Target Photo Studios

[gwtw428]

Hi, has anyone used the Photo Studios at Target? I want to take my daughter for some professional Easter pictures. I was going to go to Kiddie Kandids at babies r us but the prices are more than I want to spend.
Any other suggestions and if u used target, were they any good?
Thanks!

 

[kitsch4]

Sorry, we've never used Target- I've never seen a photo studio at any around here. We have always used JCPenney Photo Studios and have been very happy with them. You can get coupons online. I've seen them for as low as $3.99 a sheet, I think.

 

[tspann]

Our Target doesn't have the photo studios but the Wal-Marts do. They are great!! I've tried JCPenny's, Sears, ect but I think Wal-Mart does a better job for much, much less $$$. I think they are called PictureMe Studios?? The basic package is like $6.99 and go up from there. I usually spend approx $60 if I get 1 page of each of the posses and the basic package.

 

[SarahKate]

This is a very subjective question - because a studio in one city can be really different from another. They should all be consistent in quality if they're all the same "brand" but that's not how it is at all.

It just really depends on who is working there and how they are with your kids.

We used JCP for DD's very first pics at 2 mos old (she's now almost 6)....they turned out great.

Then we tried Walmart a couple times for Fall and Christmas - we LOVE the pictures but had problems w/ them. In the fall pics, the photogs sleeve shows up on one side of our fav prints - this did not show on th eproofs, but did on the actual prints. At Christmas, something happened w/ the negatives and we had to reshoot - the first pics were MUCH better than the 2nd - babies are just unpredictable.

Went through a JCP stretch and ended up getting low quality work there - their photogs just rushed us thru w/o spending any time with us.

Then, we started going to Target. Had a great guy there named Jeremy and we ALWAYS asked for him, because he was so good with our DD. Our best pictures came from Target. Then he left and went to Sears so we followed him there - we went once there and were very pleased.

I haven't been to Target in a couple years - I've heard some negatives about them, but I've heard them about ALL of them! I do know that Target now has the cameras so that they can move all around and do "floor shots" where they can stand over the child and take pics. Gives them a lot more creativity.

There ya have it - we've tried 'em all.

 

[QJ411]

We've used Target's Portrait Studio before and for the price, I think it's great. It really depends on the individual photographer. We had one particular one we'd ask for and she was great. The only downside of it is, you'd have to wait about 2-3 weeks for the photos to come in (we were used to Picture People and Kiddie Kandids where we got the photos the same day). And at the studio we used to go to (we've since moved), their computer monitor is very dated, so it's tough to decide on the photos. (For example, we loved this one shot of DD and ordered it, but when we received the photo, she had drool on the side of her mouth that we didn't see on the monitor. I would have ordered a different shot.) But other than that, it's a pretty good deal; the photos come out in good quality (and you can ask them to email you the photos before they arrive to the store incase you want to order more). HTH.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Our target does not have the picture studio either but wish it did. I did Sears two weeks ago and was VERY impressed. DGB is 16 mo old and was tough to get to do what she wanted and she was so good with him. The set up was much more profesional than any other "Chain Type" place I have ever been too and much better than when my DS was little. Cloth backdrops, great props etc. We had a coupon (off the internet) and i spent like 75.00 for a TON of pictures.

When DS was little I use a private professional but her sitting fee alone is now over 200.00 , and the pictures while absolutly amamzing, are unreal in price!! Anyway, this sears is the closest i have found to her.

 

[TexasBee]

If you have a Portrait Innovations near you, that would be my absolute first choice. They are wonderful.

Next choice would be Sears, we've had very good luck with them. I would not book JCPenneys on a bet, the quality of the paper they use and the overall quality of the pictures are much lower than anything else I've tried.

 

[emmiesmom]

I've done Target, Sears, etc...I've found that for the price difference Target is great but as the above posters said it does depend on the person and that varies- overall I found they take enough poses that I can laways find at least 2 I like and my target is much cheaper than Sears

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

I never used Target so I am no help at all. I can say that the walmart in Warminster PA is terrible for photos. We had DS pics done there and they had SO much background in the photo all you saw was a spec of a kid. JMHO. Good Luck where ever you go.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We've tried Sears and JCPenney and hated both of them... We are diehard Picture People fans now and wouldn't imagine going anywhere else!

Our local Targets and Walmarts are constantly looking for photographers for their "studios." In fact, I rarely even see them open!

We just suck it up and go to Picture People. Sure it costs more, but w/ squirmy kids I want to get GOOD pictures and we have never walked out of PP w/o some amazing shots!

 

[hlbrink]

We used to go to Target portrait studio a lot and loved them for their quality of work and great prices. However, the one by us has gone "digital" which means they take pictures on the floor (not good if you have a "bolter") and due to this new equipment they need a "clean room" so they do not allow street shoes into the photography room (most kids I saw were in socks or barefoot). They also tell you to bring all kinds of props and changes of clothes (they used to provide props) and then when you get there, they are hustling you out after 15 minutes. We took our kids there last fall and ended up leaving with me practically in tears because they couldn't get one decent shot. We didn't buy one picture Never going back....

 

[jacksmomma]

If you have a Portrait Innovations near you, that would be my absolute first choice. They are wonderful.

Next choice would be Sears, we've had very good luck with them. I would not book JCPenneys on a bet, the quality of the paper they use and the overall quality of the pictures are much lower than anything else I've tried.

PI is great! You get so much more than you do with Target. We used to go to Target, but now we only go to PI. They have a hand held camera so they are able to get unique shots and the pictures do not look "posed". They allow you to change outfits and offer a large variety of backgrounds. Also, with some of their packages you get all of the pictures they took on a CD. Check them out.

 

[annegirl]

I used to work at Target portrait. I really loved it but the one thing I will suggest if you go there is to try to use a coupon for paying by the sheet. Sometimes they will give you the option of by the sheet for like 3 bucks or an entire pkg for 2.99 or something and when people would come in they would automatically want the pkg so I would always kind of tell them (in a whisper) do the other!!! With the pkg you end up w/so many pics you will never use because of their size and you can only get one pose and it HAS to be one of the first two or three with the gray or blue background. I don't know about every store but in ours we were told that these had to be boring and then make the others so cute that they would want to buy more. Once you opted for the pkg you couldn't change it and then by the sheet of the cuter ones was really expensive. This was a few years ago so it may be different now but I would ALWAYS go by the sheet so you can pick and choose!

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I really like Target portrait studio. You can't beat the price. Especially if you are a portrait member because you can use a $3.99 coupon and then get an additional $1 off each sheet with your membership.

I actually do photography out of my home but I take my youngest to target often because I just can not get her to pose for me. $2.99 a sheet is SO worth it to me to put the stress on someone else. LOL Some times I have loved the pictures and sometimes I thought they were just o.k. It just depends on your actual photographer and the mood of your child!

 

[draeg]

FYI...

For those saying JCp's studios do a better job than Targets (and vice versa), they are owned by the same people

The difference is the photographers...its a skill and some will have it and some will not. Find a good photographer and stick with him/her, no matter what "studio" they work in. Your photos will thank you