Sears Portrait Studio?

[Eeyore1928]

Anyone have an opinions on this? I am taking my daughter there tomorrow for a few pics and this is a first. I used a Professional her first 2 years...but it got a little pricey. Thought I would just try Sears to see what they could come up with.

Thanks

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I've had pictures taken there several times and they have come out good.

 

[jennyl772003]

I always used Sears when my son was little. I have always been happy with them. I would always go with my coupon and spend like $25 a get enough pics for the whole family.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I've always been happy with Sears portraits.

 

[BabyTigger99]

Sears is a great place to have pictures done!!! Do you think I am biased because I have worked there for 10 years???? Seriously, compared to what I have seen from JCPenny's, Wal-Mart, Target, Picture People, etc., in the area, I think that we have a better product. We have really done a lot of upgrading in quality over the last few years. I will suggest, because of the time of year, you ask for a photographer who has been there for a while. With Christmas season approaching, there are probably a lot of new hires in the store who aren't very well versed in photography yet (I remember my first Christmas there!). Hopefully everything will go smooth. If you have any questions, let me know. Also, go to www.searsportrait.com and you can see what we can do!

 

[gooseberry]

huh? do sears even exist anymore?

 

[TEENEE]

I had problems with Sears years ago and haven't gone back. The studio that takes the pictures really doesn't matter, it's the photographer. As BabyTigger said, request an experienced photographer, you'll be happier.

 

[Eeyore1928]

Thanks so much. I am trying not to hold the pics to the same standard as our old photgrapher did. I have a coupon for a 35 pic package...although I have no idea what size are included. I tried calling the local store and no answer. The website does not list package choices either. Do you know BabyTigger? i am excited. I am trying to get this done for Christmas for my family. I have a picture of me at 3 and wanted to do a double mount of us side by side. We look a lot a like.
I hope all turns out well. I love the special effect fo the flower...are there any others to choose from? She may be a little big for that one!

Thanks so much.

 

[pozey]

We've had our kids' pictures taken at Sears for at least the last 5 - 6 years. They do a good job. We did have one instance where the photographer never could get a good shot. I think that was when my now 6 year old son was 2.

But we have continued to go back....

 

[christinadei]

I hate our Sears Portrait Studio. my mom always brought me and my sisters there for Christmas pictures and I always used them when DS was small. It doesn't matter if you have an appointment, I've never waited less than 45 minutes to an hour. DS was always fussy by the time we got in there. AS for the pictures, I've had some turn out good and some bad, it depeds on the photographer. I just h ate the stress and hassle of Sears. I started using Penney's, they have better coupons (for the past few years, I've been getting packages for 7.99 w/free sitting, this year I have to pay sitting though and 8.99, so still $20 for a package) and I LOVE their pictues. I've taken DS 3-4 times and the pictures are the best he's ever had done, from sears, olin mills, school, etc. I love them and there is never a wait, the photographers are consistently good. They are just great. I will never go anywhere else. I can't believe I went to sears for so long!

 

[snoopy]

I got in a huge fight with them once years ago, which culminated in me taking the proofs and running out of the store with the clerk running behind me cussing me out.

Need I say more?

We do Picture People nowdays.....

 

[christinadei]

http://www.jcpenneyportraits.com/co...1child.shtml?source=google.com-portraitstudio

Here is a link for Penney's coupons if anyone is interested.

 

[BabyTigger99]

35 piece package is probably 1 8x10, 2 5x7, 8 3x5, and 24 wallet size pictures. These all come off one pose of your chosing.

Any portrait studio can fall behind in appointments. As our manager says, we try to run as on-time as possible, but we run on "baby time". What makes it hard is when you are in a sitting that you know is not going to work, but the parent is adament that they are going to get a good picture of their child. Things like that can cause any studio to fall behind. Also, I worked this weekend, and we had a camera room go down, so we only had two rooms available. Luckily, things ran VERY smooth, and we were able to stay right near ontime.

 

[jehender]

I am a big fan of JCPenney Portraits!
Sears is good, but JCPenney is great in my opinion. I think the quality of JCPenney is better - both the photography staff and the actual prints, plus they are way cheaper if you have the coupon. You can get coupons for 4.99/sheet or a package deal for 8.99 - sometimes even cheaper. You can get coupons at their website (sign up to get them emailed to you) or in most baby magazines.

You can also sign up for their portrait club card. I think it costs $30 and you get free sittings for 2 years. This is a great deal if you have multiple people or plan to go multiple times in the next two years. You also get several bonus items (like a free sheet and free smiles by wire) that makes it a really good deal.

 

[Beth76]

It's all going to vary studio to studio and photog to photog. But, I've loved all my pictures that we've had done at Sears. There's a separate Sears Portrait studio in a strip mall close to my house. It's great because I don't have to schelpp the kids through the mall.

 

[BabyTigger99]

Any update on your experience?

 

[pfishgirl]

I have used Sears, JC Penny, and Wal-Mart...
JC Penney look like anything you can print yourself off a computer..
Sears are very nice with the right photography but can get pricey
Wal-Mart at least here are really good and the cheapest

 

[Wishing on a star]

I have been to Walmart, and to Sears....

I think it really depends on the individual studio, the phase of the moon, whether the photographer is PMS'ing!!! LOL!!!!

Seriously, I have an OUTSTANDING picture of DS when he was a baby, just from our local WalMart. And, twice at Sear's, I have been VERY unhappy!!! One time, the actual prints were of such crappy quality that I just turned around, went right up to the front desk, showed them to the lady, and made them re-print them!!!! Which meant another trip to the Sears store two weeks later, which is a 45 minute drive. (New prints were a bit better, but still no better than any home camera).

As far as the personal experience with the photographers.... I have felt lack of service and RUDE treatment from Sears. And, one of them, who was mindlessly and with the speed of light going thru her motions, not paying attention to what I, as the customer, was actually wanting from my portraits, got very rude when I tried to interject... and actually said something along the lines of "Well, I have been doing this for years....."

Sear's marches their customers through their cookie cutter 'program'. At least ours does. If you want anything a bit different than the little check-boxes on their selection sheet... forget it.

So, while it may really depend on the individual studio. Count me in with those who are NOT happy with Sear's!

 

[nemo1987]

The children I babysit for recently went to the Picture People. All of their pictures are awesome. They all caught their personality and were all perfect ones. They have also been to Sears and they were always good as well, but this time they went there because they had coupons for free pictures if you bought a certain package. Either way you would be making a wise choice. I do believe though it totally depends on what the store is like in your area. It could be completely different from everyone else's. Good luck in you decision!!!!! I am sure the pictures will be great!
-Sarah

 

[TandJ61574]

When my kids were little I tried everywhere and penneys was the best at the time but now that I have a grandson we went to our Penneys and it was the worst experience ever!

The picture people are awesome and we paid for our grandsons pics there in the beginning but now our daughter has to pay for them and the picture people is too costly $$$ for her so she goes to sears. so far they have done a very good job.

as others have said, i guess it just depends on the photographer.