but they were great shots of my kids.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

We use them every year, for about 4 years now, at least and have had the BEST pictures from them! Depending on when we have gone...GO EARLY, it can be frustrating overall during the time we are there, but the end result has always been the best and their prices IMO are fantastic!

Get a great appointment time and give them a try!

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

I've had great luck with them. Part of that is having pretty minimal expectations. This isn't a fancy, formal photo shoot. They have minimal training, so a lot of it is luck of the draw. If you have someone with a good eye and your beautiful kid is in a good mood, you can get some great shots. If not, they are on par with awkward school pictures. My biggest problem overall is that the pictures can sometimes be a little dim.

A few tips:

I NEVER tell them up front if I'm using a coupon. If you do that, they will snap a few shots and then be done with you. Make them go through the whole process of the photo session and then the review session where you look at the results--just keep whittling the selection down until you know which one you are interested in. Once you know which one you want, you can say "You know, they're all great, but I'm really thinking I just want to use the $9.95 deal and get this pose..."

Have a sense of the price points--which they publish nowhere!--and don't get confused by the double talk. It's almost like buying a car in how they present packages to you. The thing to know is that for around $100 you get something like 6 poses and the CD of all the pictures from your session and that's the least expensive package to get the CD. If you go with anything smaller than that (especially the $9.95 deal), you may get a little attitude and push back where they'll make you regret not getting the CD. The thing to remember is that the CD really isn't important since you likely have a scanner or access to one.

Be prepared to make quick decisions. Always go with your gut. If you want to try a particular set up or pose, ask. And really, you'll only be out $10 if they don't turn out.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

We've used Portrait Innovations for the last 5 or so years and completely them!!

I've never felt any pressure to buy more than the $9.95 deal -- but I always do buy more! They've been so good in the past that I've several times bought photo cards of the whole family (and I typically NEVER want pictures of myself in the hands of others ) IMHO, they are far superior to WalMart, Target, etc -- for many reasons, but one being - they will take 100 poses of you before making you choose the $9.95 deal ... whereas WalMart stops at the first good you want and forces you to pay more if they later snap a better shot.

I 2nd the advice to GO EARLY in the season!!!!! In fact, we were scheduled to go tomorrow night, but my boys got an unexpected opportunity for a camping adventure to complete some requirements for Boy Scout advancement -- so I rescheduled the photos for the next week or two.

I would never go between Thanksgiving and Christmas, if I could at all avoid it. Of course, that goes for Penneys, Olan Mills, etc. Been there, done that! learned my lesson!!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I just took my kids in there today for photos. Our appt time was 11:15 am. The place was a zoo! Tons of kids everywhere. And they spend SO MUCH time with each person looking at their photos. We didn't get our pictures taken until almost noon, and I didn't get out of there until 1 pm, and that was without waiting for the photos. I only intended to buy the 9.95 pkg plus Christmas cards. I spent $135. I bought the package, plus 5 extra sheets at $15.00 ea. plus the cards for around $30. The problem was, the extra poses of just my girls and just my boys were so darn cute, I couldn't resist. THAT'S how they get ya!

 

[NiftyJ88]

I've used them and have had pretty good experiences. I always take their first appointment of the day. The first time I spent almost $200. The pics were awesome and it was her 1st birthday. Since then, we're usually around $100. We always buy enough to get the picture disc also.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Just so everyone knows, the picture disk isn't as great as it's cracked up to be. All it does is back up your photo session onto a CD so THEY can reprint more later (at their usual high prices). It won't allow you to take them anywhere else to have photos reprinted or to print them yourself.

It did come in handy since I needed another copy of my daughter's 1 year old composite picture two years after the pictures were taken, but that is the only time I've ever used it. I think it cost me $30 to reprint that one thing.

If anyone knows how to make those photos on the CD into something I can use, I would appreciate the info.

 

[twinboysmom]

We have used them 4 times over the past year and will use them again bed ore Xmas. They are better in my opinion than walmart and other similar, not as good as a true professional. Some are pushier with the sell than others. I usually buy what I want and refuse to be pushed. As for the cd, my husband does it but we have printed a few more off of our own computer. He said he doesn't do anything special. The only thing is I wish they offered 4x6 size.

 

[PrincessSteph]

I just went to PI for the first time about two weeks ago. Prior to this, I was very loyal to Kiddie Kandids for 5 years.

I was very happy with our session. Our photographer took 120+ pictures (our group consisted of my 3 kids and my niece). I thought the price was great. Our total was a little over $100 but we received the $9.95 deal, 3 sheets of 6 different poses, 2 calendars and the disc.

We had the final appointment of the day on a Thursday evening. No problems with our time slot.

I most definately will return!

 

[Zoesmama03]

I highly recommend Kiddie Kandid if you have them in your area. I have never been subjected to hard sales there even if I only end up getting the free 8x10 from coupons they sent out to me. Plus I love having my photos reading that day. I walk the mall and come back and they usually are all ready to go.

They do a fabulous job compared to some other studios and are usually far more open to taking the time(try to get in on a none busy time) to get the photo you had in mind. Since I started taking my own I have a hard time justifying $80-100 on a package of soft photos. I'm biased now but have still had acceptable prints from Kiddie Kandid that I would spend money on.

I always loved Sears for family portraits but they just don't seem to be doing as well from what I've seen with my best friend's sessions there(she has savers card). Could be they just don't get them trained as well or high turn over rate leaving most of them "new" but they seem poorly posed and do a lot of limb chopping. Not to mention they used a wrinkly backdrop in some of her most recent ones. She is happy with them but with 4 like someones said they generally are happy to get a few decent snaps of all the kids together a couple times a year.

 

[Jaaaacki]

We tried them for the first time the week before Halloween. I was very pleased with how my pictures came out. I've tried Sear's, JCPenny, Target and Picture People and always felt rushed and pressured to buy a lousy photo. They took tons of shots and had my kids do outfit changes. Of course they get you in the door with their $9.95 deal and want you to buy more. Go in there knowing this so you can easily say NO. We spent about $100 on pictures because there were quite a few great shots and I also got my holiday cards printed. I liked how they printed them right away and the quality was good.

I would give them a try even if you only purchase the $9.95 package.

 

[amy-momofthree]

I use them for Christmas portraits which we had done 2 days after Halloween!! It gets crazy busy in there. Call and ask them what is their least busiest time and take it.

I also tell them up front that I only plan on buying a photo with all the kids in it. They will try to take individual photos which I never plan on buying anyway so I don't want to waste their time and my time. They will try to sell you every picture but know what you want ahead of time and stick to it! It's hard saying no when looking at your kids smiling faces on the screen but be firm!

For 9.95 , it's a GREAT deal if you walk out with just that.

Be prepared, it is a zoo in there. Dh refuses to go with me. He says it's the most stressful thing ! Haha!!!

Good luck!

 

[eeyoremommy]

I only have one child - DS 6. He had pictures taken at one in GA for the first time over Labor Day weekend. They were probably the best pictures we have ever had taken, and he usually doesn't take a lot of bad pictures. The most difficult problem we had was trying to narrow down what we wanted. We have been to Sears, Picture People, and Walmart in the past. My mom has already said that she would really like to see me take him back to PI for Christmas pictures. Fortunately, the girl who is the manager of the store that just opened here locally was trained by the person that took his pictures at the one we went to in GA. Hopefully that will be a good thing.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I think they did a fabulous job with my son's 3 and 6 month pics... We went on a Monday during the day the first time and they weren't very crowded and had lots of time to spend with us.

The only negative is that I can't imagine how you would get out of there spending only $10!!! They do such a great job that it is super hard to narrow down the pictures! Both times visiting cost me nearly $200!!!