Affordable Photography

Updated on August 17, 2009
R.P. asks from Richardson, TX
19 answers

I spent a ton of money having a professional photographer come out to our house and take our first family portraits when my son was a newborn. I love the pictures and have no regrets. My son will turn six months old next month, and I want to his picture professionally taken again...but this time on the cheap. Like I'm think JC Penny's or something. Any preferences or learning experiences out there? I'm totally open to suggestions.

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Heather with Chunky Monkey Photography is awesome! You have a lot of options with her. She has her regular sessions that are about $125 that includes a cd of pics you can print where and what you want. Then she does a bunch of mini-session throughout the year that are about $60 and that also includes the cd. She is great with the kids and does great work. She is the only photographer we use since we found her. Here is her info:

website: http://chunkymonkeyphotography.com/

blog: http://www.chunkymonkeyphotography.blogspot.com/

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from Dallas on

we have had lots of luck with portrait innovations at park and the tollway
www.portraitinnovations.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Dallas on

Try Holly Stover at Mom and Me Photography. She takes amazing pictures and will go to any location. Check out her website www.momandmephotography.com. Her prices are $75 for 1/2hr session or $125 for an hour. Her prices include getting all your photographs on CD so that you can take them and print them or do whatever you want with them. It is a great deal and she is extremely sweet (and amazing with kiddos)!

Her # is: ###-###-####

Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.W.

answers from Dallas on

You might want to try a mobile studio concept - my girlfriend Miranda does this and I think her prices are darn cheap for what comes with it:

Individual, Children, Family Session...$60 includes one location and one hour of the photographer's time as well as editing of the photos. Additional people, clothing change, and poses are at no extra cost. You can expect to have approx 50 photos total with 10-15 of them being digitally enhanced and put to CD for web/email sharing and a $20 print credit.

Here's her website where you can see some of her pictures: http://luckystardesigns.blogspot.com/

If you decide to give her a try, please let her know C. Walker sent you her way - :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Dallas on

I've gotten really good results from the portrait studio inside of Target. The company is Lifetouch. They have a good deal going right now and you can print coupons from their website. The location I went to was in Richardson, and everyone was so surprised that they came from Target. One of my friends commented that they turned out a lot better than the ones we had taken of the grandkids that same weekend by Portrait Innovations (I've gotten good results from them too).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.J.

answers from Dallas on

goldapplephotogrphy.com

Gold Apple Photography is owned by a fresh young NT grad. She works part time at a non-profit org. Sweet and very talented young lady. Check out her portfolio on her website.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.J.

answers from Dallas on

Hi R.,

I have used Portrait Innovations two times and $9.95 sounds great, but be prepared to get a guilt trip from the associates...they always have you pick your favorite shots and the inital price ends up being like $500. I was like, really, do you think I want 100 shots of my child at this age?? This last time I had to get firm with the associate and tell her I just could not afford nor did I want that many pictures (once we got it down to around our favorite 8). Then they say stuff to you like, "I can't beleieve you are getting rid of that one, it is so cute, blah, blah, blah." I fell for that the first time and ended up with a picture I really do not like. All and all, they race you through the photography experience then try to high pressure sell you on pictures. Like I said, I have used them two times and I do not plan on using them again. BTW, this last time we got out with four different shots for around $80...that included their "$9.95 package".

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.V.

answers from Dallas on

I have done alot of diffent sittings over the past 13 months with my daughter- professional photos at an in home studio, target and Penny's. The best deal I have gotten though nothing like the in home studio feel and options is Penny's... they have a portrait club membership and I think it was 9.99 for 2 years but it includes no sitting fees and $10 off $90 purchase plus more one time offers but you can use this with the coupons that come out for 2.99 a sheet or 7.99(?) portrait packages. We have had her pictures take with the family, 1st birthday, great grandma pics and I don't think that I have spent more than $20.00 and have had more than enough pics for the family. Best of Luck :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.K.

answers from Dallas on

The ladies at Kiddie Kandids in the Frisco Mall (and other locations) have crazy mad serious skills!! I used to work for a professional, and they are even better than she was!

You can see the belly pictures on my site
www.SnazzyFaces.info on the belly art page to see a sample of their work. It took no time at all--they just have "the eye". And it's the cheaper mass photography like the Picture people and the like.

good luck!
~A.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.L.

answers from Dallas on

Hi! I use Kimberly Craig: http://tomorrowslegacyphotography.shutterfly.com/

She charges $80 and has a studio in her house (in Frisco, near Custer and Virginia). She will take up to four people, any combination of poses and people, and then she gives you the CD with ALL pictures on it and a copyright release so you can print any pics you want! I have used her three times already and my daughter is only 7 months old. hee hee I have NEVER been disappointed in her photos!!! Contact me individually if you want me to send you some of the photos she has taken of my little girl. There are a lot of photos on her Web site, as well. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.F.

answers from Dallas on

You may be able to find an amateur photographer in your area that still gives great quality but at a more affordable price. My friend Delilah does great work, but she's still building her portfolio to become a professional, so her rates are much cheaper than a traditional photographer. You can check out her stuff at http://www.besitosphotography.blogspot.com/ I have a 2-yr-old that's always on the move, but Delilah still finds a way to capture great pics of her!

Good luck,
J. Friedl
http://juliafriedl.wordpress.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.H.

answers from Dallas on

I highly recommend Portrait Innovations - you get a ton of pics for little $$. Sometimes they run a 9.95 package special (it may be going on now) and you always get the pics the same day. They take appointments however only up to two weeks in advance and open Saturday & Sunday.

I've had pics at JC Penney and I don't know if they still make you but you have to join and pay for a "club" so you can get discounts, plus you have to wait 1-2 weeks to get the pics back.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.A.

answers from Dallas on

Hi R.,

Just wanted to give you the name of a fabulous photographer who is affordable. His name is Christian Sculper and owns his own business. He does excellent work and I have used him personally. I think you would be pleased. He's extremely affordable!!!!!!
You can go to his website and see his work...and email him.

Christian Sculpher
www.sculpherimages.com
____@____.com
###-###-####

btw: He and his wife are expecting their first next spring!!!

Good luck!
C.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.F.

answers from Dallas on

Hi,

I took my son every month for a year then every three months for the 2nd year. We tried various places - Sears, JCP, Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart was by far the lowest quality. I feel it all depends on who takes the photos. We have had some people that were horrible. They don't pose you right, the photos are of center, etc. The coupons make it really inexpensive if you just want something to capture the age then you could do nicer ones once a year. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.P.

answers from Dallas on

I've had great luck with Studio 1-to-1 in the Galleria (3rd floor, next to children's place). They are incredibly affordable - each kids package has an 8x10, 2 5x7s and a set of wallets, and although the first set is more expensive (maybe $40), they always seemed to have a deal where you could get a full package of 3 or 4 different poses (since i could never decide) for around $100. It was reasonable enough that I was able to have my girls' photos done every 6 months and now i have great professional shots of their growth. Be sure to go to the web site first and print the coupon for the free sitting fee.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.D.

answers from Dallas on

I have a friend who just started a photography business in the metroplex. Her name is Erin and it is called Splendor Photography. www.splendorphotography.net

She does on location at your home, or outside she does not have a studio at this time. Don't let that scare youN she takes exellent pictures and i have been 100 percent satisfied with the beautiful portraits we have of our daughter and son, and family! Her sitting fees are around a hundred fifty, but you get a disk with all your pictures to take and print as many or few as you like!! She has done pics for me 4 times in the Past year and we alway have at least 40 images to chose from black and white, full color and special colorized. I think it is any exellent price because even if you use a "traditional" studio like Studio One, JCPenney, Picture People Ect. And you like the pics you will end up spending that before you walk out the store and not have much to show for it. Check out her site and give her a call!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.R.

answers from Dallas on

I have my own photography business and have just published my season special. It doesn't have to be used for a holiday! I provide fully edited digital with copyright release currently (limited number of images). You can see my work at www.tinarogers.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.W.

answers from Dallas on

We have done the Picture People, JC Penny and Wal Mart thing and have not been satisfied, this is my personal opinion. Of the three I think that the Picture People have been the best but the actual prints seems to really add up.

I have started to use Watermelon Photography and she is wonderful and affordable. The photographers name is Laura Beltran and she gives you a CD of all of your images, so you don't have to order the prints from her. Then you can have as many as you would like printed at Costco, Sam's or wherever. By the time I am done paying her fee (I forget how much it is, I think around $150 or so) I have saved so much money on the prints themselves. I get the 5x7's for .39 and the 8x10 for like $1.19 at Costco. It is wonderful!!

http://www.watermelon-photography.com/

good luck and if you use her tell her E. sent you =)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.P.

answers from Dallas on

I too was going to say Studio One to One. They are more than Sears and Penney's but I can't even compare the quality. They don't have the cheesy backgrounds, they get on the floor with a digital camera and will only pose your child a little it. Once they are mobile they will take some action shots. I usually pay for the CD and get all the pictures so I can then print what I want when I want. They also do some great collages there.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches