Conference moira::parenting_v3

	Don't laugh, but Children's Portraits of New Hampshire does the
	pictures at Rich's in Marlborough, MA and they are EXCELLENT.
	You do have to pay for the basic package (like $10) up front, but
	you also get the negative to take home.  I know they are around
	soon for mother's/father's day.  Give Rich's a call and see when
	they are there.  Private photographers are all very expensive.

	Eileen

    
    Rose Marie:
    
    My secretary turned me on to "Children's Portraits of NH".  They
    work through the Rich's Department Store chain.  I got a "slew load"
    (let's see if I can remember this:  1-8x10, 4-5x7's, 10-wallets, 
    I think?!) for under $50! and they give you the negatives!!!  They
    picked the best of 4 sittings and made up "a set" of 5x7s and 
    wallets of from each of the two "best" poses.  You get a re-order 
    form (and their re-order prices were very reasonable).
    
    I've had Mall pictures, Sears pictures AND A PROFESSIONAL ... and
    Children's Portraits was equal to the professional's!!!!
    
    You can use the 99-cent coupon at the Rich's register, too (for the
    8x10).
    
    I just received a card that they would be at the Rich's/Marlboro
    (Rte 20) store "soon", but I tossed the card since I just got Juli's
    school (daycare) pictures.  I could probably get you their number
    (or call a Rich's store).
    
    Children's Portraits has my vote!  Excellent quality and inexpensive!
    
    Dottie

    
    Olan Mills runs something called a "Club Plan" where you purchase
    3 sittings up front for something like $17.95 + tax.   You are
    entitled to one "free" 8X10 from each sitting.  It's really a great
    deal IF you are able to turn down the sales pitch they give you
    when you go to view your proofs (usually 5-6 from a sitting).  The
    quality of their photographs is pretty high and, unlike some of the
    other inexpensive studios, you get to select the pose that you prefer.
    
    Carol

    
    I've never heard of Children's Portraits but will give Rich's a call.  
    Will they let both mom and baby pose or is this primarily a deal for
    kids photos.  Courtenay is in Daycare and Daycare has a great deal on
    just kids photos.  I got 2 8x10s 4 5x7 (size?) and then something like
    8 3x5 and a whole bunch of wallet size for under $40.  They do the
    photos twice a year but it is only the kids.  
    
    I've heard of Olan Mills.  Where are they?  They took pictures of me
    when I was just a toddler and the pictures still look great (minus the
    crayon marks from my brothers).
    
    Rose Marie

    There's an Olan Mills on rt 110 in Chelmsford, right off 495.

Or you can try what we did (after we were dismayed by professional prices):

- Get a white sheet, hang it outside and paint it a royal blue color (or
  whatever color you prefer).  Use long strokes when painting it; give it a
  mottled effect.
- When it's dry, hang it on your living room wall -- wala... a backdrop!
- Set up a couple of your nice dining room chairs in front of it.
- Ask your brother and his friend to come over and take the picture (the
  friend is important -- he makes the baby smile!).
- Then take a whole roll of pictures and develop.  Try some of just the
  baby, some of just baby and mom, etc.  When we took the "just baby" shots,
  we put her on a stool covered with a black sweatshirt, then I laid on the
  floor and held her up, my hands hidden by her dress.
- Choose the best ones and get 5X&7's, 8X10's made for yourself, relatives.

So many people have told us they thought our portraits were professional!

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you want your portrait to be 10" tall and 8" inches
wide (instead of 8" inches tall and 10" inches wide) turn the camera sideways
when taking the picture.  We forgot this and had to tell the photo shop to
turn the pictures when developing and this not only cost more but also meant
you had to blowup the picture more times which resulted in grainyness on the
8X10.

I forgot to say we used spray paint;  I didn't know if that was obvious.  I
suddenly envisioned someone trying to use a brush on a sheet!!!

Kyra

    
    Rose Marie:
    
    Yes, Children's Portraits does "family"/"muli-kids", etc. pix's.  I
    think you "might" have to pay an extra-people fee, though (shouldn't be
    too much, if any).  My secretary had a beautiful pix done of her
    and her daughter (via CP) and she was very pleased with the cost, too.
    
    Good luck!
    Dottie
    
    PS:  They were very quick on getting the pix's back to the store and
    	 had representatives available to go over the packages/reprints,
         etc.  ... I want to say within "two weeks"!

    
    	I just got off the phone with two different 'studios' who prefer
    to use 'natural' light in your backyard.  I'm thinking, 'Great, no 
    studio sitting fee...', silly me, they're sitting fees are $75.  Can
    you believe it?  They want to travel 10 miles to my house and charge 
    me that!  Then the 8x10s, get this are $85.00 each!! Come on!  I know
    things don't cost that much.  One person 'bragged' about her clientle
    in Chestnut Hill!  I'm trying to reach Olan Mills right now.
    
    Rose Marie

    I've had lots of pictures done by Sam's in Maynard and would go back to
    them in a second - they always come out fantastic.  We've had wedding
    pictures done there, family sittings, industrial photos, etc., and have
    never been disappointed.  They've been great with kids (when we had the
    full family sittings), as well as adults (parents divorced and both
    re-married made for some interesting wedding photos).  My sister-in-law
    uses Olan Mills quite frequently, and personally, I think Samuel's
    photos are better.
    
    Conni

    
    I found Sears studio to be very good. I got 2 8 x 10's, 1 13 x 9, 8
    wallets and 15 portrat petites and 2 charms for 15.00. And they came
    out beautiful too. They take like 4 different poses and 1 pose is for
    the package deal. If you choose to, you can purchase a differnt pose
    for additional money.
    
    
    Sandy 

       I wasn't too pleased with our Olan Mills portraits.  There was
       nothing wrong with them, but I felt like our family had to be
       squeezed to fit one of their standard family poses, rather than
       their taking a minute to arrange us naturally.  Which led to
       some problems since Steven wants to be next to his Daddy and
       wasn't at all comforted being between big sister and Mama...
       
       --bonnie

    Sears turned me off, though, back in '85, because they did not accept
    reservations--and before any holiday, the whole *world* shows up at the
    mall.  There's a sign-up sheet at the photo booth, and then you get to
    waste lots of time (with hungry wet baby) wandering around the mall
    trying to keep everybody perky, happy and gorgeous before they finally
    get around to your name.  But maybe they take real reservations nowadays.
    
    CP (Rich's) doesn't take reservations either ;-D but the wait has never
    been horrendous, in my experience.  Our photos (3 yearly ones) were
    excellent.  Nit: they ARE "professional" (that's what they do for a
    living; they're not amateur).
    
    Leslie

I would agree with .14 on Sears.  The other problem we had was that the
package price did not allow you to choose prints from among several shots
taken.  Instead, they printed the first and second and try to get you pay
extra for copies of the others (even if the first and second are not the
best shots).  In our case this resulted in several large, off center
prints.  We had to custom crop them and select small frame sizes to make
them look reasonable.

I also got the impression that Sears may use an automatic printing.  This
has the problem that they may not completely remove the chemicals thus
reducing the durability of the photos.  I you want photos to be around
when your kids grow up, you should keep this in mind.  If you want the
photos to be around for your kids to show their kids, go black and white
(this assumes you can't afford dye tranfer printing of color, which I
can't).

I have been pressuring my wife that we should get a family portrait done.
I am insisting that we go to a professional who will guarantee preservation
of the negatives and who will shoot at least one set in black and white.

Dick

Moderator caution:

Please, if you have anything negative OR positive to say about
Samuel's studio, send it to the base noter by VAXmail.  Some
notesfiles get in trouble when negative comments are entered about
small businesses; we should be particularly cautious about
businesses that are within walking distance of our corporate
headquarters.  So that there are no public praises, with no chance
of public rebuttal, we also ask that you not post positive notes
about small businesses in here.  Large department stores, or big, 
national outfits like Olan Mills are not a particular concern,
unless an extreme claim is made.   

Now back to noter mode

For the kind of picture you want, I think a non-custom place like
the kind you find in a department store is a better bet.  Or do the
"do it yourself" kind of approach that's been suggested, if you
have access to a camera that can focus at relatively close
distances.  Actually, depending on how "formal" you want to be, you
don't even need to bother with the backdrop.  Just be sure that the
background isn't too distracting, "busy", or unattractive; a dark
wall might work nicely, if it doesn't cast a shadow.  Another
approach is to make sure that there are no objects in the
background that are close to the subjects being photographed.  If
the camera is focused on the subjects, anything else that isn't
close will look fuzzy.

Clay  

Clay

    
    Olan Mills: Some details and our experience, so far...
    
    Call 1-800-251-6320 to find the studio nearest you.  How do I know this?
    I just happen to have my Olan Mills "Watch Me Grow" special portrait 
    plan book with me today. This was given to me as a gift after my
    daughter, Caroline, was born. Essentially, this is to pay for 5
    sittings and one 8x10 color portrait from each sitting. I believe they
    require you to plan the first sitting within a prescribed length of
    time (i.e. something like 2-4 weeks from the date of purchase of the
    coupon book), and generally plan that you'll have sitting spaced 90
    days apart. The plan is supposed to be used up within 15 months of the
    purchase date.
     
    Since Caroline is only 4-1/2 months old now, we just started using the
    plan so I can offer a few comments/suggestions. Caroline just had her 
    3 month old portrait taken (4-6 weeks ago now, time flys!). They took
    4-6 different poses. 1 week later, my husband went in to select the
    proof that we wanted. Of course, he also had to listen to the sales 
    pitch. He chose the least expensive package: 1-8x10, 3-5x7. And, the
    proofs were included. Of course, I expected this to be relatively
    inexpensive, since the 8x10 is free. Well, watch out! This was about
    $60! I was pretty upset about this, to say the least. So, when the 
    photos came (about 3 weeks later), I called their customer service
    number (also an 800 number). They were VERY helpful and said that the 
    proofs are generally about $40, and said that I can send them back for 
    credit. My husband didn't recall the studio making this explicit 
    when he was ordering. So, be sure to ask about this if you contact them.
    
    Hope this helps.

    My husband is *very* heavily "into" photography, how "professional do
    you want to get.  He always get roped into doing his sister's family
    portraits at Christmas, and this year is was his other sister and her
    new fiance for engagement photos.  And of course the annual photo
    session of AJ.  Would I be bragging if I said that several people won't
    believe these were pictures done by a "non professional"?  What we did
    this year for a change was to do AJ's in front of the Christmas tree,
    with the tree background purposly out of focus, so the lights look
    "soft".  For his sisters' portraits we have two large pieces of felt,
    both vivid colors, red and blue, and we also picked up at a yard sale a
    bolt of off-white fleecy material (the kind used for bathrobes, or car
    cushions).  One thing we learned is that it does take two people for a
    good picture, one with the camera and one to make the baby smile. (the
    second part is my job!) 
    
    Oh yes, SPAG's does custom cropping, I even had a picture turned
    sideways and blown up,(Iunderstand there's a special on this week for
    an 8X10 enlargement for $1.99) it's one of my favorites of AJ.  If you're 
    ever in MRO I'd love to show off "our" talent.  Oh yes, we give the
    negatives to the person to do with what they want.
    
    oh by the way we don't yet have a "family" portrait of the three of
    us, it's hard being behind AND in front of the camera!!  We do have a
    couple sets from Kmart and Sears, neither of which impressed us
    terribly.
    
    Lyn

    There is also "Precious Moments Photography" which does a good job. 
    They come to your home and there is no sitting fee.  You pay only for
    what you want.  Nor are they high pressure.  Their phone number is
    617-647-7880.  pt
    

The "out-takes" are hilarious and are a good addition to your photo album!
Like the one my brother-in-law took of us laughing when the backdrop
fell down and his friend was putting it back up, or Michelle crying when
she'd had enough!

Kyra

    Have you tried any of those "Instant Photo" places?  We have an EXPRESS
    PHOTO place in Worcester which does 1-hour developing and has a photo
    studio  for family photos.  A friend had portraits done of her son, 
    and they really came out nice, reasonably priced, and FAST!  I don't
    think you can subdue any "blemishes" (you know, like that BIG SCRATCH
    on your baby's nose?), but the clarity and color was very nice.
    Sarah
    

    
    I've decided to go with Olan Mills.  The 17.95 + tax is the basic 
    reason.  I think I won't have a problem with the sales pitch, at 
    least the first time around.  Courtenay just had her picture taken
    at daycare and I'll probably purchase some sort of package from them.
    
    Since this is only for Daddy's day and only one picture will do....
    I'm going to muster all the strength I have and say "NO" to any
    additional copies.  I'll remember what was mentioned about the $40.00 
    proofs, eek....from the little I know about photography (very little),
    proofs fade after a time period.
    
    Thanks for all your comments and the VAXmail recommendations also.
    I hope the picture turns out nicely.  I know Courtenay will be
    beautiful!
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Rose Marie

    Having some professional experience with photography, I have to note
    there is an enormous difference in my opinion between the
    "professional" studios, and going to Rich's, Bradlees etc.  It depends
    on your priorities in which you choose.  The pros put much more
    attention into lighting, posing the group, developing the negs, and
    actually printing the pictures.  And you pay for it.
    
    The chain operations are just that -- their operation is geared toward
    quantities, getting the customer in and out.  I've been to Sears etc,
    and the pictures have been OK, but I knew I wanted more.
    
    I went to a professioanl photographer in Amherst NH and had my family
    portrait done there for the past couple of years.  Her specialty is
    children, but she'll do family shots too.  She'll customize backdrops,
    provide different seating arrangements (like wicker chairs, small toys
    for your child, or wing back chairs) and do various groupings.  She has
    props for the kids (hats, scarves, jewelry) just generally goes all out
    to make the shot different. And she's great with children.  Show blows
    bubbles while trying to get their attention and make them smile, to get
    different expressions on their faces.  In other words, it's a "custom"
    job.
    
    So I guess it depends on what you're after!
    

    re: .23
    
    I'm glad you found a good studio, but our experience was that the
    photographer at Bradlees took at least twice the time with our
    family as the expensive commercial photographer we had for one
    family portrait, and maybe four times as much time as Olan Mills.
    
    The Bradlees photographer also comported herself in a much more
    professional manner than the expensive professional, was
    friendlier and more adaptable, and didn't complain when we
    suggested changing the pose.  The professional snippily complained
    that we didn't know anything about photography and leave the pose
    to him, please, he knew what would look good. (Photographer is not
    in New England.)
    
    I agree, I would have thought someone who was getting that much
    money out of us would have put some more attention into it, but it
    didn't seem to work that way.  
    
    --bonnie

Hi Rose Marie,

My daughter Kaitlin has had photographs taken at 3 mos., 5 mos., 8 mos, 12 mos., 
and her last one was a month ago at 1 1/2 years old.  We have been to Sears, 
Kinder Photo (Methuen Mall) and K-Mart.  Her K-Mart one was done when she was
8 months old and they came out the best.  People couldn't believe it when I said 
where they came from.  We pick up the last photos we had taken next week (which 
were also from K-Mart).  The K-Mart pictures were far superior to Sears and
Kinder Photo. 

P.S.  No matter how good they are, (IMO) alot has to do with the mood the child
is in that day.  And the age of the child.  Kaitlin is 1 1/2 and very active all
of a sudden.  She also started playing shy with strangers. The photographer who
took her pictures last told us that 1 1/2 to 3 year olds can sometimes be the
hardest to shoot. 

Rosemarie    

    to base-noter :
    
    I understand from one of the latest notes that you've already made
    a decision, but in case it doesn't work out......
    
    I have been using a place called KINDERFOTO for all of my son's
    pictures since he was 1-1/2 (he's now 6-1/2).....they are in the
    Auburn Mall as well as other locations I can't recall right now
    since I've always used Auburn.....I love the work they do, they
    always take the extra time with children, trying their best to get
    the smiles or at least a "non-teary" face !!  They charge a small
    sitting fee and they take four/five different poses....then, when
    the pictures come in, YOU PICK what you want and can mix/match from
    the pictures taken and they charge you accordingly.  They also have
    "specials" like what Sears/KMart/others do .......finally, they
    have a Portrait Club (if you take on-going portraits, it comes in
    handy !!) where you can get a free sitting, free 8x10 of child or
    child/parent and 5th portrait package free after you buy 4.
    
    everyone who's seen Matt's pictures done there have commented on
    how good they come out......I've never been disappointed by them,
    but have by others I won't mention here......if the place you've
    picked doesn't work out, I recommend you give them a try !!!!
    
    good luck !
    Debbi
    

    I have to agree with -.1 on KINDERFOTO.  I have had Cassidy's pictures
    taken at the one at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua 3 or 4 times now
    and the hardest part about is that they all come out so good that
    I end up spending more than I had planned.  They are extremely patient
    and always seem to catch the "best" smiles.
    
    Ginny

    What I did when AJ was fairly small, say around his first birthday, was
    to take him to the Auburn Mall first I went to Sears, their method is
    you sign up, wait and eventually your name is called but you are free
    to shop and come back without loosing your turn.  Then I went down to
    Kinderfoto, same basic method of signing up and waiting.  So I went
    back to Sears, had their photos taken and then down again to
    Kinderfoto.  I got the package specials at both places, the ones about
    $15 each.  What I ended up with were an 11 x14, several 8 x 10's, over
    a half dozen 5 x 7's and tons of wallets.  I took the "friendship
    photos" because they were free, but personally I think their too small. 
    All of this cost me roughly $30.  Ordinarily if I wanted and additional
    sheet of any variety of photo it would run somewhere between $15 and 30 
    per sheet.  
    
    What this babbling is all about is that if your child can tolerate two
    sittings for photos within a short period of time this is a much better
    way to get more for your money.  My opinion if I were to compare one
    place to the other is that Kinderfoto takes more time, seems more
    caring, their pictures seem clearer and brighter, and they have lots
    more "props" and seasonal things.
    
    Lyn
    

    
    
    	RE: .27
    
    	Wow... I'm Cassidy's Mom too. (8
    
    	Anyway, I didn't realize that PLM had a Kinderfoto.  Where
    	is it located??  Is it new?? I frequent that mall quite a 	
    	bit and never noticed it before...
    
    	Anyway, in regards to various photography studios, etc., 
    	I've had Olan Mills take three sittings in the last 
    	couple of years.  Only the first set came out decent.  It
    	was a different photographer than the one I had the last
    	two times.  I guess that makes a big difference.
    
    	We had Cassidy's pictures taken when she was 3 weeks old
    	and the photographer didn't attempt to change her position
    	ONCE, nor did she seem to care whether she was sitting
    	straight, looking in the general direction of the camera
    	or slouching!  I was VERY disappointed.
    
    	Regarding Sears... I had a coupon for half off some sort of
    	package they have and was going to go there until I noticed
    	that THEY select the pose.  No way!  It's my belief that
    	they will choose one of the "uglier" portaits so that you
    	can purchase others and pay more money.
    
    	I've had my pictures taken at Rich's and I think that's where
    	I'll stay... in the department stores. Cheaper and I've
    	never had a problem or bad picture.
    
    	Just my two pennies! (8
    
    	/Kim

The Kinderfoto at the Pheasant Lane Mall is on the first floor next to 
Jordan Marsh.  They have been there for at least a year and probably longer
than that.

On a side note - how did you chose the name Cassidy?  It was the only
girl's name that my husband and I could agree on.

Ginny

    
    
    	RE: Kinderfoto
    
    	Hmph.  I guess I never noticed because I never venture into
    	JM! (8
    
    	RE: How did I choose Cassidy...
    
    	To tell you the truth, I was driving down the road and it
    	just popped into my head... from that moment on, it was
    	decided. (8
    
    	/Kim