Professional photos tips please!

[Paula71]

For this Christmas I would like to get my twin ds' photo taken. They will be 2 yrs old just after Christmas and their last "professional" photo was taken at 2 days old!

So what is the best advice? Saw the thing about Venture and they are way out of our league finance wise. Do you have to fork out for the photos before or after?

I was thinking of going to one of those special offer days in the shopping centre when a photographer shows up and takes photos of the kids but are they ever any good?

We used Olan Mills.

I paid £24.99 for which I got:

4 portrait sittings over period of 1 year, with upto 12 people on each sitting (can be different people every time).
1 x 10x8 colour print from each session
1 x Make-over & portrait session (when they will put loads of vaseline on the lens to make me look vaguely presentable)
1 x 7x5 colour print from that session

Other prices for prints didnt seem too bad (think they started at about £30 for smalls sets) but so far we have quite happily just taken the freebies.

Don't know if the offer is still on but Olan Mills number is 08457 585351

Blimey, beetroot, what a glamarous life you have! (it was you who said your dh works on the Faraday lectures wasn't it? ).

I'm sure you can outperform Olan Mills in terms of service though - good luck with it!

We went to Venture - yes expensive but very good. Much more spontaneous than posed or cheesy shots. really nice frames too. I think there is an offer in Red or try the website
www.thisisventure.co.uk

Paula71 why dont you set up a whole nice background in a nice light, take a role yourself and there's bound to be a nice one, then Jessops can blow them up VERY big! It would be alot cheaper and the kids will probably look alot more natural...just a thought

Paula - just seen that there is a different thread all about Venture.
Venture thread

not that i'm against paying but i've had two sets of proffesional ones and not one has a relaxed happy expression!!

You often find places like Boots, Mothercare, Tesco and Woolworths tie up with Kodak or Parasol portraits to do on the spot photos, often around half term, so you can have them for Christmas presents. You have to be prepared to turn up on spec and queue though - not easy with toddlers - and return about a week later to view results.

We also had Olan Mills for ds' first year set but found them a hassle - really rushed (10 mins session) and results variable - and when do you get the chance to take a relaxing morning for the make over ! I think their offer is on pretty constantly.

at the risk of sounding like an advertiser for Venture Angeliz just to say that the relaxed 'capture a moment' style is what Venture specialise in.

We had some when ds was 10 months and we are all laughing our heads off while he throws balls in the air

Can anyone recommend a professional photographer in London for a family portrait? I think it is about time we had a photo of both of us. The flat is small and inelegant so we would probably prefer to go to a studio rather than have them visit us at home.

Try www.wowbaby.co.uk (sorry can't do links!).
A friend recently had their home package done with her two tiny girls in black and white and the results were lovely. I don't think their portfolio on the website does them justice.
I'm thinking of having it done with my DDs to use as christmas presents.

The last "professional" photo I had of my two DDs was at a playgroup last year and it was dreadful -they both had runny noses, sticky up hair and dark rings under their eyes, and they looked panic stricken. I can't believe I actually brought it! A mothers love eh!

are the venture ones the black and white with the huge ball and stuff cause i do think they look lovely and may go one day with dd......i just thought if someone was a bit short of cash they could try their own!

Hi, Paula - the shopping centre ones are a bit hit and miss but worth trying I'd have thought - I don't think you're obliged to buy anything, are you? (Or are you...?)

When DS2 was a new baby and the older ones were 11, 8 and 4 I had a lovely picture done by a bloke in a kids' clothes shop - it was after school and we dashed down there, DD1 had an odd lock of hair hanging down her forehead because she'd cut it off very short a few weeks before (like they do!) and DS1 had his eyes closed, but it was still a v nice picture, especially for the price - I bought one big one and several small ones, can't remember actual prices (and it was 10 years ago!) but I know they were very reasonable.

We were also lucky with the Tempest school photographer who used to come to primary school and I've had some nice group shots (in uniform!) from them.

Our local photographer/camera shop has started doing pictures a la Venture - white background and casual clothes - I've seen a couple in the shop and they are very good. So you could ask locally too. They would probably charge for the sitting though.

Just read sandyballs (great name! ) comment - "they both had runny noses, sticky up hair and dark rings under their eyes" - and although you want it for Christmas, if I were you I'd get it done soon, while they still have a bit of summer colour and look healthy - I've had school pictures done in September and November, different years, obviously, and there are more runny noses and dark rings in the later ones!

We wnet to Portrait Place, which is part of Debenhams. We went as I had a voucher for a free 12 x 10 shot from my bounty pack. I know they often do special offers too. Quite often things like £10 for a 12x10 shot and you can buy more after - it wasn't too badly priced I don't think. With the special offers you do have to pay for the 'offer' £1 shot in advance, but not the others. At our shoot they took about 5 or 6 shots , the freebie we had to choose in advance but the photographer helped with that selection, and then the rest we could choose from when we went back.

DD's photo turned out lovely and they captured her grinning away. That was taken a week after her first birthday. There is a scanned version of it on her website here - it is the 3rd picture on the page; the one where she is in purple with a bandana on her head. The scan did widen the shot a bit but you get the idea of the type done. It is a proper posed for picture but the photographer was very good with her, playing and giggling, showing her cuddly animals and toys to get her to smile and laugh.

I do think the Venture ones look fantastic but have to agree it is a heck of a lot of money for some photographs. Still, if money was no problem maybe I would have a go!

Forgot to add, we also have some Tempest ones too from DD's nursery, and next week at Tumble Tots apparantly. They have been quite good too.

I got a voucher for Venture - worth £125 - for £25. They were doing a PR thing outside my local Tesco. Maybe ring them and see if they are doing any offers at the mo??