Studio pictures?

[CLHCO]

Where do you go for yearly pictures? I need to get them taken for the kids and I'm looking for decent but inexpensive. Since we'll need 4 kids with pictures that will mean a minimum of 5 sheets we'd need, (including a group picture), not including extras for grandparents. Coupons are appreciated. We have everything in the area from Sears to Walmarts.

Thanks!

[GothicGyrl]

Walmart always seems the cheapest and decent quality too.

Get the whole family in the package deal, then pay for each kid seperately if you wish. Usually, for 80 bucks, we get a package that consists of the 4 of us, then we split it between Dh and I, just the girls, one of each of the girls, and one of me with them, and one of DH with them.

So if you want just the kids--use the package to photo all 4 kids. Then pay a bit more for 4 seperate "packages", one for each of them alone.

[JudoMom]

Where do you go for yearly pictures? I need to get them taken for the kids and I'm looking for decent but inexpensive. Since we'll need 4 kids with pictures that will mean a minimum of 5 sheets we'd need, (including a group picture), not including extras for grandparents. Coupons are appreciated. We have everything in the area from Sears to Walmarts.

Thanks!

I just hang a sheet up in the house, look for any fun props, and snap away. Since my guys are younger, I set it up so they can watch a video while I take the pictures. Then I get what I need printed at Walmart.

[CLHCO]

That's something I hadn't thought of. I don't know if my digital will do a good enough job though. I tend to get red eye indoors sometimes. Any good tricks for getting rid of that? Otherwise the pictures are often fairly nice. I took their pictures last year out at the park with it and they were wonderful but it was nice and green then. Outside is all winter dead but no snow for the pretty snow effect either.

I suppose I could try it here and if it didn't look good (we'd know right away after downloading/printing) I could then go to a studio. We have a nice corner with a fire place that may work good.

[Heidi @ Mt Hope]

I take my own pictures of the kids as well. They haven't ever had studio pictures taken. :)

My advice: never use flash. Ever. Take photos inside when the day is bright and sunny (with light coming in windows) or take them outside when it is overcast or in a shady spot. Both flash and sunlight create harsh shadows. Using a sheet as a back drop is a good idea. I found cheap black sheets at Target. Also, get close to your kids. Really close. Many people take pictures from too far away, so there is distracting background stuff going on.

The book Expressions: Taking Extraordinary Photos for Your Scrapbooks and Memory Art (http://www.amazon.com/Expressions-Taking-Extraordinary-Photos-Scrapbooks/dp/1581809093/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202924826&sr=8-1) is worth $16 dollars if it is going to save you studio picture costs. Lots of great tips for the general parent-photographer!!

[CLHCO]

Woo-hoo! The library has the book. Thanks, I'll try that.

[CLHCO]

I used to go there all the time and there was one photographer who was great. I don't believe he's there anymore. I've had others from Walmart that were absolutely terrible. I suppose that's going to be the case anywhere though, huh? It probably varies a lot depending on the photographer.