Or are Pixi foto and that kind of thing just really AWFUL?

[BionicleBill]

It might just be me, but I have to have a little rant about this in the hope it's not - and that maybe others will admit to hating it too!

Every time I see those cameras set up in Boots or Mothercare it fills me with dread - queues in really hot weather, with really unhappy babies being coerced into smiling by some crazy lady making weird noises, photographers and assistants who couldn't be more arrogant, unsmiling and plain rude if they tried...and when we actually did have ds's picture taken, telling them we only wanted the offer photo (about £5) and they only need take one, but being completely ignored while she insisted on putting poor ds through about 7 different stupid outfits and positions while I stood there saying 'er - no, thanks - er I think he's had enough'

Then you go to collect and get the silent treatment when you just want the cheap photo, not the other million.

It strikes me as manipulative, exploitative and really, really sneaky.

Am I alone in this? Please tell me I'm not.

[Worzsel]

I always think the pictures are a bit weird too..

I'd rather have pictures of the kids on the beach of something than posed by some nutter with a squeeker on a stick.

[dawntigga]

I hated the Bounty pictures that they tried to coerce me into on the ward! So YANBU.

dxx

[NormaSknockers]

No-one forced you to take DS to have his photo taken, you expect them to take several shots, it's their job.

I took DS last week & the shots were gorgeous (no different outfits, some building blocks etc) so bought a package as I did with DD at the same age, the photographer I had was really lovely, no hard sell, very polite & knew when DS had, had enough.

[paisleyleaf]

YANBU - they are awful
YABU for getting them done then.

[LovelyTinOfSpam]

@ nutter with squeeker on stick!

[SouthMum]

YANBU to be annoyed at your experiences, but when I have gone to Pixi-Foto I found the whole experience really nice (surprisingly!) and the pics are wonderful.

Maybe the ones you have been to just have especially surly staff....

[Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa]

I've just got out of hospital with DD3. We had to stay in a few days because she was ill. I had to tell the Bounty Lady to get stuffed every single day. I cringed, listening to her hard-sell with exhausted, bewildered first-time mums. She really pissed me off - £50 for some crappy pictures!!! I fell for it with DD1, not this time - older & wiser.

[BionicleBill]

This is my point Paisley - I didn't know they were so awful until I was actually there iyswim. I don't think parents should be tricked into it with that little voucher in the bounty pack!

[BionicleBill]

I'm glad some of you had nice staff. Ours were just hideous. No eye contact. Bizarre 'funny' faces at the baby...I think he is traumatised actually

[chosenone]

yes I must admit they are naff but I had them done when DS was a baby! he was very smiley and enjoyed it but when I look back at the photo of him in a battered suitcase surrounded by teddies, I do think, why?

[Katelyn]

We just had some and they're beautiful. My son is far from 'unhappy' so the photoprapher merely caught the smiles on camera for us....

No dodgy outfits just some toys and bits....

Perhaps just a bad experience for you this once.

[BionicleBill]

Lol at the suitcase Chosenone...yes indeed, why!

I'm sure some babies really enjoy it but the whole premise seems to be to make you feel really bad if you don't buy all the pictures...have any of you who say it's great, actually tried saying 'No thanks'?

I wonder if you would feel so happy about it if you had. I am sure they are lovely to people who buy vast quantities of pictures but they are pretty darn rude if you don't.

Maybe it's my fault for just wanting a cheap photograph...taking advantage of the voucher...I am not sure if I ought to feel guilty about that?

[Hotcrossbunny]

We've just had some of our daughter taken and they're really lovely She's 5, they were really really quiet and the photographer was great. He spent so much time with her and the photos show it. Up til now, she's point blank refused to have her photos taken, so these shots will be treasured.

[BionicleBill]

That sounds nice HCB...I think a 5yo who is willing to cooperate is a much better idea. It does upset me seeing screaming 6mos being propped up on a podium instead of being taken home.

Not to say it is always like that of course. Just have seen it so often round here

[rolledhedgehog]

Some poses are nicer than others, think it depends on the photographer. They are cheaper than most photographers and the only way some people can afford professional photos of their DC so YABU.

[BionicleBill]

Hmm I still think they are a rip off.

[debs40]

I agree. They are a bit twee. I can put up with the posed school/nursery photos but would not deliberately drag my kids to sit down for styled/posed photos.

Worse still are the 'whole family' ones with dads gazing adoringly into the eyes of upside down toddler etc etc. Always in big gold frame on wall above mantelpiece....yuk..

But then I was never one for the stylised wedding/engagement photo either ...bride behind superimposed champagne glass or bridesmaids all looking with envy at ring...yuk, double yuk....

Wholeheartedly agree - action snap on beach or even hitting big brother on head or covered with chocolate in pram brings back much more fun memories

Just personal preference!

[Ninkynork]

I especially hate the Bounty ones. My Mum insisted I get DD done, so her newborn, "just gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson" look is preserved for posterity when in actual fact she only looked like that for a day. I knew better with DS.

It's even worse when people have their daughters photographed in frothy polyester meringue dresses, hair bands with ribbons and beads and lacy ankle socks like my sister did. Poor DN hardly looked human at a few hours old and the picture looks very odd indeed. We love beautiful DN to bits but DH shudders every time he sees it.

[MilaMae]

I think they're v tacky and for that reason alone I've never had a studio thing done,let alone the totally rip off prices. I am heartless though as have only bought 2 pre-school pics in 5 years of 3 dc,didn't buy the dtwins 1st school pic either as it was crap (it was out of focus .

I think studio pics date soooo quickly in a way that natural shots never do,you can tell the decade just buy looking at them. If I was ever going to pay somebody to take shots of my dc(which I'm not) I'd have one of those photographer for a day things. Saw an advert in my dc's hairdressers. Basically they'd just hung out for a day taking casual shots,having said that you still wouldn't have the memories to go with them.

No far better to get a half decent camera and snap away endlessly then play on the pc with it after. I just got a pic of my dd in her wetsuit with a big floppy white hat on blowing bubbles,tongue stuck out grinning at the camera,totally her and totally priceless.

[rookiemater]

YABU. I had some lovely photos of DS taken at Pixi in Boots last year, with about 4 different poses in total and multiple sizes of each for £80.00 in total. I am waiting for a photo shoot we had a few weeks ago ( mind you as I have already paid the money am thinking I may go off them shortly if I don't get something through the post shortly)

We find it very hard to get a decent shot of DS. Our camera is ridiculously slow to take a shot so by the time we are ready he has shot off in the opposite direction.

Surely most folk recognise that Pixi is a business so they are unlikely to let you go, get your £4.95 photo and disappear just like that. Its somewhat akin to going on a "free" holiday to advertise timeshare and then being shocked when expected to listen to the pitch.

I do agree that sometimes staged photos look a bit forced but I was genuinely pleased with the ones taken of DS last time and she seemed to get some really nice smiles out of him at the session this time so I am keeping my fingers crossed that a) they arrive and b) they turn out well.

[BionicleBill]

Rookie, I apologise to you and anyone else on the thread whom I may have offended. Your sentence about the free holiday thing shook me into sense - of course it is like that. I had not - odd as it might sound - thought of it in that way until today.

If it goes any way towards mitigation I have AS which means I often miss the bigger picture, as it were...what you say makes sense. Though I still resented the way the woman insisted on taking loads of pictures despite my protests. I thought that was very out of line.

I hope your pictures are good. Sorry.

[NormaSknockers]

Very well put rookie

I love natural shots as much as the next person & have some gorgeous shots of DD sat in the garden making daisy chains wearing nothing but a floppy sun hat & a look of concentration but I also love the Pixie shots that I just cannot manage to get myself, I was really impressed with the photographer we had as she was quick, efficiant & DS was most amused by her which resulsted in some gorgeous photos....whenever I take photos of DS I always manage to get him with his eyes shut or half shut making him look drunk lol!

[rookiemater]

BB don't worry you didn't offend me at all.

I do agree that they take more photos than strictly necessary and when you go back to look at the photos I can see how it would be hard to walk away without buying and how that would feel if you were on a limited budget. Also they don't make the cost readily obvious so you can make an informed decision prior to the event.

However it is still cheaper than a photographers studio and much much cheaper than Venture where I believe it costs about £140 for one photo . I am looking forward to DS starting preschool so that I can get nice professional shots of him once a year for much less cost.

[BionicleBill]

Thankyou for being so nice.

I'm looking forward to the school pics too!